Just saw this!
http://www.heartlandoutdoors.com/index.php/scattershooting/story/mountain_lion_attack_in_illinois/

Glad he was ok. Wonder how the state will try to spin this?

Interesting, said he tried fending it off with his knife. Makes me wonder if any blood was drawn. Be undisputable if so, regardless of what animal it's declared to be.

On a side note, if you tell Jeremy about this he may never want to go mushrooming again.

I walked up on a Cougar that had just killed a fawn at the edge of a bean field when I was 11 while squirrel hunting. I thought it was just a deer until it flipped it's long tail up and looked at me over it's shoulder. Since I had only a old single shot 12 gauge with number 6 shot shells it didn't take me very long to figure out the correct course of action...

... Same 14 year old that tells his buddies that he lost his virginity this past summer at "Band Camp"? Show me the cat..

If he cut it with that knife, there should be some DNA.

If he had the piece of mind to get to his knife, whether it be in his pocket folded up or in a scabbered, why didn't he shoot it with an arrow?

'Cause of band camp..

If he had the piece of mind to get to his knife, whether it be in his pocket folded up or in a scabbered, why didn't he shoot it with an arrow?

He more than likely didn't have enough time. I didn't shoot the cougar I came upon because I only had time for one shot with that single shot old 12 gauge. A wounded big cat is far more dangerous than one that is just hungry or p-ssed off. That being said if the boy had not have fought back he more than likely wouldn't be alive right now...

My question, how does this "incident relate position wise to confirmed sightings in Mo.? Might lend a shred of credibility to his story. Crossing a railroad bridge late at night would be a piece of cake for a cat. And yes there should be something with the suspects DNA on it at the site of the alleged attack. That said, I'll wait for the evidence to tell the tail.

Just an update that the news story text and a video on YouTube of all places has been added at this link.

http://www.connecttristates.com/news/story.aspx?id=670053#.TopfT_2oPTo
Of course one can gather that it's one of those "here say" accounts. All that was found was his hat and bow at the scene. Seems a little suspect, especially when his hat shows the sign of "2 swipes", but his only injuries look like a raspberry blemish on his cheek. See what DNR says I guess, but looks like this is already headed to the unconfirmed status.

If that's the kid's hat in the picture, those "scratch marks" look real smooth and continuous, no hesitation, just as if the item scratching the bill of his hat was moved back and forth on the bill without lifting it. The marks on the left side of the bill illustrate what I'm thinking. Wonder if he damaged Dad's bow and needed a cover story.

Where are the reports from the sheep, pig, turkey etc, etc farmers animals being harassed by big cats? I don't recall any stories reflecting anything like that.. Not trying to be a naysayer (just having fun most of the time); but if there were a viable population of big cats, it wouldn't be a mystery.

I also wonder if some drug dealer accidentally lost his exotic animal somewhere around some of these reports. You know what I mean, the goofy people that get a little bit of coin and decide they need a Cheetah or some other nonsense like that, I could buy that more readily, but the naturally repopulation of SoIll is a big pill to get down. One. Odd reporting of a loosed "pet" that Leroy or Billy Jim Bob won't report to authorities (because never should hav e had it to begin with) and a viable population of big cats are two vastly different topics. (I still call Band Camp on this one) (but now you got me looking for them, thanks a lot LOL)

Something smells funny with that story....

My initial reaction while watching the video, after reading the story of "3" separate attacks by the cat was he fell while climbing or descending and either damaged something expensive or disobeyed strict safety guidlines set by the parents. IE must wear a safety harness while hunting alone or something similar.

I'll await the verdict of the DNR, although I'm pretty sure what it will be already. It's really sad that this had to go public so quick, at 14yrs of age I'm not so sure I'd have let a child speak with the news before a little more investigation was done.

One things is certain, all the traffic in and out of that area hunting won't be as good this season.

Edit: also meant to add, that he said the initial attack he was face down to the ground with the cat on his back. Cats go for the neck of their prey, either trying to inflict spinal injury or asphyxiation going to the throat. I'm not sure a grown man in that position could have fended off such a position, especially without any signs of mawling or claw marks as the cat latched on with it's paws.

i am not going to say whether it is true or not, but just to back up the fended it off with a knife story. I do know a guy who fought off a mountain lion with a knife but it was in montana when he was a young kid. But he had the scars to prove it, and believe me those scars were nasty. Dont remember how many stiches he needed but it was way more than i would ever want.

http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd447/jhbowhuntr06/2011-10-04082754.jpg
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd447/jhbowhuntr06/2011-10-04082730.jpg

My evidence of a mt lion attack. I also managed to shank him but the thing ran off with my knife!! Jk... I don't see this little guy fending off a mt lion 3 times. Looks like he got whooped by a turkey or some rabid squirrel!!

They had him interviewed on TV in Chgo, he didn't have any teeth marks or scratches, just a rug rash on his cheek, the knife was a fairly nice size sheath knife. I would think the DNR would get some DNA off the knife. My concern, the kid said he sliced him you would think a wounded predator should be gone after so it doesn't do it again, if in fact this is for real
A friend of mind in Wisconsin's uncle got his butt kick by a turkey 2 years ago and he had to go the the hospital, seems he shot the bird, bird started jumping around and the old guy didn't want to shoot it again so he was going to put the stomp on the old bird. The bird jumped up and spurred him in his face, he fell backwards and hit his head on a rock. He decided a 2nd shot was warranted after his head cleared.

Score one for the turkey, that is hilarious.. What was he going to save the cost of the shell, that's awesome.. LOL

He said he didn't want to ruin any more meat, to hear him talk about it is no less than hilarious, we were on a goose hunt and he wounded a goose, his nephew started teasing him about the goose kicking his butt, he gave him a dirty look and then put another shell his way, latter on he brought up his ordeal. He said his glasses got knocked off and he throw his shotgun off to the side so he had a heck of time finding the glasses so he could get the gun, he said he was floundering around as bad as the turkey right next to each other

Those are the kinds of friends that make trips fun.. That's good stuff!!

Dang, sounds like alot of Whoop Arse going on, look's like the critters are winning...:D

Reminds me of a three pound bass I caught @ Super Lake.. I swung it over the side, grabbed it to quickly unhook, release, and get back to chuncking and winding- but the bass had other ideas. He shook and I mean hard right at the wrong time for my hand position and sent both the main and the trailer hooks deeeep.. I screamed and yelped like a little beeeooootttccchHhh.. And the fish just kept kicking in deeper.. Yeeeooouuucchhh!!

Yowl!.......

It was just on the Breakfast Show on Channel 12, KFVS-tv. They interviewed the boy and his parents, but conservation officials have yet to confirm the attack. By the looks of his clothes and hat, he tangled with something. I am wondering how he got the cat off his back when he said it had him pinned face down with it's jaws open ready to clamp down on his neck! Scary tale in any case if it is true.

Boy now admits the story was not true.... fell out of his tree stand.

Boy now admits the story was not true....

Shocking! :rolleyes:

..fell out of his tree stand.

Must have landed on his head.

http://www.sj-r.com/breaking/x1581995200/Young-deer-hunter-admits-story-about-mountain-lion-attack-untrue

So im guessing he sliced up his hat and jacket with that knife!! So wouldn't that be a double whammy falsely reporting an attack from a mt lion and not reporting a hunting accident? If you don't wear your safety harness you'll get mauled by a cougar!!

That was the rug rash I saw, big cat would tear you up, ah heck so would a little house cat do more. I was messing around with my brother house cat, a small one and when that sucker had enough of me he sunk his fangs into my index finger I swear it went completely through,

(Band Camp)

From what I can understand, this was either the first time, or one of the first times the boy was allowed to hunt alone. A report I read indicated that his "mother would call him every 15 minutes or so".....in fact she said on a tv interview that she was calling him and he didn't answer. When he fell out of his stand he was afraid that his parents wouldn't let him go hunting again...........so he made up the story to cover up his mistake. Probably didn't think his folks would end up on tv.

No big deal, kid should have said a squirrel jumped on him. had that happen once startled the heck out of me and came close to doing a 3 point dive

Debunked Again!!!!!!!!

When this story first was posted I did a little research and came across the following. Its kinda funny because after you read it, you realize it is so similar its almost identical.

Not so sure falling out of a tree is the truth either. Kinda feel everything is to get attention.

The following is a true event that happened in September 23, 2011 .. in Idaho.

Idaho boy, 10, escapes clash with mountain lion (http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/sep/23/idaho-boy-10-escapes-clash-mountain-lion/)

Just about everyone on this site had this one pegged from the start.