What's the law??

[Suncrest Sniper]

Ok my wife and I have lived here for just over a year now (moved from West Central MN) and we both enjoy hiking in the mountains and have expanded our walks into more remote areas as we get in better shape. As always I have either my 9mm with and I have on occasion packed my .308 just to get used to the weight. The guns are of course for protection from either the 2 legged trouble maker or the rouge cat, coyote. The question is if we happened to be in a situation where say a cat decides to shadow us or even worse, what does the law say as far as us protecting ourselves and shooting the said cat? Of course the plan would be to try and scare it off first with a few well placed shots in it's general direction, but if that doesn't do it and I have to shoot it do you then need to report the attack the the local Game Warden or do you just dust off and chalk it up to experience?

SS

[Hunterman]

If you kill a cat (except house cats), bear, or anything in self defence, you must report it to the local authority..This is so they can nail your butt to the wall...If you are so far back into the hills, that a cat wants to eat you,,I would suggest the S.S.S. method..

Hunterman(Tony)

[Kain]

You always have the right to protect yourself and if it is truly justified you should report it.  There will be an investigation to see if your story holds water and if the cat was starved, diseased or just on the hunt. 

I wonder how many people have had to shoot aggressive animals that didnt report it.  The predator lover talk all the time about how attacks are rare.  That might be because a lot of attacks are stopped before they even happen and lots dont get reported.  

[singleshot12]

 

[carpsniperg2]

I agree with Kain always protect yourself. But you better have a dang solid case. If you plan on shooting anything you are not supposed to. If you see a cat following you and you just shoot it, then you are probably going to be nailed. You have to prove that you life was on the line. Just seeing one around you, does not give cause to shoot it. Now if its stalking you and you turn around. With the cat about ready to leap "like 10 yards away". Then you are probably going to be alright. But it all depends on what you can prove. Someone will come and look at all the sign. Back tracking the tracks to see if you were followed and stalked.

[Suncrest Sniper]

So basically have a witness to the said attack or visible wounds. I would also guess a very close range shot would also help.Of course I would always do my best to scare the attacker off but one never knows. Thanks for the replies guys, I hope it never happens to anyone but I just felt I needed to know.

SS

[Skyvalhunter]

SSS

[carpsniperg2]

Yeah, its kinda one of those things. It just depends on the person investigating. They can have a big out come on the case. kinda like a lot of the court cases. Its up to the judge to decide what is "legit self defense". I assure you if you shoot one at like 100 yards away you will get you butt kicked Self defense 90% or better of the time is very very close range.

[Ridgeratt]

So basically have a witness to the said attack or visible wounds. I would also guess a very close range shot would also help.

My best guess is the hole should be in the center chest as opposed to a going away shot.  

[bobcat]

I don't see how they can prove one way or the other whether someone is justified in shooting a cat in self defense, just by looking at tracks. If there is no snow, there may not be any tracks to see anyway. It's probably more how good your story sounds than anything else. Of course you wouldn't want a bullet entrance and exit that would indicate it was moving away and not towards you. But other than that I really don't see how they could prove that it was not justified self defense. Honestly, if it happened to me I would strongly consider not saying a word about it to anybody. I don't really see why the WDFW needs to know about it.

[carpsniperg2]

The tracks are just part of it, if they can find them. They cant prove anything just by looking at the tracks. But when you are in snow and can prove the cat had been doggin you for a few hundred yards. It helps the case

[Wazukie]

The spring turkey hunt, Glenwood WA, a couple were out hunting. The male heard a sound coming from behind, turns and see's a cat, he in turn shoots said cat, the hole was about the size of a silver dollar.  They called the WDFG and Klickitat County Sheriff and told their story. Justifiable self-defense.  This happened this last spring near the Mill Pond for those familiar with the area.

[Suncrest Sniper]

So it breaks down to this:

1) Have a witness to the said attack

2) If you do have to implement a "kill" shot, Make sure it's at close range.

3) Make sure the said "Kill" shot is in the face or chest area and NOT the back or a "going away" shot

4) If snow is present let the said "Coug" stalk you for a couple of hundred yards to help prove it was stalking you.

5) Most important, make every possible attempt to scare the cat away!!


The up in the air question then at this time is to report said attack or just right it off...............

SS

[Suncrest Sniper]

The spring turkey hunt, Glenwood WA, a couple were out hunting. The male heard a sound coming from behind, turns and see's a cat, he in turn shoots said cat, the hole was about the size of a silver dollar.  They called the WDFG and Klickitat County Sheriff and told their story. Justifiable self-defense.  This happened this last spring near the Mill Pond for those familiar with the area.

Well see that is also another thing I worry about when coyote hunting. If a coug sneaks up on me from behind like that I can assure you either the AR's going off in a blaze or or my 9mm.

SS

[carpsniperg2]

  I am not saying to let them stalk you "If" you see them and are that worried about them. Shoot to scare them away. But if you kill something, they will look at all the evidence, including the tracks "if they can find any". To see what might have taken place.

[CAMPMEAT]

I wouldn't worry about it one bit. If you're that far back in the woods, you can't wait for a witness or anything else. You come first, the cat 2nd. Tell the Game Warden if you want and tell him where it's at. Go home, drink a beer and relive the story and wait for the State to get ahold of you. Oh, maybe take a picture to help with your story.  

[Suncrest Sniper]

What's the likely hood of even being stalked if we have the dogs with? Our 8 yr old is a Rott/Lab mix and our baby is a 9 month old Akita/Lab mix. Both are excellent protectors and although they live with three cats they love to beat the snot out of them. Here's a picture of my girls on duty in the front yard.






SS

[CAMPMEAT]

Slim to none.

[Suncrest Sniper]

Slim to none.

That's what I thought. They do go with quite often but if it's to hot or a rough sharp rocky area they stay home.

SS

[Ridgeratt]

or quit hiking in rail canyon!!

[Suncrest Sniper]

or quit hiking in rail canyon!!

If your referring to the area by Scoop Mt. and Mc Millian Mt. (Tum Tum) we've been there several times. Always great hikes and not far from our place in Suncrest.

[Ridgeratt]

I was just guessing but it is also a wintering area and you will find cats in there! that is a travel corridor from the loon lake area and they follow the deer herds

[Suncrest Sniper]

I was just guessing but it is also a wintering area and you will find cats in there! that is a travel corridor from the loon lake area and they follow the deer herds

Interesting.

SS

[huntnnw]

Shhh..   

[Hangfire]

The chance of a attack by cat, coyote or bear are very rare. Makes interesting discussion but not much more. If you are truly being attacked, rushing at you growling while advancing on you,  etc. You haven't time to worry about what will happen defend you and yours. Leave it lay, call the sheriff or game warden. Be honest straight forward and I have never heard of a problem. You will get questioned about what happened. Being attacked is the first thing a person says who can't resist to shoot. A animal shot any where other than the front is going to raise suspicion. I would say one shot in the side better have been stalking your kid or animals. Never be afraid to be honest.

[billythekidrock]

The chance of a attack by cat, coyote or bear are very rare. Makes interesting discussion but not much more. If you are truly being attacked, rushing at you growling while advancing on you,  etc. You haven't time to worry about what will happen defend you and yours. Leave it lay, call the sheriff or game warden. Be honest straight forward and I have never heard of a problem. You will get questioned about what happened. Being attacked is the first thing a person says who can't resist to shoot. A animal shot any where other than the front is going to raise suspicion. I would say one shot in the side better have been stalking your kid or animals. Never be afraid to be honest.

 
I totally agree with this post.

And I will add that if this is a real concern (scared of cougars) for you, maybe you should hike elsewhere.

[Suncrest Sniper]

The chance of a attack by cat, coyote or bear are very rare. Makes interesting discussion but not much more. If you are truly being attacked, rushing at you growling while advancing on you,  etc. You haven't time to worry about what will happen defend you and yours. Leave it lay, call the sheriff or game warden. Be honest straight forward and I have never heard of a problem. You will get questioned about what happened. Being attacked is the first thing a person says who can't resist to shoot. A animal shot any where other than the front is going to raise suspicion. I would say one shot in the side better have been stalking your kid or animals. Never be afraid to be honest.

 
I totally agree with this post.

And I will add that if this is a real concern (scared of cougars) for you, maybe you should hike elsewhere.

I realize that the chances of it ever happening are slim to none, I just like to be ready for anything. As for being scared......that's not so my friend. If I was scared of them I wouldn't have ever moved out here in the first place and I would have never started hiking either. Give me a break man. This was never about being scared, just about the legalities of having to shoot one in the case of an attack. I've lived in rural areas all my life and the outdoors has always been just like another room for me, it's just a much better looking room out here in WA.

SS

[rasbo]

If something is after you,you wont be thinking about laws...do what ya gotta do ...worrying  about laws protecting yourself at home or in the woods could get ya hurt...judged by 12 or carried by 6 not a tuff choice..

[rock]

My grandpa is a Biologiest who works up in canada alot. He said he's has cats stalk him quite abit. they are just curious animal by nature. If they get closer than 75 yards though He said he usualyy gets his gun out.

[JackOfAllTrades]

Wasn't there a Hunt-Wa member that arrowed an Elk in Idaho and turned around to get the cat that had stalked him? A 2 fur day.

It can happen. But like others said, no law is going to stop me from defending myself or partner in the woods. Goes for a cat or bear if I'm huntin say.. Grouse. If a wild animal approaches a human without fear, then there's cause for alarm.

-Steve

[Bob33]

In my opinion, if you have to think very long about the legal consequences of an act like this, then it's probably not legally justifiable.  If something is about to eat me or harm my children, I really don't care too much about what the law says at that point.

[Jburke]

In my opinion, if you have to think very long about the legal consequences of an act like this, then it's probably not legally justifiable.  If something is about to eat me or harm my children, I really don't care too much about what the law says at that point.

 
And for me this goes for two legged and four legged.  If I feel threatened at all you bet your ass my .45 will be in my hand.  It's a judgement call on whether or not to shoot but most of the time your not going to have time to think about it, it's going to be a reaction kind of thing. 

[ICEMAN]

Agree, don't get caught up in the "what if" game. Defend yourself at all cost, everytime.

[bobcat]

No question in my mind about defending myself or my family from whatever the threat may be. I wouldn't even think about it. However, I question whether it would be necessary to report a cougar kill (or bear) to authorities. After all, they're not an endangered species, or even rare. So what's the point?

[bearpaw]

A farmer whos ranch we lease was in the field plowing and a cougar walked right past at 50 yards, not even afraid of the running tractor in broad daylight. This happenned twice so he took his video camera and the third time he got the cat on video. I have seen the video.

A couple days later, a mother and son were turkey hunting in a blind on the same property, the cougar actually rubbed the blind they were sitting in. Two days later the cat stalked to within 15 feet before the hunter sitting under a tree spotted the cat in the act of stalking. He shot at the cat coming toward him and twice at the cat running away. Next day his uncle was calling birds and the cat stalked him, he also shot 3 times. Everyone was so scared they all seem to have missed or at least didn't severely wound the cat, we found no blood.

I called the WDFW and tried to get permission to take the cat out with the hounds. They wouldn't allow it. They said a hunter could shoot if the cat was close and in the act of stalking. I'm still upset over that. We sort of backed off hunting for safety reasons and the cat did disappear. Don't know if he is still alive or if he was wounded and finally died. Hopefully the cat does not show up at any of the nearby neighbors when their kids are in the yard.

My point is that you are perfectly legal to protect yourself from a cat in the act of stalking you or attacking you. As others have said, don't shoot it unless it is head-on, they will inspect the scene. And the SSS isn't always going to work. Local wardens found a dead cougar recently and are looking right now for someone who may have been in the area and may have killed the cat. I know this because I and others known to frequent the area have been contacted for possible info. As someone else said, honesty is the best policy.