60+ year old thread.

We have cats in our neighborhood and in the open space next to our house. Kinda big cats...

One of these walked past our front door a week ago and another was in our back yard a while back



Those guys, plus the coyotes in our neighborhood take a toll on the outdoor cats


However, they are not the apex cats around us....These cats are



Both photos are not by me, they are by local individuals.

 

I've got a cougar sighting on my bucket list. With all the big cats around here, and all the times we get out into the wild, you'd think I would have seen one. Smelled them... but no sightings. Cripe, I've seen stuff here that isn't even supposed to live here, but not a single cougar.
I guess I'll just have to settle for seeing the old lady. She's half a year older than me and I give her crap about it half of the year.

 

I’ve not seen a cougar this year but it’s still August

 

Many years ago while on a combo trout fishing/deer scouting trip in the Tahoe national forest I was stalked by a cougar. It was definitely scary. I was armed with a 44 mag but it was still a long stressful hike back to camp. Also saw one in the same area while I was deer hunting. I don’t think he knew I was there. Bears, mountain lions and 2 legged predators are the reason I’m always armed when I go afield

 

Wow, great pictures. We're taking care of our son's Bengal cat while he is in the process of moving; according to the vet, he is only three generations removed from the wild, and yeah, some times you can definitely tell there is something wild going on in him. The key to keeping him calm is providing him with lots of stimulation; we've found putting him in our collapsible wagon and toting him around the neighborhood calms him down a lot. This picture was from earlier today:

 

I carry all the time. I don't pack a 44 because it can't be concealed. Not sure my old bones or my ears could take the abuse anyways. But yeah, I'm not sure if being out on a hike or being in a grocery store without a weapon would be a great idea. Of course I've never seen anything I needed it for, but I believe in the Scout motto...

 

I’m ccw and also have a Utah ccw which gives me reciprocity in 30 plus other states. Always carry my Glock 19 9mm. When in the wilderness I generally carry a 357mag and when in grizzly country carry a 44 mag. Actually when I was stalked by the cougar I was carrying a 357. That was back in the 80’s. Didn’t get my first 44 mag until 1987 when I went back packing/trout fishing in the Montana Bear Tooth wilderness (grizzly country)

 

Once mountain biking on a single track that had tall dense foliage on both sides I was stopped dead in my tracks by a huge Bobcat in the middle of that trail that was barely wide enough for my bike. That cat stood its ground and just stared at me, showing its teeth when I tried to scare it off with my bike......It won, I drug my bike through that foliage and went around the beast.

 

Might have had a cub or a kill just into the bush. You might have found out if you chose the wrong side to go around... lol

 

I like 357s. I just bought a lever action Rossi with peep sights. Nice saddle gun to go with the hip mounted Ruger. If a bear can get through them he deserves what he gets.

 

On a 12 mile hike in Glacier National park I rounded a bend on a narrow trail and found a 20 something girl on her knees sobbing. She had just been bluff charged by a Grizzly moments before. I stayed with her until a group came down and sent her with them back to camp and I continued on up to glacier.

The threat of a real Grizzly attack was in all our minds for a photographer had been killed and eaten by a Grizzly sow and her Cubs about two weeks earlier in the park.

I foolishly felt I was safe because I had my 357 magnum in my fanny pack....Ya, I know, illegal to have firearms in National Parks...Silly me.

A few hours later I saw my one and only Grizzly. It was massive and I was alone. I realized my 357 would not make a dent in that critter, that's why the Lewis and Clark expedition members were terrified of the bears out west, their guns couldn't kill the Grizzlies. That huge critter just ambled along, payed no attention to me.

I got home and went to our local gun shop and traded up......

 

Yikes

 

Gun or no gun I would be scared shitless being stalked by an apex predator. A hand gun would give me some sense of security, I carry my.45 when camping / fishing, mostly for the sickos out there. I only have to deal with black bears, they usually move along if yeld at . Keeping your camp bear aware goes a long way in reducing encounters.

 

Morning kids

 

Chunky Peanut Butter

 

Only one bear sighting, way off on the horizon, I can remember here. Any more than that, I'm outta here.

 

I just visit on camping trips

 

Morning 60+

 

Squirrels are territorial, if you remove one another moves in to take over. I found it to be a loosing battle. Ground hogs usually do not come back once relocated.

Ken: do not test drive one, you would probably make the purchase. 16 years from my 09 to my son's 24 makes a big difference. Just shutting the door is amazing. My 09 sounds like a tin can when shutting the door even though I have sound proofed the door. His door has a solid build sound. The ride on his is smooth, resembling more of a car like ride. The SR5 is not really built for off road use even with 4WD. I am sure you could mod it to be a decent off road vehicle. I would not mind trading in my 09 but the wife would have issues.

There might be local cat rescue organizations or a cat rescue person in your area that will take your trapped kitties. I would urge anyone to donate to a reputable car rescue organization. $25 goes a long way to care for the rescued cats.

TY. Our cat is our second rescue. He is a good boy.

Good morning. Ortho doc appointment today. Going to see what is happening with my left patella. Hopefully it is healing better.

 

Good morning Bill. Hope the back is doing better today.