mom got scared

[beaverlakeman]

My mom went out to sit in a ground blind tonight in a cedar swamp for a chance at a deer. well i get a phone call from her hysterical.. "mom,mom, what happened". she says i need help and i might not see her again!! what the hell is going on.. "i heard a wierd wailing,crying noise a bit ago and then heard crashing through the woods, and something small runs in front of me and the something much bigger chasing it." "then i heard the big thing ripping the small thing to shreds, then got quiet and 5 minutes later i look in front of me and there is a BIG brown cat looking animal looking at me." then i tried to get my crossbow on it and my red (Contact Us Please) wouldn't turn on and the "cat" started circling me about 10 times. its still out here somewhere.. " so i told her i was 20 miles away and to just start screaming and running for home, which is only 60 yards into the woods...

Well she made it out ok..

can you believe a mountain lion circled my mom 10 times and didn't do anything?? miricle? curious?

but i am so glad nothing happened..

can a person shoot one of those leagaly if on your property? especially circling you?

or should the dnr be notified?

this is the second time in about 5 years. I saw the first one run across the road right in front of me, and now this.

thanks.

[harvey lee]

I do believe that one can shoot to protect themselves. I know I would have probably dropped it if I felt it was going to attack.

[streeter]

beaverlakeman, where are you located? Beaverlake in fredenberg? If so, you're not too far from my place. I thought I saw a "puddy cat" this summer cross my driveway but didn't say too much 'cause I didn't think anybody would believe me. I sure feel for your mom, that must have been one scarey feeling, I hope it doesn't ruiner her hunting in the future.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Wow, scary stuff... glad to hear she is OK... I think you are allowed to protect yourself. If it were me, I would protect myself and suffer the consequences.

[c&amagn]

Wow scary story. My QUESTION IS what on earth is your Mom doing out with a CROSSBOW??? In your statement SHE WAS ABLE TO RUN JUST FINE IT SEEMS AND YOU YOURSELF TOLD HER TO RUN. SHE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE HANDICAPPED in my mind to be using a CROSSBOW. Crossbow's are only leagal for Handicapped people for archery and NEW THIS YEAR anybody can use them durring FIREARMS SEASON. Last I checked Fireamrs hasn't opened up yet?????

PLEASE REREAD THE REGULATIONS!!!

[big drift]

Why don't ya find out the rest of the story before jumping down the guys throat....

[Jameson]

crossbows are legal for someone who is upper body handicapped (shoulders, back, arms...). The hunter may still have full lower body abilities. Just as a hunter getting a permit to shoot from a vehicle must have a lower body handicap. The hunter with a lower body handicap cannot use a crossbow.

Also all senior citizens in WI can legally shoot crossbows.

[Nate McVey]

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In your statement SHE WAS ABLE TO RUN JUST FINE IT SEEMS AND YOU YOURSELF TOLD HER TO RUN. SHE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE HANDICAPPED

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Handicap can encompass a lot of things, don't judge too quickly. My dad can run just fine, but when he was younger he was run over by a boat while snorkeling. They had to pull a tendon out of his hand and put it into his back, so he was left with a hole in his hand and a pinky and ring finger that don't work. He is eligible to use a crossbow.....maybe that's the same case for his mom.

Be carefull jumping to conclusions..............

[Cheetah]

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PLEASE REREAD THE REGULATIONS!!!

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Some guys really know how to kill a thread...

As someone else pointed out, it's pretty easy to get even a temporary crossbow permit for various health reasons.

[Shack]

Sounds like your mom has a story to tell for the rest of her life! Glad she is ok!

[c&amagn]

Sorry all for the Downer on the Crossbow thing. My father has a crossbow permit and is very easy to obtain. Didn't mean to Kill the thread. I just happen to know a CO that likes to check the deer registration stations for for Archery tags registered in Female Names, then he likes to go and visit there residences and asks them which bow they used to harvest the deer with, Most times the Females can't even come close to drawing the string back, much less a Crossbow. Something to think about???? P.S. Good luck and I hope your mom gets a deer!!! Due to my father's limitations per his bodies abilities that got him his Crossbow permit in the first place, he can't load or cock his crossbow by himself, so I do it for him before his goes out.

[Scott K]

Wow.. How exciting, and scary, hopefully it doesnt turn her off to hunting!I think I would have arrowed it, if I felt threatend, I would have no problem. That gives us all something to think about these next couple weekends. Cats are very dangerous, bear, and wolves, keep an eye open, you just may not be the only predator in the woods.

[BobT]

If I may. This may save someone's life. NEVER run from a predator! That is inviting an attack. You are far better off standing up and making yourself appear as large and formidable as possible. Also, standing up puts you in a better position to protect yourself if necessary. You don't want to be caught sitting down.

Back away slowly. I also remember something about avoiding eye contact but don't recall for sure.

Bob

[Kyle]

I agree with you BobT. This situation is exactly the reason I think MN should make it legal to carrie a pistol/sidearm when bow hunting.

[Shack]

I think you can carry a side arm in an open holster! You just can not conceal a pistol or carry it in holster while driving a truck, car, snowmobile or 4 wheelers with out a permite!

I could be wrong!

[shogun]

you are not allowed to have a pistol or firearm of any kinda while you are bowhunting unless you are bowhunting bear.

[Shack]

Sorry, I fogot about the Bear only thing!

[tealitup]

She did the right thing to yell and scream. Stand tall and wide! Do not run away (brings out the chasing instinct of a predator).

Having a crossbow, knowing you can not reload fast, I would not have shot unless it was close and I know I could hit it. Her red (Contact Us Please) would not turn on so it would have been instinctual shooting.

However, if a cat is circling you it is looking for an opportunity. Mountain Lions will for the most part attack from behand and not head on. It will circle its prey looking for an opportunity.

Now if she had a gun.... story is different. Basic rule from my uncle out west.

'If you see a mountain lion in the woods admire it. If the cat sees you in the woods also -do not think twice.'

[The Grebe]

About a month or so ago, there was a thread about Mountain Lions in Minnesota and alot of people don't think we have any.

My sister isn't one of those people...she had one jump out on the road and eye her , her son, and their little dog. She had a cabin on Two Inlets Lake up north of Park Rapids.

To this day, she still doesn't like to look at pictures of Cougars and she really doesn't like to talk about it...it put a permanent fear in her....this had to be 10-15 years ago.

[Kyle]

I hope we can all close the issue and agree that it is absolutely rediculous to think Mountain Lions arn't in MN!

[Trouthunter]

south dakota has a great HSOforum that explains observations with human responses...check this out http:// www.sdgfp.info/ Wildlife/ MountainLions/ Language.htm

[beaverlakeman]

thanks for all the replies. just to clear things up... we are very ethical and law obiding hunters in my family. I do know the regulations as should anyone that thinks about entering the woods to hunt. My mom has severe nerve damage in her elbows that has caused multiple surgeries. she has been hunting with a crossbow for several years now.

She has had some pretty wicked dreams since her face off with the kitty. she wont go bow hunting anymore this year, and said she wont rifle hunt unless someone drops her off and picks her up from her stand via,,, 4wheeler..

pretty sad that something like this has happened, but what do you do. i couldn't imagine myself in her shoes..

[Cheetah]

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I agree with you BobT. This situation is exactly the reason I think MN should make it legal to carrie a pistol/sidearm when bow hunting.

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Probably more likely that people will shoot themselves in the foot with their pistol then actually have a need to use it on a predator.