From: viking@iastate.edu (Dan Sorenson)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: Weapon for defense from cows
Date: 22 Nov 92 20:20:43 GMT
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA

In <1992Nov21.134449.10187@reed.edu> todd@reed.edu (Todd Ellner) writes:

#I've got a self-defense situation that's a little different from most
#of the ones I see here. It's cows.

	You're in trouble.

#usual contact with people is to get branded, injected, and for some gelded.
#Most of them aren't any problem, but a certain large bull and a couple of
#steers who haven't quite gotten the idea have given us a few nasty moments.
#To complicate things, we don't have many nice open fields, it's mostly
#trees with a couple of logging roads. We don't see the beasts until we round
#the bend and "Moo?!".

	Hire some cowboys and take the cows to the sale barn.  Your best
method of not being hurt is to get rid of them now.

#1) A 12-gauge pump shotgun loaded with slugs and kept with the tools wherever
#   we work. Pro: we can afford it, and my wife (who is not as strong as I)
#   can handle it. Should stop cows.

	Don't bet on it.  You've got 1500lbs of swinging beef coming after
your hide, and this beef is directed by a brain that is well armored and
not doing much by way of thinking.  You know how a heart-shot deer will
run 50 yards before figuring out it's dead?  Cows are the same way, and
when enraged or frightened enough to charge are not perceptive to this.

#2) Article .303 of the Animal Control Code :-) Pros and cons mostly the same.

	A better bet, if you have time to aim.  Go for the throat, not the
head.  I'd trust nothing under a .30-06 with jacketed bullets for that.
They'll take several blows with a spike-driver (sledge-hammer with a 1.5"
diameter head but just as heavy) before penetrating the skull.  The heart
and lungs are good too, but if it's coming after you the throat is your
best bet against the frontal area.

#3) 10% oleoresin capscin (sp?) spray.

	You will annoy it.  It will stop, shake its head, and then turn
you into a stain on the ground.

#4)  A good .44 magnum.

	Semi-jacketed hollow points to the throat, it might work.  No
chance of penetrating the skull.

#5) Various smaller caliber handguns.

	Will possibly scare it, certain to annoy it.

	Your best bet is to get rid of them.  If you don't have the time
to aim your weapon, running towards *the cow* while yelling and waving
your hands stands about as great a chance as anything on this list.  I
used to raise cattle in my youth, and once a cow or bull decides to take
you on your only hope was a large fence to leap over and then keep
running in case he meant to press the point.  In all situations, back
off if possible -- cattle are like any other animal in that they think
you're a threat and react.  If you're making tracks they might still
nail you, but usually will halt the attack if you don't provoke them.
They will out-run you, and while they rarely keep tromping on your or
goring you, once will hurt you very badly.  Make noise when you're
walking about -- they won't seek you out that way.  A baseball bat of
aluminum with a foam-rubber hand grip works good too.  Side-step
behind a tree or post and whack them with all your might on the nose
or on the back and they go by; the first will annoy it but possibly
teach it a lesson (might piss it off too, but will slow it for a few
moments so draw gun and fire), while the latter will likely cause
temporary paralysis and hopefully break the spine.  Don't bet on it,
use the time to kill the critter with a good shot.  Don't take shelter
in the truck and expect to wait it out -- it will destroy the truck
and possibly hurt you in the process.

	In short, get rid of them.  If you can't do that, scare them
away before they see you with some noise, and if they don't respond
shoot to kill with the biggest thing you can carry.  There's just
too much meat with too little intelligence there to play with.

	This also applies well to wild boar, bears, and other hardy
animals you may find in the wild.  For guns, remember there is no
3-shell limit to hunting cattle, and they will take lots of aimed
fire to bring down quickly.

< Dan Sorenson, DoD #1066 z1dan@exnet.iastate.edu viking@iastate.edu >
<  ISU only censors what I read, not what I say.  Don't blame them.  >
<  "This isn't an answer, it's a pagan dance around a midnight fire  >
<   written in intellectual runes." -- Rich Young                    >