Rumor of loose leopard
 

There is a guy (guys, family, I don't know) about 5 miles from my farm who has an exotic game "sanctuary". A few years ago he lost a mountain lion that was seen around for a whilebut has since vanished and now he has supposedly lost a black leopard or panther or whatever you call it (and yes, I too am wondering how this guy still has a license to keep exotic animals since he seemingly looses them every couple years). I say supposedly because I have not seen it and it hasn't been in the papers, but I talked to a farmer who had a horse mulledand I don't know what else would do that in Ohio (the horse did survive). Anyway, I am rather nervous about this thing. If it is hungry it will go after me, my wife, or certainly my baby son in an instant. So, even though it is against the rules, would you be taking say a .44 mag revolver into the field with you? I don't know it just has me a bit spooked. I also wonder if it will survive the winter (I hope not).

Rest assured, if I get a shot I will take it and post pictures (hopefully not of my mangled body after I gut shot it or something). I would also get a full body mount of the sucker if the DNR would let me.

I am definitely going hunting, but I am seriously thinking of carrying a side arm.

RE: Rumor of loose leopard
 

I dont know about ohio but in indiana it is illegal to take any kind of a sidearm out with you while bow hunting. But that would make one heck of a bow kill mount:D. Just a thought.

RE: Rumor of loose leopard
 

I wouldn't break the law based on a rumor. If that was the case we'd all be "packing" in case Bigfoot, The abonable (sp?)snowman or The lock Ness Monster came at us.

Have bow will travel!

RE: Rumor of loose leopard
 

I see your points, butI have onethoughtI can't get out of mymind: I would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6. I know the chances of seeing this thing are slim to none, but there is still a chance.

And I agree about it being one amazing bow kill. I bet I would be the first person in Ohio to do it, if not the world. Ok, that's it I am bowhunting panther this year:D

Really, I hope it is already dead. That thing would be too dangerous.

RE: Rumor of loose leopard
 

In PA it's illegal to carry any type of firearm during the archery season. If I were you I'd check the local game laws.
If it is a violation I wouldn't chance it. If your that concerned about actually being attacked I'd go out and buy one of those big bottles of pepper spray that they usewhen hunting in griz country.

RE: Rumor of loose leopard
 

If possible call that guy and ask if he really did lose the thing. That may take all the worrying out of the situation. I definitely wouldn't be carrying a sidearm, that might bea little hard to explain.

RE: Rumor of loose leopard
 

Well heres my 2 cents, it is usually against the law to carry anything other than a .22 with #12 ratshot. To me that would be better than a bow. If you were rolling around with this on your back you can better beleave rat shot in its face would cause it to retreat. From what I hear from panther attacks you usually dont have that chance. The victems never knew what hit them. We have a picture floating around here locally where a game cam took a pic of a 6 pt buck at night walking by and about 6-8' behind it was a mountain lion crouched fixing to pounce on it.8' !!!! and the deer never knew it was right behind him,,,,amazing they are so effecient.

RE: Rumor of loose leopard
 

Lahoyt..That pic circulated everywhere. It was photoshopped. One guy even made the cougar sneaking up on Jessica Simpson.

RE: Rumor of loose leopard
 

DWD2001, you are right. I don't know his phone #, but I should knock on his door and ask. Don't know why I didn't think of that first.

Gee, that makes me feel better [&:]

RE: Rumor of loose leopard
 

I don't worry too much about big wild cats, we have some around here where I hunt, most are very afraid of humans. The only problem I see is that this one, being raised around humans and possibly abused by them, could be dangerous, and not fear humans like it should. Chances of the two of you actually meeting up would be very slim though, I believe.

RE: Rumor of loose leopard
 

Look at it this way..no matter who wins you or the leapord..you'll be famous

RE: Rumor of loose leopard
 

I hunt southwest ohio, what county are you talking about?

RE: Rumor of loose leopard
 

Preble county

RE: Rumor of loose leopard
 

I wonder if cats like cajun seasoned bowhunter as much as bears?:D:D:D

I hunt surrounded by the world's largest land carnivores and yes, I pack a snub nosed .44 mag. BUT I have no delusions of it making me safer. If a bear, or especially a cat wants you, it's going to have you before you even remember to drop your bow, get your release out of the way, unsnap your holster, draw the gun, stuff it against something vital on the furry critter on top of you, and manage to pull the trigger. It's a noise maker to scare curious or mischevious critters off and it's a security blanket because even an inocuous little .44 mag. is better than beating on them with your fist. If you want to be safe around predators while hunting the best thing you can carry is a good dose of sense. Educate yourself about the critters you're dealing with and avoid behaviors that are going to cause you undue trouble around them.

RE: Rumor of loose leopard
 

Do you have a CCW? In Michigan you can carry concealed. I always do. I would do it in your situation even if it was illegal. Even if you are stopped by a DNR officer as long as you're pleasant he won't frisk you or even ask if you are carrying.

Tom

RE: Rumor of loose leopard
 

Huntingson, I must live very close to you cause I'm only 3 miles down Bantas Fork from Heaven's Corner,the place you are talking about. He takes in mistreated pets and poisonous snakes and all kinds of critters. I'm also good friends with Joe the horse owner you mentioned. That attack took place on Stotler Rd. Brian our game officer from Preble told me about some mountain lion sightings on Twin Creek Rd. a couple of months ago that he was going to check out but I haven't talked to him since then to find out if they were true or not. But he did say the state doesn't regulate them so you wouldn't need a tag to hunt for it. He also said if anybody went hunting for it to make sure you had enough gun because from what people were calling and telling him it must be one big cat. Theres also a bunch of wild boars that got loose from an illegal hunting operation ce to Hueston Woods.

RE: Rumor of loose leopard
 

I don't see a problem with carrying a sidearm if the panther is loose.I would rather do that than feel unsafe everytime I entered the woods. It's not like your'e going to use it to deerhunt. Sometimes its neccessary to break the law to protect ones'safety, IMO.

RE: Rumor of loose leopard
 

Yes, I have a CCW, but you still can't legally carry a sidearm while bowhunting because they think you are going to shoot your deer with your pistol and then say you bow shot it. I agree with ducsauce though, I am goint to do it anyway now that I am convinced it is not just a rumor.

DWS, yes, we must just be a couple miles apart. My parents, my grandparents, and my farms are all on Twin Creek. I hope I get to shoot that thing while coyote hunting.

RE: Rumor of loose leopard
 

Well put! There was that monster bear they killed in Alaska that killed two people before it was found and killed. One guy was a hiker that had time to empty his .38 into the bear not doing much to it of course.
Or was that another urban legend as well, sigh,, I dont know what to beleave anymore, lol.

RE: Rumor of loose leopard
 

I got the official scoop today from a county deputy. All of the animals from that sanctuary have been accounted for. So it appears nothing got loose. They are saying that the cat is a mountain lion. There has been sightings from Germantown all the way up Twin Creek to Darke County.

RE: Rumor of loose leopard
 

There are more and more dangerous animals showing up all the time in Ohio. I had 2 identical large dogs/coyotes/wolves right in my yard the other day. Yotes and large cats of some kind are being reported all the time and I'm in the least likely part of the state for these things. I really can't say what they were. They scampered off before I could get a shot off. I ran out the door and yelled at them, one just turned and started at me, no fear, just sizing me up. Ran for the guns but they were all locked up with the key somewhere else. Grabed the bow and four shafts. Came out, they'd disapeared. Expected to hear the chickens screaming, nothing.Down around Rio Grande we have something huge as well leaving some nasty scat. A wild dog down there was on the hunt for me 2 years ago. I like most of Ohio's laws but they have some that should be taken to court and overtunred. Laws like these that presume guilt before a crime is commited should not be allowed. We finally can take a radio to keep in touch. I hate laws like this.