[Vermilion Villager]

Originally Posted by arbud

Have been a member of this forum for 2 years and am moving here with my wife and little dog in June 2023.
This has been discussed many times before I know. I might not make any friends here, just looking for informed answers. Not funny little comments that aren't funny.
Have spent plenty of time down here in village of Santo Domingo. Walked my dog in morning light on a leash. I actually clean up after her and take it home with me. I do take her out on a leash at night to do her business.
Now from what I have read over the last couple of years, because of human encroachment on wild lives environment, there is a chance of an encounter with bears especially.
I have read that you can not kill a gator or bear. Do not know about coyotes, foxes, or bobcats.
I am however getting prepared to protect what is near and dear to me.
A super powerful flashlight for going out at night so I get no surprises. With some aid just inside in case there is a bear that I have bothered and he wants to eat me or my dog.
In walking around the neighborhood with my wife and dog will have licensed concealed aid in case of an encounter with anything that wants to eat any of us.
Now I know I have left myself wide open to antigunners and make shift lawyers but guess what I am completely competent on the use of the things I am talking about and will protect all of us.
Would anyone like to talk me out of my paranoia.

Good Lord....just what we need.

[Laker14]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

Hey, that's MY line!

I know....that's why I used it.

[Vermilion Villager]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

Personally, I'm more afraid of the COUGARS at City Fire!

Saw one in action over at Brownwood last night.....It was like an R rated episode of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom.......I yelled "look out Jim!!" but I was too late.....poor guy didn't have a chance.

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by defrey12

Dude, I don’t know what they’ve been feeding you up north, but leave your gun at home…in a safe…where it belongs. Are there bears? Yes. Best course? Walk away. Be more worried about getting too close to the ponds with fluffy. Gators LOVE dog meat.

Not being contrary or "snarky", serious question: should one really walk away from bears ? All advice from folks who study and deal with wildlife say to NEVER retreat from a bear, that it can be a deadly mistake. Honestly would like to know which is correct, walk away or stand your ground ?

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Also Bulls, Raptors, Pelicans, Hornets, Timberwolves, and Pelicans.

And some interesting stories from time to time about the damage done in some of Florida's planned, well populated, communities by wild boars (that can destroy an entire lawn over night !) and also, of all things..... PEACOCKS ! Florida is NOT the place for people who are truly afraid of everything, including insects ! Even those who live in big city high rise buildings are apt to encounter packs of roaming vicious dogs, as well as giant RATS and cockroaches, so, can't destroy every living thing without also destroying human kind ? ?

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Pairadocs

Not being contrary or "snarky", serious question: should one really walk away from bears ? All advice from folks who study and deal with wildlife say to NEVER retreat from a bear, that it can be a deadly mistake. Honestly would like to know which is correct, walk away or stand your ground ?

I will go with folks who study and deal with wildlife issues vs. the I think folks on here.

[jimmy o]

Originally Posted by arbud

Last thing in the world I want to do is kill an animal. I am no cowboy. I hit what I aim at. Just want to be prepared that is all. Would love to just carry some bear spray. 35.00 rather than much more. But there sure are a lot of shoulds. I love the villages just do not want to end up dead as the population increases. Not worried about gators. You are stupid if you let your pet run near the water.
If you come between a mother bear and her cubs lets see if the loud noise or spray would work. Oh shoot it didnt I am mauled.

I too have a ccw but no hand gun can protect you from a wildlife attack. Hand guns are protection against humans, period. The only time a bear, coyote, wolf, bobcat, panther or gator will attack you is if you surprise each other. In that case there would be absolutely no time for you to draw and shoot. If you think you would have time, you’re kidding yourself. To surprise each other you need to be in the brush. Wildlife is virtually invisible in the brush and would be on you in less than 2 seconds. Besides, even if you stalked, sneaked up and shot a bear point blank, the bullet would not be effective enough before you got mauled. Bear spray is the only proven effective bear deterrent. It would also work on any other wildlife that you may encounter. BUT, you have to be carrying the spray as there would be no time to dig it out of your pocket.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Vermilion Villager

Saw one in action over at Brownwood last night.....It was like an R rated episode of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom.......I yelled "look out Jim!!" but I was too late.....poor guy didn't have a chance.

So, you pulled a Marlin Perkins and hid with the cameraman while Jim Fowler was getting mauled by the cougar?

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Laker14

I know....that's why I used it.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by Teemotay

Brother, you are far too worried about something that has little to no chance of happening.

I spent my life’s work in the forests of Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, Northern California, Minnesota, Michigan and Mississippi. I’ve had encounters with Grizzlies, Black bears and most other forest-dwelling creatures that could put the hurt on you. I’ve met black bear mommas with cubs and solitary bears alike and not one time was I attacked or severely threatened and I had two dogs with me when we met momma bear.

I remember correctly, you told me that you were old enough to have met Lewis or was it Clark on one of your adventures. . .

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by Pairadocs

Not being contrary or "snarky", serious question: should one really walk away from bears ? All advice from folks who study and deal with wildlife say to NEVER retreat from a bear, that it can be a deadly mistake. Honestly would like to know which is correct, walk away or stand your ground ?

Depends on the bear. As a wee lad I remember Dad telling me that "the only part of a bear you'll see in the woods is his (hindquarters) as he's running away from you". And that's true--most of the time. But a sow bear with cubs can be dangerous especially if you get in between the bear and the cub(s) or the cubs are in a tree that you're standing under.

Best advice in a case like that? Survival Drill #2.

[Teemotay]

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy

I remember correctly, you told me that you were old enough to have met Lewis or was it Clark on one of your adventures. . .

That wasn’t me. I’m soon to be 66.

I do not believe that I ever told you anything.

[Teemotay]

Originally Posted by Teemotay

That wasn’t me. I’m soon to be 66.

I do not believe that I ever told you anything.

I have read their journals and trampled some of the same trails as they did, however.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by Teemotay

I have read their journals and trampled some of the same trails as they did, however.

I knew that it was you who told me that story. . .

seriously, i was joking but the persona you described read like a true american pioneer. . which is one of those boyhood dreams of the all the east coast office computer couch potatoes. .

computer coach potato guy

[Teemotay]

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy

I knew that it was you who told me that story. . .

seriously, i was joking but the persona you described read like a true american pioneer. . which is one of those boyhood dreams of the all the east coast office computer couch potatoes. .

computer coach potato guy

I kind of thought that you were kidding me, but I never know how to take some of the responses on these threads.

I appreciate your note.

Meriwether