CO: Self Defense Against Mountain Lion at 16 feet

Dylan Ross, of Montrose, Colorado, was in the woods, hunting mule deer on 5 November, 2017. He was sneaking through the woods, a little after daylight, when he heard a noise. He turned to his left, and saw an adult mountain lion up hill from him, and less than 20 feet away. As he shouldered his rifle, the lion hissed and took two steps toward him. He fired, but the lion kept coming, and he shot a second time. That stopped the lion.  There are two videos at Dylan's facebook page. After reporting the shooting, he went back up the mountain and shot a very nice Mule Deer. From facebook.com/dylan.ross:

Words can’t even describe my hunting experience yesterday. I was and hour over a vertical mountain before it got light. I got to the other side and was sneaking through the timber then suddenly I hear something to my left. I turned and it was a lion! No more than 5 yards away. Right when I turned she hissed and came at me. I killed her at 8 steps away from me. It’s One of the scariest things that’s ever happened to me. I took these mountains for granted. All the way down that mountain all I could think about is I was one moment away from never seeing my family and my 2 little girls again. I killed the lion at 7:34 A.M. then came all the way back down that mountain. I reported it to DOW, I showed them all the video evidence and gps coordinates and they said it was all legal. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to keep the lion.

So after all that mess I went back to hunting around noon still shaking like a dog from the lion. I just kept recalling that lions hiss ten steps away it was like sneaking through the woods and stepping near a 120 pound rattlesnake. Anyways I shot up the mountain to one of my favorite spots and bam there was buck right when I got there. I didn’t count points I just knew he was big enough and POW he was dead. This all happened at 130. I couldn’t figure out what the hell happend!!!! A lion tried to kill me 6 hours ago, now here I am sitting next to the nicest buck I’ve killed. I’m very thankful for November 5th, I’m also thankful for DOW Matt I didn’t get his last name, and most importantly to be alive and enjoy my family and friends and be able to share this story with them and you!!

All I can say is watch out, I thought I was the hunter and I was being hunted. I’ve never felt fear like a lion coming at me and killing it 8 steps away. She was aged at 4 or 5 years. My buck was 26” wide and 203 pounds dressed.

Dylan is obviously an experienced, competent hunter, as confirmed by his success with mule deer and elk.  The big cat was a 120 lb female. A hundred and twenty pound cat is a deadly threat.

The videos that Dylan took at the scene make it clear what happened. A lion coming at you from less than 20 feet away is not a lion that is avoiding humans.

The videos and pictures taken at the scene also so the power of digital media as a way to protect your freedom. Digital recorders are becoming as important to your Constitutional rights as the access to arms protected by the Second Amendment. 

©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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