No wonder I love my Henry's so much! A look back to my childhood...

They're not Henry's, but close enough!

Big-cat activist gives own theory on mountain lions

...Based on his own observation of a "big cat track" in Clarence Fahnestock State Park ("It wasn't a bobcat track," he said) and the recurring reports of mountain lions in Putnam and beyond, the Mahopac expert discounts the explanation that every mountain lion supposedly wandering the wilder fringes of suburbia is a formerly captive animal... wardy, a nurse, and her husband, a teacher, watched a mountain lion in their yard in December. The couple live off Nichols Street, near protected state and New York City watershed land.

"My husband and I could not believe what we were seeing, but it was a completely unobstructed view, and the animal stood still for quite a while, swishing its long tail back and forth," she added... MORE

A Comment from Bob~

I'm beginning to hear comments in the press that there's something not to be believed about the recent slew of mountain lion sightings. Some are claiming that group hysteria is responsible.

The fact is that sightings are reported from person to person, hunter to hunter, and called into the DEP on a regular basis. These reports rarely make the press because they are not taken seriously. When I reported a close encounter with a mountain lion right outside the DEP office a few years ago, no one contacted the media for a follow-up. The DEP didn't even bother stepping out their door and walking a minute down the wooded road to verify my report. I was treated like an ignorant child who couldn't figure out the difference between a dog and a cat (read the letter below). I'm betting my report never was put to paper or spoken of beyond the person who answered my call.

As far as this being a recent trend, don't you believe it. Mountain lions are out there, and they are numerous. Keep an eye out and be careful when predator calling, especially when alone. Watch your children in the woods, while hiking along paths and walking down back roads where you live. Conceal carry when possible but never shoot unless attacked. Carry a camera and look for prints and evidence after a sighting. Don't keep the information to yourself. Report it to the press. Stay safe. ~Bob

The following is a response to a recent report that I emailed into the DEP after I was warned of mountain lions being spotted in the area where I walk. This was not far from the area of my own sighting. You decide. Part of this email has already been proven wrong by the recent road kill.

Mr. Rich,

I would not let the possible presence of a mountain lion stop you from walking where you want to. As I said we do not have a wild population in this state or any state within 1000 miles. People mistake deer, coyotes, bobcats and other animals for mountain lions all the time. We have investigated at least a 100 alleged mountain lion sightings over the last 10 years or so. All turn out to be bobcats, coyotes or other
animals. I assure you, at a quick glance a bobcat can look like a small mountain lion. People often see a trailing back leg they mistake for a long tail. People that have spent their entire lives in the woods have sent us pictures claiming it was a mountain lion.......all of them turn out to be bobcats upon our inspection. We pick up 30-40 bobcats, 10-20 bears, 60-70 fishers, and thousands of deer each year on the roads of
this state. We have never picked up a mountain lion. We have never been given an actual picture of a mountain lion (imagine this with all the trail cameras out there). We have never been given a picture of a track that even resembled a mountain lion track. Talk to a biologist in any nearby state and they will tell you the same thing. As far as the horse, a bear can do a number on a horse (although they rarely attack livestock) I assure you, we do not have a wild population of mountain lions in CT. Hope this helps,


Jason Hawley
Furbearer/Bear Program
CT DEP Wildlife Division
Sessions Woods WMA
Burlington, CT
860-675-8130
jason.hawley@ct.gov

Necropsy to be done on mountain lion killed in Milford

"...It was also revealed this week that scat samples -- animal droppings -- found in Greenwich earlier this month are from a mountain lion, Gardner said... There have been several mountain lion sightings in Greenwich and throughout the state this month, with the latest coming Monday when a driver reported seeing one in Tolland... MORE

DEP's stance on mountain lions disquieting

"...Keep in mind that until the DEP had an actual dead mountain lion in its possession it maintained there were no such cats -- cougars, pumas or ghosts of the forest -- living in the Land of Steady Habits... the DEP, without any scientific backing from the mountain cat carcass, thinks we should believe these two sightings so close together are of one and the same animal. That's illogical. And dumb. The public is better served if our environmental protection folks warn us to pay attention to our surroundings, keep a close eye on wandering tots and tell us how to better fend off an attack if we find ourselves in the vicinity of these cats... MORE

'Credible' Report Of Mountain Lion In Fairfield

FAIRFIELD—

Paul Hiller was on his way to work Friday morning when he saw what he's certain was a mountain lion cross the road about 100 feet ahead of his car.
Hiller, Fairfield's chief fiscal officer, has seen a lot of photos of mountain lions in recent days and is certain what he saw about 8:20 a.m. Friday was a mountain lion...

DEP spokesman Dennis Schain said the agency investigates all reports, but has not substantiated any sightings. DEP also continues to believe the mountain lion killed in Milford had been in captivity but escaped into the wild. There is no native mountain lion population in the state, Schain said... MORE

WHEN WILL THE COVER-UP END?! OK DEP. If you are so positive that there are no mountain lions in CT, open the hunting season on them. What do you have to lose? Or maybe you're afraid that once we get out there with predator calls we will start stacking them like firewood on your doorstep.

Check out yours truly on the Maximum Eyewear page

Maximum Eyewear.com posted these mugshots on their page to promote my shooting and reloading goggles. CLICK THIS LINK to visit the site where you can get a good look at these fine products. They're nice people who sell good stuff. Check it out, and tell them I sent you!

They're Everywhere: NBC crew spots mountain lion in Bethany...

"Two NBC Connecticut staff members spotted what appeared to be a mountain lion in Bethany on Tuesday morning. Photographer Dave Mulligan and reporter Brynn Gingras were traveling north on Route 63 in Bethany around 7 a.m. when an animal that looked like a mountain lion darted across the road from the woods. They braked to avoid hitting the animal and reported the sighting to the state Department of Environmental Protection..." MORE

Another Mountain Lion Sighting in CT!

What's it going to take the the DEP to admit that we have a mountain lion population in CT? I'm waiting for them to tell us that it's the same one that was killed a few days ago and it resurrected from the dead... My buddy just corrected me by saying that cats have 9 lives. Ya! That's the ticket!
Greenwich Mountain Lion Reportedly Spotted Again: Police
The publicly accessible trails at a 300-acre wildlife sanctuary in northwest Greenwich were closed Sunday following a reported sighting of a mountain lion on a private property that abuts it, officials say... READ THE STORY

EVEN THE CT DEP CAN'T DENY THIS MOUNTAIN LION SIGHTING!

State police photo

MILFORD, Conn. -- State police were investigating an accident that occurred Friday night on Route 15 in Milford near exit 55. Police said a Hyundai Tucson operated by Sigred Lacson of Newington was traveling in the left lane when it struck an animal. The Department of Environmental Protection confirmed the animal was indeed a mountain lion and was deceased at the scene. The driver was uninjured. Officials have not said if the mountain lion was the same one that was spotted on Wednesday in Greenwich.
http://www.wfsb.com/news/28205779/detail.html

The DEP owes me and many others an apology for treating us like idiots over the years for reporting mountain lion sightings, claiming that there are no mountain lions in the state of Connecticut. If you follow this blog you know that I sighted one at close range about three years ago, and the DEP has the audacity to say that I saw a bobcat or a coyote. I don't know about you, but I learned the difference between a cat and a dog before I could walk.

There's obviously a cover-up going on. I suggest that the DEP stop playing games with the citizens of this state (who pay their salaries) and take action immediately to warn those walking or recreating in the reported areas.

I've been stopped twice while walking the block during breaks at work by salesmen making sales calls. One warning came just a month ago by a salesman who said he had three sightings in recent days. About a year ago, another salesman stopped me and told me his story. He said he had gotten out of his car to make a sales call when all of a sudden he spotted a mountain lion come out of the treeline and sit in the middle of the road. He said he was so afraid that he went into the lobby of the nearest building.

I called the DEP right after the most recent contact and they once again blew me off with the same excuse; that the salesman saw a coyote or a bobcat. It's obvious that they must believe that none of the state's residents are as smart as people who work for the DEP.

A new High School was recently built down the street from where these sightings took place, and young people regularly walk back and forth from school down these roads. If a student ends up getting mauled, I guarantee that excrement will hit the fan. I suggest that the DEP come clean.

How much would you like to bet that the official DEP statement will be that this was an isolated incident of an escaped house-pet? It won't work.

...DO I KNOW THE DEP OR WHAT?!...
"On Wednesday, after the sighting in Greenwich, the DEP issued a press release saying: "Based on photographs taken of the animal and other evidence, it appears that the animal is a mountain lion that has been held in captivity and was released or escaped."

I was thinking, if the DEP is so sure that this is the only mountain lion in the state, why don't they simply open up the season on them? According to the DEP, hunters would just be wasting their time and they would have nothing to lose. On the positive side, the sale of guns, ammo, camo, calls and such would increase. Instead of watching TV, sportsman will be getting exercise moving gear around the countryside during the time of year when nothing but coyote and chucks are in season. Or maybe, they're afraid that if we get out there blowing distress calls, we might start revealing what's really going on out there.

R. Lee Ermey shoots a Henry

Took this off my TV while watching 'Lock N' Load'

A flintlock poem by Scott Allen. Enjoy!

"A Poem from my brother....If any one is planning to get into flintlock rifles, this one is for you." ~Steve Allen

Read on my brother and you shall see of the trial of the flintlock and your younger brother me.
The research was solid the idea was sound but the devil was in the detail was what I have found.
With visions of Boone twirling in my head the rifle would get the meat I would get the bread.
The gun was purchased and was all apart, but I would assemble and polish with love in my heart.
With willing hands and good intentions I labored along without bad premonitions.
The day finally came to fire the grand old dame so I headed out the door to predestined flintlock fame.
I opened the lock and brushed with a feather,then I inspected the flint snug in fine leather.
I measured the powder with the skill of a surgeon, then I rammed down the ball without any urging.
Then with the small horn I filled the pan plum,but on passing the flint I split open my thumb.
With my thumb in my mouth the bleeding can't last, but the neighbor sure stared as he slowed when he passed.
When my thumb was all wrapped and the pan with dry prime, I looked at the target and knew it was time.
With eyes all asquinty I steadied my nerve, I looked down my sights with nary reserve.
The trigger was tightened and then fell the cock, white smoke then billowed but just from the lock.
The sinner was lowered to see whats amiss, then looking at the touch hole I heard a slight hiss.
The silence was shattered with a whiz and crack, and the flash from the touch hole turned my eye black.
The ball was unaimed and found a flat rock in its going, and upon its return it found my soft loin.
My eye is healing and will open a little,my pod is still swollen and it hurts when I piddle.
My thumb is draining and red and smells rank, it may just fall off from infection I think.
The rifle is stored my afflictions will pass, and the whole Dixie Gun Works can kiss my modern ass...

Love it! Thanks Scott and Steve! It's not all that often I come across a poem about a rifle. In fact, I have NEVER come across a poem about a rifle. I hope you consider writing us a Henry poem! Thanks again guys. ~Bob

ONE TRILLION

"CCI makes 1,000,000 rounds of .22 LR ammo daily. If you figure about 250 workdays a year, it would take four years to make a billion - and 4,000 years to make a trillion. So when the government says "We're 7 trillion dollars in debt" I hope this puts things into perspective." (Thanks to American Handgunner Magazine)