Collecting Hazards

[Dan W.]

I learned what it feels like to be hunted yesterday....

Here's a friend I made while collecting, who seemed a bit too interested in tasting me. Fortunately we were both able to part ways unharmed! I was blessed with an amazing experience, great photo's,... and my life.











I took a workshop with Marc Noelanders a couple of years ago, and the subject of collecting was brought up. (Likely because the workshop material was collected Douglas Fir's.) I made the off hand comment that I carry a gun, and Marc asked why. I told him that I often see rattle snakes, and there are bears, cougars and wolves in the mountains where we collect. He promptly said he would leave the collecting to me. -- At that point I had yet to see a mountain lion (cougar) in the wild. But No more! It was a thrilling and slightly terrifying experience.

 

[Kodama16]

Yea I'd would have soiled myself.

 

[coh]

Wow, those pics definitely give the impression that you were being stalked. Glad you made it out without incident!

A few years ago I was hiking in the California coastal mountains (Big Sur area) by myself and was somewhat unnerved by all the mountain lion warning signs that were posted. This was after reading in the paper about how mountain lions were stealing pets (dogs, cats) right off porches in the town of Big Sur. The whole hike I felt like I was being watched.

Chris

 

[Dan W.]

The cat followed/stalked me for over a mile, even after a warning shot. I never kept my back to him and I did my best to keep him somewhat intimidated by me. He wasn't scared of me though, which is the most concerning part of it. He was within 15 yards of me at one point. (I initially stated 25 yards on facebook, but after judging distances later, he was much closer than I had originally said.)

 

[bonsaiBlake]

Wow what a trip. Saw one in field when I was a kid. But never anything that up close and personal. Just more affimation for why I never enter the wilderness without a side arm.

Between the gators and cougars, I'm just wating for the day I read the headline "Person found mauled by bear: All that remains is the right hand grasped firmly around a twisted knarled pine tree"

That last shot of the cat belongs in a magazine. Absolutley stunning animal.

 

[chansen]

and there are bears

I hope you carry a big gun...

 

[Dan W.]

I carry a 40s&w M&P with 16 rounds in it for most purposes. It's what I was carrying yesterday.

I carry a 44mag when I'm dealing with larger animals. Accuracy is more important than size though.

 

[edprocoat]

You mean you never tried to pet the kitty ?



ed

 

[Dan W.]

The thought never crossed my mind Ed... Maybe next time.

 

[Dan W.]

Chansen, we only really have black bears in this part of the state. If there were Grizzlies around I'd be carrying something much larger.

 

[Dan W.]

BonsaiBlake, there are more pictures on my facebook pages. Here:

https://www.facebook.com/wyomingwildphotography

https://www.facebook.com/backcountrybonsai

Everyone, look for a detailed blog post soon!

 

[JudyB]

Pretty sobering when that stuff happens. We just got back from a backpack in CO. this year, can't afford the weight of a sidearm of any sort, just bear spray. Glad that you got back safe, if you can say, where were you when you saw him?

 

[Dav4]

Ok, Ok, kinda scary....now where are the pictures of the trees you marked or collected?

 

[johng]

That is pretty scary! But, what a cool experience! Glad everything worked out. The risks we take collecting....and people wonder why collected trees are so expensive!!

 

[Cadillactaste]

(((GULP))) Yikers! That would have kept my mind off of collecting or marking trees. Were you able to get any bonsai marking or collecting done?

 

[Dav4]

What an incredible experience! I'm glad you and the cat made it through the encounter in one piece. So beautiful! I get the same sort of rush seeing images of animals like this one in their own world as I do seeing pictures of great bonsai. Thanks for the post!

 

[Dan W.]

John, I think I'd rather face these guys any day than a gator!

Dave, I collected two before the cat showed up. There was no collecting after that. I had to keep all of my attention on him and getting back to the truck with out being pounced on, and before it got dark. They are truly majestic creatures, and I'm very glad I didn't have to kill him. No pictures of the trees yet, but they were both Lodgepole pines.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Glad you got two collected prior to your visitor. I agree...smart move not taking your focus off of the cat. Anticipating your photos of the collected materials.

 

[Dan W.]

Judy, I can't say exactly,... but I was in the Laramie mountain range near my home. The lions are thick in this area. We know that with any real amount of time in the woods we've been watched by these cats. What's rare is an encounter, or even just seeing one. And even more rare is one that doesn't avoid humans.

 

[wireme]

That happened to me once. Two of us in the dark being circled stalked and followed by a mom and two cubs, big green spooky eyes reflecting the light from our flashlight.

At one point we tried throwing some stuff to scare her off and that just caused her to crouch as if to pounce. I had a very strong impression that she was just waiting for us to turn and run. Watching those big glowing eyes cresting the rolls in the terrain as we backed away was quite the experience! It was also about a mile and 1 hr back to the vehicle. We lost sight of the cubs after the first half hr but mom followed us all the way to the car.
The scary thought is all the times they watch us and we don't see them, a couple times I've seen cat tracks in the snow following my ealier footprints on my way out of the bush.