What's the law??

[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.