Thought my hoarder friends would appreciate these pics...

I woke up and went to the barn to feed everybody Monday morning and noticed someone missing. Went out in the pasture to look for my ram, and found him. Well, a little bit of him, just the head and legs!








Man, that was something big that got him! Ate almost all of him in one sitting, and he weighed about 100lbs. I knew what it had to be, and since it's illegal here to use dogs to hunt anymore, there are a lot of them these days. So, I called Fish and Wildlife. They set up a cam, and came out the next morning at dawn with houndsmen and a pack. The carcass had been dragged about a 1/4 mile down to my neighbor's pond, were the dogs picked up the scent. An hour or so later and another half mile up the hill, and they found him.

A big ol' Tom! The ram kill was about 100' from my front door, and I take a lot of moonlight walks to my hilltop with my little dogs in tow. I'm sure he's been up there with me on more than one occasion. While I hate to see such a beautiful creature destroyed, I have to admit I slept way better last night.




Here's me with him....

 

WOW!

I hope you walk with Smith and Wesson too.

 

That was my instant thought too. Just not used to anything like that here in Maine. Wow. Glad they got him… where there's one… you really need to be packing dude, specially on "midnight" strolls.

 

Holy crap, that's like something out of a horror movie...Sorry for the loss of your ram but glad you got the beast....

 

What does it taste like?

 

Nate, I've been told- ahem*- that it's actually pretty good in a stew.
NW-W- Sorry about the ram but I'm glad they found the bastidge quick. I do not like the big kitties. Had a kid killed by one in '91 while he was jogging a few miles from me in Idaho Springs. There's one or more in the canyon here, everyone is on the look-out. If spotted, there won't be any calls to DOW. Just- "Bring beer and a shovel."

 

WOW! I thought I had problems keeping the fox and coyotes away from the chickens and goats. Have you considered a donkey or two as guardians? I don't know about big cats but they kept our canine predators at bay.

I'm thinking I'd probably prefer taking the 30-30 along with the S&W for something that size.

 

damm straight … those are some big cats… I'd be launching lead pills as fast as I could.

 

Once treed, a lot of them are dispatched with a .22 Mag. The problem arises when they're hunting you.

 

Yeah, I'm thinking that WOULD be a problem… yup…

 

They make some BIG S&Ws these days.

 

Which end of that does the most damage… ?

 

S&W makes a .500 Magnum now too. I'd imagine the business end makes the most damage.

 

Thanks everyone, it was a pretty exciting day!

Nate, I've actually eaten it a few times, and honestly, it's freakin' gross! I had some cougar "pepperoni sticks" that were tolerable, but I went to a friends' BBQ once and they had cat burgers on the grill. I tried 'em. Not for me.

 

Well, since we're going there, the big kitties aren't all that tough from a structural standpoint. But, they're quick. Quick and very quiet, almost silent.
A Glock 17- 19 would be fine, if you see them coming. Wear a Kevlar neck wrap for when you don't expect them-(they go for your neck first, from behind).
They like to hang in trees around here, or rock outcroppings above you,- (I have a cool story about that from a friend,- possibly saved a few clueless kids)
Oh yeah, their necks are not tolerant to .338 WM bullets- (I have another cool story about that, also.)
Depending on where I'm at, I carry either a Walther P-22 w/ SSS. 60 gr.LR, or a Ruger .454 Alaskan- (chunky but awesome).
I'll shut up now...

 

Here is what we have in Maine, this one taken about 150 ft from my front door.
There are more of them out there. Another was seen this fall about the same spot the first one was shot. I don't shoot, but I don't care to have those bob cats around. Once these came, all the rabbits are gone. So is my old house cat of 17 yrs.