Lion pounces on hunter

Backpack saves man from more serious injuries

A big-game hunter was jumped by a stalking mountain lion Sunday in the Swan Valley's Squeezer Creek drainage.

The young man, who was not identified by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, managed to walk several miles to reach his vehicle, then drive himself to Kalispell Regional Medical Center for treatment.

The hunter suffered a gash on his leg as well as puncture wounds and scratches, according to a press release from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. He was treated at the hospital and released on Sunday.

Warden Chuck Bartos interviewed the hunter several times and said the man was hunting alone Sunday morning when he heard a scream that sounded like a mountain lion. A short time later, he heard a growl and turned to see the mountain lion only 10 to 15 feet away.

"The man dropped his rifle and rushed to get behind a tree. The lion quickly caught up and pounced on the hunter's back, knocking him into the tree," a press release from Fish, Wildlife and Parks states. "The collision caused the lion to lose its grip and the hunter was able to reach his pistol and fire a shot."

The noise apparently spooked the lion, causing it to flee. As it ran, the hunter fired several more shots in the lion's general direction.

The hunter picked up his rifle and made his way back to his pickup truck, along the way encountering two hunters from Kalispell, J.B. Stone and Scott Daumiller.

"We asked him if he saw [any game] and he said, 'a lion, but it saw me first,'" Stone told the Inter Lake Monday. "I asked him if he was OK and he told us what happened."

The hunter's pants and backpack were torn, but he did not appear seriously injured, Stone said.

"He was pale and his hands were shaking like a leaf," Stone said. "He was still coming down off of this thing. I mean, he was wound up."

Stone said the hunter told them he had run the four miles back down the road while looking over his shoulder for the lion.

Bartos said the man got to the hospital with help from relatives and received five stitches for a claw wound on his right calf. He was treated for scratches on his back and a few puncture wounds on the back of his head.

Bartos said the man's backpack probably prevented more serious injuries because the pack was shredded, reflecting the protection it provided.

Stone agreed, saying that if he hadn't been wearing a backpack, "he would have been screwed."

Stone said the worst wound was on the hunter's right calf, where the cat slashed through the man's gaiter and pants.

He related one humorous note from the injured hunter: "He said, 'Oh, no, my wife is never going to let me go hunting alone again.'"

Eric Wenum, a regional wildlife conflict specialist, said it was the first documented lion attack resulting in an injury in Northwest Montana in many years.

Wenum said the chances of a lion encounter increase at this time of year as hunters use calls and rattling antlers that get the attention of predators as well as deer.

As deer congregate in their traditional wintering areas, signs of mountain lions can be expected to follow.

Encounters between people and the elusive cats have been rare.

"Given the number of people who recreate in the forests of Northwest Montana, and the number of lions, there's always lots of potential for an encounter," said Jim Williams, regional wildlife manager. "But even considering this potential, documented attacks are extremely rare."

Wenum said there is no response to a mountain lion that guarantees a person's safety, but there are some rules of thumb:

. Do not run from a lion. Move slowly and back away.

. Make enough noise in lion country to avoid a surprise encounter.

. Keep youngsters close and in sight at all times.

. Never approach a lion. Give it a way out of a close situation.

. Stay calm and talk to the lion in a confident voice.

. Do not turn your back; maintain eye contact.

. Do all you can to enlarge your profile. Do not crouch.

. If a lion behaves aggressively, arm yourself with a large stick. If the lion attacks fight back with whatever means you have.

. Pepper spray is very effective in deterring a lion attack.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com