Rifle, Colorado

From TheDenverChannel.com of September 19, 2005

Hunter Shoots Mountain Lion In Self-Defense

DOW Won't Cite Hunter Who Feared For His Life

A Denver-area hunter has quite a story to tell after killing a mountain lion that threatened to attack him.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife did not identify the hunter, but said he was hunting deer with a muzzleloader near Rifle on Friday evening.

The man was stationed in a ground blind when he heard hissing and turned around to find the lion threatening him. The man threw things at the mountain lion, but the cat continued to advance, he told the DOW.

He shot the lion and notified wildlife officials who said he wouldn't be cited because he fired in self-defense and was afraid for his life.

The mountain lion was about 2 to 3 years old, according to the DOW. They did not know why the cat charged the hunter.

The shooting took place north of Rifle in Garfield County.