Just curious if anyone has any stories of a time they had to pull their revolver and deter an animal that was after them, e.g., hog, bear, mountain lion, etc. Not sure I’d do too good with a revolver without more practice. I don’t mean hunting - I mean an “oh crap!” moment.
Anyone had to quick draw on an animal?
- Thread starter Wfevans4
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cracker57
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We just had a neighbor attacked be 3 pit bulls, they chewed her up bad. When police arrived the dogs turned on them until one officer shot one of the dogs.
This is one of my biggest fears, shooting someones pet that is causing mayhem with me or someone else. Now dealing with the owner could go very wrong very fast. you know the dog was turning his life around and was a very good dog, wouldn't hurt a fly.
I am lucky, never have I had to draw on anything or anyone.
I did have to shoot a hog once that was after me, but that was because I had already put a 44 mag round into him, the second one stopped that attack.
This is one of my biggest fears, shooting someones pet that is causing mayhem with me or someone else. Now dealing with the owner could go very wrong very fast. you know the dog was turning his life around and was a very good dog, wouldn't hurt a fly.
I am lucky, never have I had to draw on anything or anyone.
I did have to shoot a hog once that was after me, but that was because I had already put a 44 mag round into him, the second one stopped that attack.
old bear
US Veteran
Once many years ago. I was on patrol in an iffy section of town, when a res sent his young "Doberman at me. The damn dos was in a mid-air leap heading for my face. I drew as he was in mid-air. I remember screaming puppy don't. Thank goodness his aim was off and I did not have to kill it. Scary few seconds.
hdfinder47
Member
Soon after I moved onto a new piece of property a large cur dog started showing up. Had a collar and tag but every time I tried to coax it up to get info from the tag it would growl so I backed off. Next door neighbor told me it had done the same to him. It also was aggressive towards my golden doodle pup. The third time it appeared it jumped on my pup and was doing a job on her so I drew and put 2 rounds of 9mm JHP center mass. Police were supportive and I told them I would be ok with talking to the owners to explain what happened (turns out the dog was a guard dog for property a couple of acres over) but I never heard from them.
mckenney99
Member
Yep. I was handling a deer strike crash late one evening shift. The buck had fled the scene after the impact. My standard policy was to track wounded deer down so they didn't suffer or wind up back on the roadway or draw other scavengers into the area of the roadway. I had a Sheriff's Deputy buddy helping me search as we walked through a pitch black rural backyard full of overgrown gardens headed for the adjoining woodline the buck was last seen entering. I had my flashlight in my left (non-gun) hand but hadn't unholstered my pistol yet, because we hadn't gotten to the woods yet (a mistake). All of a sudden, as my flashlight beam swung directly in front of me, I caught a large buck charging directly at me. I don't remember doing it, but apparently I drew my pistol, swung my flashlight up into a perfect Harries stance and fired a single shot, (that's all the time I had). At the shot, the buck flipped over backwards landing about 5 yards in front of me dead as a door nail. The single 180gr .40 S&w round had hit the deer just slightly to the right, directly between the eyes. All the Deputy could keep saying over & over was HOLY *&%@.
If you come on my property when my dogs are out you are in for it for certain. Some severe nose poking and vicious nibbling. A fate worse than death.
Rick
Rick
OutAtTheEdge
Member
Well, "had to" and "quick draw" may stretch it a bit, but...
I keep a .22 pistol (it was a Ruger MK 1 Target at the time) in a holster zip-tied to the front carrier on my ATV, which occasionally comes in handy as I work on the fences and pastures and such. I was leaving the barn and heading into one of the pastures one day, when I spotted a huge pine snake slithering away. Stopping the 4x4 and grabbing the pistol, I took a couple quick steps forward and stepped on the tail of the snake, stopping it before it could make it to some dense weeds. Immediately, the trapped snake turned back and struck at me, so I snapped off a hasty shot from the hip and put the bullet neatly through it's head. Of course, there was nobody around to witness the shot.
I keep a .22 pistol (it was a Ruger MK 1 Target at the time) in a holster zip-tied to the front carrier on my ATV, which occasionally comes in handy as I work on the fences and pastures and such. I was leaving the barn and heading into one of the pastures one day, when I spotted a huge pine snake slithering away. Stopping the 4x4 and grabbing the pistol, I took a couple quick steps forward and stepped on the tail of the snake, stopping it before it could make it to some dense weeds. Immediately, the trapped snake turned back and struck at me, so I snapped off a hasty shot from the hip and put the bullet neatly through it's head. Of course, there was nobody around to witness the shot.
About 40 plus years ago I was handgun hunting with a 45/70 TC. I shot a ground hog, next thing I know its barreling toward me, I had to quickly break open the action reload and shoot. Not sure what its intentions were the 1st shot badly grazed it the second killed it.
DRankin
Member
As a cop: Grizzly bears, aggressive or injured moose and nasty dogs.
Living here on the very edge of the known universe: Bats, rats, rattlesnakes, bears, coyotes and maybe a couple other things I can't remember.
Almost forgot... then there was a sea lion that was about to capsize our small boat..............
Living here on the very edge of the known universe: Bats, rats, rattlesnakes, bears, coyotes and maybe a couple other things I can't remember.
Almost forgot... then there was a sea lion that was about to capsize our small boat..............
walkin' trails
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Yeah once. Didn't have to fire, however. I was working something near a home. When I started up a trail on next the property line, the homeowner let their rottie out of the house, and out of the yard. It came after me with a vengeance. I cleared and pointed. The hound apparently had been in those circumstances before, stopped about seven yards from me and we had a bit of stand off. I finally heard the homeowner, who I realized was standing inside the screen door, calling the fiend back. I suspected the owner had been watching all along hoping to see me become a chew toy.
On a training note, I had been using a Safariland thumb break top draw holster on my duty belt. During some handgun retention training, on of my compadres grabbed my holster and launched me in flight, bending the shank. I went shopping and bought a Safariland SSIII retention holster, but was unconfident in my ability to defeat all of the devices to draw the pistol under stress when qualifying at the range. For that reason, I'd been swapping the old thumb break back onto my belt on range days. That day on the trail confronting the dog, however, I had apparently stored enough of the required skills into my procedural memory because I was able to subsconsciously draw and present as fast as I ever could with no fumbling. Never went back to that top draw.
On a training note, I had been using a Safariland thumb break top draw holster on my duty belt. During some handgun retention training, on of my compadres grabbed my holster and launched me in flight, bending the shank. I went shopping and bought a Safariland SSIII retention holster, but was unconfident in my ability to defeat all of the devices to draw the pistol under stress when qualifying at the range. For that reason, I'd been swapping the old thumb break back onto my belt on range days. That day on the trail confronting the dog, however, I had apparently stored enough of the required skills into my procedural memory because I was able to subsconsciously draw and present as fast as I ever could with no fumbling. Never went back to that top draw.
Same here. I have a 90lb pitbull that can not be trusted around other dogs. Especially small one. He will rip them apart. Yet the cat runs the house.If you come on my property when my dogs are out you are in for it for certain. Some severe nose poking and vicious nibbling. A fate worse than death.
Rick
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Doriangray6
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Not exactly a quick draw situation but one evening as it was starting to get dark my father, who was deathly afraid of snakes, and I were walking back to the truck after an afternoon of quail hunting when he heard a rattlesnake buzzing right next to where he was walking and put 5 rounds of 12 gauge birdshot into where the sound was coming from as fast as he could pump the action.
We were pretty close to the truck by then so came back with a flashlight and found the remains of a "very" shredded good size rattler with 8 rattles.
We were pretty close to the truck by then so came back with a flashlight and found the remains of a "very" shredded good size rattler with 8 rattles.
Fishinfool
Member
As a leo, there were several times I had my gun in hand with aggressive dogs, but never had to shoot one myself. I have also had a handgun in hand several times when being "treed" by moose up in Maine, but again never had to shoot. Several times I have layed in a tent with a gun in hand as black bears scavenged around the camp site at night.
Then one day, while camping / kayaking in northern Maine, I had to shoot a black bear that was stalking me, and wouldn't back off. Was carrying a .45 1911 with 230 grain hard ball. Do to the physical condition of the bear, and his actions, the Maine FWS ruled it a predatory attack.
So in reality, I only really needed a handgun just once in 60 plus years of spending time in the woods. That was enough.
Just for context, it should be noted I spent a lot of time photographing moose and black bears, and purposely placed myself closer on occasion than I should have...
Larry
Then one day, while camping / kayaking in northern Maine, I had to shoot a black bear that was stalking me, and wouldn't back off. Was carrying a .45 1911 with 230 grain hard ball. Do to the physical condition of the bear, and his actions, the Maine FWS ruled it a predatory attack.
So in reality, I only really needed a handgun just once in 60 plus years of spending time in the woods. That was enough.
Just for context, it should be noted I spent a lot of time photographing moose and black bears, and purposely placed myself closer on occasion than I should have...
Larry
THE PILGRIM
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I did pull down on those Texas Hair Goats.
They was sneaking me in the Dark!
They was sneaking me in the Dark!
Couple of times on hogs while hunting them. Numerous times on cattle but just put rounds over their heads.
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Not with a revolver, but with a issue Sig-Sauer P-229 .40. On a call of "Bad Dog" I left my patrol car and approached the house in question. Suddenly three (3) pit bulls rounded the house and charged me. I drew (SS III Duty Holster) and fired. Each dog was "Double Tapped" in the chest. ( Speer 180 grain JHP) The only thing that turned them was the shot sounds. Neither dog acted like they had been shot. I retrieved my 12 gauge from the patrol car and requested "Backup". When backup arrived we found the dogs and finished them off with shotguns. Lesson Learned: on a bad dog call exit patrol car with the 12 gauge.
moosedog
Member
I had a Muskrat problem in my pond years ago. I had traps set on the edge and under the water.
I came home from work on days and had my department issue 4-inch model 19-3 in an off-duty holster. I went out back to check and it was a hot, humid day. I saw one trap was gone into an old dry muskrat hole and the chain was sticking out and was still secured to the peg in the ground. I gave the chain a tug expecting to see a dead or near dear Muskrat on the end when one really angry Racoon came out of the hole and tried get my leg. I drew the 19 and fired one shot into it at about two feet away. The Racoon surprised me, and I surprised myself.
I came home from work on days and had my department issue 4-inch model 19-3 in an off-duty holster. I went out back to check and it was a hot, humid day. I saw one trap was gone into an old dry muskrat hole and the chain was sticking out and was still secured to the peg in the ground. I gave the chain a tug expecting to see a dead or near dear Muskrat on the end when one really angry Racoon came out of the hole and tried get my leg. I drew the 19 and fired one shot into it at about two feet away. The Racoon surprised me, and I surprised myself.
Drew on a German Shepherd with a Sig P226 in .357 sig that was about to bite me.
His owner got there just in time to save his ass.
Surprisingly the owner wasn't too upset with me
His owner got there just in time to save his ass.
Surprisingly the owner wasn't too upset with me
David Sinko
Member
Yes, all on the job...
I was sent to a dog at large call in the city park. This was the nice part of town and the park is large. I found the rottweiler sitting on the grass about 30 yards off the roadway with a detached leash coiled up next to it. The dog appeared to be abandoned. I figured I would grab the snare out of the trunk and try to snare it. As soon as I walked around the car and it was no longer between us the dog jumped up and charged me full speed. I was surprised that I was able to manage a perfect draw from the clumsy Level 3 retention holster but then realized that all the millionaires in the city lived immediately behind the area I had to shoot. I decided that I would wait until the last possible second and fire one shot. I was standing there waiting when suddenly the dog stopped its charge less than 10 yards away from me. It looked at me and barked and tried to intimidate me but wouldn't come any closer. A standoff. After a few minutes of this I turned to walk away and then quickly turned around to face the dog. It was trying to sneak up and attack my back. Obviously it wasn't stupid but was surprised by my lack of fear. This went on for a while but then I had to leave and go to a hearing. Other officers had showed up with dog treats and were eventually able to snag him.
Another time I was sent to the ghetto for a pit bull that had just eaten a cat. I was walking through a detached garage with a car in it when suddenly the pit bill came charging across the deck. It's face was covered with blood, presumably from eating the cat. It ran into the garage and slammed into my legs in an attempt to get through me. I was wedged between the car and a wall and couldn't get the gun out of the holster. As I was attempting to draw I noticed a young woman with a small child standing on the other side of a glass door at the deck, watching all of this. I was kicking at the dog and decided that I would shoot it down through the hips so that I didn't accidentally shoot myself in the leg or shoot directly toward the audience. As the gun finally cleared the holster the dog turned and ran away in the direction it had come. I didn't shoot and the dog lived to eat more cats.
I did have to shoot a pit bull that was one of three dogs that had escaped a yard in the 'hood and were roaming the city streets. It bit my gun hand without provocation and then my shin as I was kicking it off me. Again I was able to pull off a very good draw as the dog was running around me to attack my back. I shot the dog dead center and that was the end of that. There were a few other officers and bystanders out at the time but the .40/180/Gold Dot did not fully penetrate the dog.
I was sent to a dog at large call in the city park. This was the nice part of town and the park is large. I found the rottweiler sitting on the grass about 30 yards off the roadway with a detached leash coiled up next to it. The dog appeared to be abandoned. I figured I would grab the snare out of the trunk and try to snare it. As soon as I walked around the car and it was no longer between us the dog jumped up and charged me full speed. I was surprised that I was able to manage a perfect draw from the clumsy Level 3 retention holster but then realized that all the millionaires in the city lived immediately behind the area I had to shoot. I decided that I would wait until the last possible second and fire one shot. I was standing there waiting when suddenly the dog stopped its charge less than 10 yards away from me. It looked at me and barked and tried to intimidate me but wouldn't come any closer. A standoff. After a few minutes of this I turned to walk away and then quickly turned around to face the dog. It was trying to sneak up and attack my back. Obviously it wasn't stupid but was surprised by my lack of fear. This went on for a while but then I had to leave and go to a hearing. Other officers had showed up with dog treats and were eventually able to snag him.
Another time I was sent to the ghetto for a pit bull that had just eaten a cat. I was walking through a detached garage with a car in it when suddenly the pit bill came charging across the deck. It's face was covered with blood, presumably from eating the cat. It ran into the garage and slammed into my legs in an attempt to get through me. I was wedged between the car and a wall and couldn't get the gun out of the holster. As I was attempting to draw I noticed a young woman with a small child standing on the other side of a glass door at the deck, watching all of this. I was kicking at the dog and decided that I would shoot it down through the hips so that I didn't accidentally shoot myself in the leg or shoot directly toward the audience. As the gun finally cleared the holster the dog turned and ran away in the direction it had come. I didn't shoot and the dog lived to eat more cats.
I did have to shoot a pit bull that was one of three dogs that had escaped a yard in the 'hood and were roaming the city streets. It bit my gun hand without provocation and then my shin as I was kicking it off me. Again I was able to pull off a very good draw as the dog was running around me to attack my back. I shot the dog dead center and that was the end of that. There were a few other officers and bystanders out at the time but the .40/180/Gold Dot did not fully penetrate the dog.
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Once. Southern AZ Javelina HAM season had to get a 6in 27 out of a Galco DAO pretty quickly. Fortunately had already unsnapped - just in case.
hdfinder47
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4 small puncture wounds and a bit stiff for a day - Doodles don't seem to have any fight in them but are great dogs overall.
Good!!!! Glad she's ok. I'm always concerned about animals getting hurt. I could never be a vet. Can't stand to see animals especially young ones injured.
Rick
Kimberpross
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It seems the dogs you should be concerned with are the ones the owner tells you won’t bite.
So what was the thinking behind killing a pine snake?
Kimberpross
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A friend was working for a coal mine, they were blasting and he was in the rural area knocking on doors telling residence they were going to blast when he came to a house with a Doberman in the yard. No one was home and the property looked sketchy (meth). He was walking to his work truck and the dog started being aggressive coming to him staying just out of reach. Each time he turned to climb into the 4 wd truck the dog would close in to bite. He found a rock hammer behind the seat while trying to climb in. With hammer in hand he turned to climb in and quickly turn and placed the spike end of the hammer into the dogs head. End of attack.
You were probably between the groundhog and its hole.
I had that sort of thing happen to me once 50+ years ago. I was cutting brush in a fence row when it ran right at me. All I had was a pair of large nippers with 24” handles, and swung them at the groundhog as it passed by my left leg. I only scored a glancing blow which did no harm. In about one second it disappeared down a hole hidden in thick brush and weeds about 10 feet behind me that I had not seen yet.
Kind of a startling experience for a 16 year old.
Blueandnickel
Member
When I was living in Havelock, outside of Cherry Point in the early ‘80s, I heard a bunch of screaming, so naturally I went outside to see what’s up. A Havelock cop was struggling with a young man outside the man’s El Camino. The man was trying to unleash his Doberman hitched in the bed, while the cop was trying to get him not to. He kept yelling, “I’ll shoot the dog, don’t do it.” The man kept screaming back , “FY, he’s gonna bite you.” Then looked at me saying, “Help get this @#$ off me.” Yea, like I’m gonna help you defeat a cop.
A few seconds later he was able to get the dog lose, the dog lunged at the cop, the cop’s eyes got wide, then the Doberman licked the cop from his chin to his forehead, jumped out of the bed and took off down the street.
All the countenance went out of the bad guys face, he slumped his shoulders, and put his hands behind his back.
True story.
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