Cougar tracks

[FishingWebGuy]

So how do you protect yourself on your way to work every day or just going to town? Your chance of being hurt riding in a car is about 100,000 times greater or more than a chance encounter with a cougar much less to get hurt by one in MN.

That argument doesn't make sense to me. You are also more likely to get injured traveling in a car than you are in a plane. Does that mean you should not take precautions when flying? Who needs to know where those exits are, right?

I'm not trying to be demeaning but your straw man argument takes away from a valid point of being cautious and prepared in the woods. For some that is bear spray, for some it's a side arm, for some it's letting others know where you will be and when you will be back. I'll still carry a compass with me regardless of my chances of getting lost vs being in a traffic accident.

Just my $.02

[cherokee]

I'm more worried about some of the weirdos out there than a cougar or bear. I'll probably start carrying my .22 pistol just to have a noise maker in addition to my bow.

[bottom-bouncer]

seriously guys take off your skirts. There thousands of cougars out west when is the last time a hunter was attacked. If I was as paranoid as some of you I would just stay home next to momma were she can keep me safe from all the big bad animals that go bump in the nite. The only thging that is going to get you in the woods is yourself and those darn skunks.

[bogwalker]

bottom-bouncer, So what you are saying is that even with thousands of cougars out west, it is the armed hunters who are not attacked?

[bottom-bouncer]

Just saying when is the last time you have heard of a cougar attacking A hunter even an armed hunter who had to kill it because it was attacking. there are thousands of bow hunters hunting elk in cougar country every year. dont hear much about attacks. Actually I know alot of guys who hunt out west every year and have for many many years and have never even seen a cougar. I am with you I wouls be way more worried about wild dogs than a cougar.

[bogwalker]

bottom-bouncer, Just joking. I am still comfortable enough in the woods take an occasional nap when hunting.

[BobT]

I don't lock my house. I don't know if I even could find a key so if someone did lock the door, I may have to break in to my own home. I've never locked my house. I do not keep a loaded firearm in my home either. Quite frankly, I'd feel safer holding a baseball bat than a firearm inside the tight quarters of a home anyway and I consider myself rather competent with a firearm in my hand. The odds of someone breaking into my home are many times greater than the odds of even encountering a cougar especially in MN much less having to actually defend myself from one. It would seem a bit strange to be so uncomfortable in the woods that I won't enter unless armed to the teeth while leaving myself vulnerable to the much higher potential risk in my own home or car.

You guys need to quit watching scary television shows and get back to reality.

Incidentally, there is no confirmed case of any cougar attacking a human being in Minnesota recorded history, which also means there has never been a confirmed death resulting from same. Even in areas like our western states where cougar numbers are many times higher, it is extremely rare for humans to encounter the animals in the wild.

Just make sure to keep your .44 magnums handy just in case though. Sheesh.

[bogwalker]

I guess you could make the same argument about law enforcement officers being armed. The odds of being involved in a shooting are very low. The vast majority of officers are never involved in a shooting. Some countries do not have armed officers. England for example, the last I heard their patrol officers are only armed with a baton.

[BobT]

I guess.

[cherokee]

Seriously, I would not even think twice about a cougar attack or bear attack. The mind can and will play tricks on you.

[bogwalker]

That is what makes it fun to debate.

[BobT]

Maybe I'm being a bit unfair but it does strike a funny bone to read some of the posts whenever the topic of cougars is brought up. You'd think anyone stepping foot into the woods or even outside their front door is in imminent danger from attack. I apologize to anyone that takes this more seriously than I. I really mean that because if you are that uncomfortable then I honestly feel for you.

Compared to the rest of the world the forest is not a dangerous place to be. In fact, it is probably the safest place to be. Man, crossing the street puts one in many times more peril than stepping into the forest. I've been hurt more times in my life by slipping while walking down staircase. Never been attacked by a wild animal although once there was a woodchuck in my yard that displayed some pretty aggressive behavior.

[FishingWebGuy]

Staring down a grizzly. That's cool to see.

[bogwalker]

Great, now I have to worry about Grizzlies too!

[paul pachowicz]

Don't fool yourself, fellas. If there are cat sighting then you have cats and they are there to stay just like they did here since the 80's here in the Black Hills. It isn't going to be long before they wander into towns and become a menace. We are going to up our season quota to 50 this year. Last year 40 were taken within a 30 day period, I think it was 30 days. They've killed domestic pets, & livestock, lurked around houses, etc. Our GF&P don't mess around with em. If they are in town or lurking around homes they are goners.

[bogwalker]

Paul, Do you have bears in the Black Hills?

[Kyle]

If a cougar attacked you, you would be dead before you knew it was happening. They either break the neck of their prey or suffocate them/bleed them to death by clamping on to their neck. Some people may think they would be quick enough to draw their pistol and take a shot somewhere in the middle of all of this but the truth is that you probably won't. We do not have much to be afraid of here in MN; period. Spend a couple nights in grizzly country with a dead elk hanging 20 ft above your camp...Try simply walking around in Grizzly country, especially near rivers that are stacked with fish. Or go to Africa and tell me what you think when you get back....

Something to think about:

if a 50lb dog can kill a human, in which there are hundreds of cases of this in the U.S each year, what do you think a 200lb cougar is going to do to you? Also, for those of you think that it is odd for Cougars to be in MN, they used to be native to MN, just like the Elk, before we killed them all and drove the rest out. Knowing the great ability and skill they have as hunters, it doesnt make much sense to carry around a pistol all the time when the odds of actually getting attacked are as small as they are, and the odds of your survival after or during an attack are small as they are.

Like I said before, there is nothing to worry about because cougars are smart, and there are plenty of deer in the midwest to be had before they start attacking people. If you are lucky enough to see one, think of it as a awesome experience.

Just my opinion...have Fun hunting this season and dont worry too much!

[paul pachowicz]

funny story about bear in the Black Hills. This summer there was a report and a picture taken at a distance from a cell phone of a bear in a tree near Keystone (for those familiar with the area). Turns out it was a tourist, ummmmmmmm...from...ummmmm...Minnesota who made the report. The paper published the picture. It did kinda look like a bear but, upon further investigation by our GF&P and having Bear Country ( a local tourist trap) take inventory of thier bruins, and viewing the area at the exact same time, it turned out to be a shadow. I will agree that it did "resemble" one though. But no, we don't have bear or wolves, YET!!!! I'm willing to bet you do have an established cat population and it isn't going to be long where your deer herd is going to take a hit.

[FishingWebGuy]

If a cougar attacked you, you would be dead before you knew it was happening. They either break the neck of their prey or suffocate them/bleed them to death by clamping on to their neck.

At the Dakota County fair they had some cougars, wolves and bobcats. I asked one of the caretakers if they ever fed them anything alive. He said, not usually but once they fed the cougar a chicken. He said, it was more work for him to catch the chicken than it was worth in entertainment value. He said, by the time he had the chicken in the cage the cougar killed it and was tearing it apart in one swoop of the paw right out of his hand.

Just thought it was a cool story.

There is a HSOforum that tracks cougar attacks. In the US and Canada there are on average 5.6 attacks per year and only .8 deaths. Attacks, on that site, are defined as bodily contact with a person. Sounds like about a 5 in 6 chance of living. I'm not sure how accurate their data is though.

[Abndoc]

If any of you are hunting around stillwater...A few guys and I were out 2 weeks ago, and we were attacked by a pack of cougars in the freight house parking lot. We were leaving around 2 a.m. when the attack occured. We were able to defend ourselves, but most of us where injured slightly, torn clothing, bite marks and a few scratches on our backs. Not only are there cougars in stillwater, but they are running in packs. Be careful!!

[FLnick87]

I have also seen cougars in that area! None have attacked me tho, usually if you yell hey cougar, they get mad and leave

[slabchaser]

Hey Abndoc, hows the family? Tell your wife her Italian food is out of this world

[Abndoc]

Family is good...was out today hanging stands...you going to have anytime to chase some pheasants? who's planning the mille lacs this winter?

[Bear55]

Great, now I have to worry about Grizzlies too!

Actually I think that video illustrates that even if we were as big and strong as a grizzly and packing some nasty teeth and claws the cougar would still whoop us.

I'm with whoever said the odds are terribly low and I'm not going to worry about it, and even better they only kill 5/6 anyway. Its also pretty fair to say if they want you dead you will be dead, it was just your time to go.

[bogwalker]

Bear55, Do you think I was serious?