"Ma'am, do you have a gun?"

[JeffOlson]

I have a meeting in Olympia tomorrow morning, so I rode my Norge (MG content) to our beach cabin this evening and left my wife behind on the farm in Hubbard. She decided to go for a bicycle ride tonight by herself on Whiskey Hill Road. (Yes, that is a real road near our road, Painter Loop!)

As she rode by a man locking his gate for the night, he greeted her and said, "Ma'am, do you have a gun?" He told her about a colt on Painter Loop being attacked today by a mountain lion. (We heard about the mountain lion yesterday.) She said no, but he had his sidearm with him and offered to follow her home in his truck.

As they neared our farm house, a number of deer bolted across the road in front of them, from one field to another, like their lives depended on it.

My wife made it home safely and got our animals inside. She is from Texas, where everyone has a gun, and she has been pestering me to get her one. I think it is about high time that I get her a shot gun...

[normzone]

Does she know how to shoot?

No slur on you, sir, or any of our brothers, but I teach all my women to shoot.

If she's worthy of you, she's worthy of the training.

[tris]

I hesitate to have an opinion about weapons living where I live in the UK but it strikes me that a shotgun isn't the most suitable weapon to carry on a push bike 

[rodekyll]

Although  I agree that a shotgun will take care of that business best (especially in an area with neighbors and the possibility of night shooting), you might want to ask her what she thinks makes the most sense and include her in the purchase so you get the pump, auto, or sxs that she'll want to shoot.  She might surprise you and want a handgun instead . . .

[Gliderjohn]

In just the last couple of years has the state of Kansas officially confirmed mountain lions in Kansas. It was three or four years ago when my wife had a face to face encounter with one from only about 50' in our rural back yard when she was watering. Our dog scared it off. They have big feet!


GliderJohn

[sib]

I would think that with all those deer to choose from, the big cat would have better things to go for than people.  Mountain lions have lived near people for a long time in CA and other western states, without much friction.  Yes, once in a great while a cat attacks a mountain biker.  But (sorry to sound politically leftish here), if everyone packed a gun, there would be more accidental shootings than there are mountain lion attacks.

[Delta425]

[quote  She is from Texas, where everyone has a gun, and she has been pestering me to get her one. I think it is about high time that I get her a shot gun...
[/quote]
Actually, Texas is 30th in the percentage of gun ownership by state with about 35% of Texans owning guns. And, I know, "well, that's just the guns they  know about in Texas". Well,don't you think that's true of EVERY state.
Oh, and no, Texas isn't the only state with the right to secede.
And, no, Texas does NOT have any different flag protocol from any of the other 49.
And, if things are "bigger" in texas, they are 2.5 times bigger in Alaska.

[Delta425]

http://www.usacarry.com/forums/general-firearm-discussion/9841-percent-firearms-ownership-state.html

[Silver Goose]

Jeff, the suggestion of letting your wife decide what and if she wants to carry is a good one. Many people do not want to be pushed in to owing and/or carrying a weapon.

Mountain Lions are much better hunters than a new gun owner is. Get some training, and practice,practice and practice until your actions are automatic.

Good Luck, be safe

[flip]

It sounds like you have a good neighbor.

[Lannis]

Jeff, the suggestion of letting your wife decide what and if she wants to carry is a good one. Many people do not want to be pushed in to owing and/or carrying a weapon.

A situation in which you might need a gun is a very low probability, very high consequence event in a normal person's life.    Therefore, many people decide not to carry one because of the low probability, preferring to take the consequences IF they happen.   That's a perfectly reasonable outlook, akin to deciding to not surround yourself with an airbag-equipped Volvo when you take to the highway and ride a motorcycle instead.

In my experience, carrying a gun is a very low maintenance, very low impact job.   Doesn't cost a thing except initial training and purchase, and occasional practice ammo.    FOR ME, it's an easy decision.   FOR OTHERS, apparently the presence of a gun on their own person preys on their mind, worries them somehow, causes them trouble, and so they decide to not do it.   I understand that; a cell phone does the same thing to me - for some, it's a useful tool, for me, it's an electronic leash and worry-beads ....

Lannis

[toaster404]

I suspect that a real attack from an adult lion wouldn't allow time to use a gun.  They are very very fast and powerful.  I can't imagine being able to do much except against an unsure juvenile.   

[drw916]

Now there is motivation to put in the training for some sprints

[tpeever]

I suspect that a real attack from an adult lion wouldn't allow time to use a gun.  They are very very fast and powerful.  I can't imagine being able to do much except against an unsure juvenile.

Agreed. For most of the deadly human/cougar encounters I have heard about (also EXTREMELY rare as pointed out above) a gun would be not be helpful. Happens way too fast.

[Lannis]

... but not sure how effective a gun is in a truly tight spot , like I said , those large felines are FAST .

  Dusty

Not sure it would be 100% effective, but probably more effective than speed-dialing Madge and asking her to Google "Puma" to see what to do ....

Lannis

[Guzzistajohn]

In just the last couple of years has the state of Kansas officially confirmed mountain lions in Kansas. It was three or four years ago when my wife had a face to face encounter with one from only about 50' in our rural back yard when she was watering. Our dog scared it off. They have big feet!


GliderJohn

Mountain lions in Kansas? No way! These pics were taken last week at Stockton Lake, Mo. (about 30 miles north of Springfield)

[tpeever]

Not sure it would be 100% effective, but probably more effective than speed-dialing Madge and asking her to Google "Puma" to see what to do ....

Lannis

Only if the cat missed you the first time...........

[LowRyter]

a shotgun is the perfect weapon for home protection not practical on a bicycle.  However, I am not sure any gun is practical to carry on a bike; one way or another it's liable to hurt you if you fall off. 

[Moto]

... our road, Painter Loop! ...

Can't say you weren't warned! 

[redrider]

Good discussion. A cat in attack mode already has the advantage but I still lawfully carry while walking the dog in the 'burbs. So far nothing but fox, opossum and coon make a regular appearance. Coyote packs are in the boonies past Irmo and I had a huge one flush in front of me while riding the V11 in the northeast part of Columbia. I am more concerned with the two legged ambusher.

Bersa BP9cc or Bond Arms .410/.45 fit in a pocket or IWB really well and with the right placement, do not print. Not wanting to spook the neighbors carrying a long gun, I opt for a sword cane.

[oldbike54]

Can't say you weren't warned! 

 Yeah , us painters are an EXTREMELY dangerous lot 

  Dusty

[JeffOlson]

I imagine the owner of the colt and the colt's mother that was also injured while defending the colt will take matters into his own hands. No need to call the authorities--oh, wait, there are no authorities where we live!

[oldbike54]

I imagine the owner of the colt and the colt's mother that was also injured while defending the colt will take matters into his own hands. No need to call the authorities--oh, wait, there are no authorities where we live!

 I'm guessing the cat may have received a lick or two from the momma horse  Years back I suffered through a ferocious attack from a Banty Hen who was sitting eggs under an out building that I deigned to walk too near . Damn , she was serious , REAL SERIOUS . Never knew such a small bird could strike so much fear into a human , WOW !

  Dusty

[JeffOlson]

^ Yep! Mothers can be very ferocious when they are protecting their young. I've seen it in my wife!

[cruzziguzzi]

The bitch of women defending themselves from cat attacks in the Americas (more common than most folk would think) is that they are almost always from behind and of the utmost stealth. Doesn't mean being armed is useless just worth noting that the fear and adrenaline are peaked by the time a gal'll know she's in peril.

For my gal - she gets a little 5 shot Taurus with two snake shot rounds up front.

Todd.

[Tkelly]

How about bear spray?

[rodekyll]

The best protection (based on how we do it here) is either a slower companion or a dog and a .22.
   

Seriously though -- a dog for warning and distraction compliments the shotgun pretty well.

[brenwin]

Plenty of cougars here on Vancouver Island . I've been here a longtime and never seen one . They are close by though and every once and a while we'll find a headless deer carcass in the bush beside our house which is typical of a cougar kill . There were times our dog would not take our usual route on our daily walk . He knew something was a foot . I always took his advice and went the other way .
Logging displaces a lot of cats here and they are territorial so prey on whatever they can find . Usually they are in a weakened state and that's when pets and people are in jeopardy .   
I'm sure I've been followed in the bush without even knowing it . If they wanted to attack you wouldn't see it coming .
We have a new neighbor who just moved here from Alberta , retired park ranger who will be giving instruction on what to do in case of an encounter . I'm looking forward to his input .

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

I hesitate to have an opinion about weapons living where I live in the UK but it strikes me that a shotgun isn't the most suitable weapon to carry on a push bike 

I agree... how bout The Judge instead?


But fact of the matter is if you are riding a bike, a Mtn lion isn't going to grab you..

Most MTBers attacked are crouched down, fixing a flat or replacing a thrown chain.. the cat stalks up behind... and no you don't hear it coming

[JeffOlson]

It is a bit unnerving. I just learned that the horse attack occurred across the street from our house! Not in the woods, not in the bushes, but out in the open in a large riding arena! Good thing we have large dogs and armed neighbors.