A Wisconsin bowhunter named Ben Karasch had an unexpected encounter while hunting for deer in Buffalo County. Instead of spotting a deer, he found himself being stalked by an adult cougar. The cougar got within 15 yards of his tree stand, putting Karasch in a dangerous situation. Fearing for his life, Karasch made the decision to shoot the animal in self-defense. After reporting the incident, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources conducted an investigation and determined that Karasch had acted in self-defense, resulting in no charges being brought against him.
Karasch described the intense moment when he first spotted the cougar. He initially mistook it for a deer but soon realized it was a cougar due to its large size and distinctive features. The cougar continued to approach him, never once turning away or showing fear. Karasch attempted to scare it away by waving his hands and yelling, but the cougar persisted. Feeling trapped and vulnerable, Karasch made the difficult choice to shoot the cougar.
His arrow struck the cougar in the shoulder at a distance of 13 yards. After the shot, Karasch observed the cougar fleeing before leaving the area himself. He immediately contacted the DNR hotline to report the incident, believing it was the right thing to do. The following day, game wardens and a biologist accompanied Karasch to track the cougar’s blood trail. They eventually discovered the dead cougar approximately 120 yards from Karasch’s tree stand.
The decision not to press charges against Karasch was based on the fact that he acted in self-defense. The cougar’s weight was measured at 128 pounds, and it was determined to be a two-year-old male. This incident marks the first time a cougar has been shot in Wisconsin in 115 years. Biologist Mark Rasmussen believes the cougar may have originated from the Dakotas, similar to previous cougar sightings in the state.
While there have been 23 verified cougar sightings in Wisconsin this year, Rasmussen suggests that many of these sightings may involve the same individuals. Conservation Warden supervisor Lt. Tyler Strelow commended Karasch for self-reporting the incident and emphasized that it should not serve as an excuse for other hunters to shoot predators such as cougars, bears, or wolves. The only permissible circumstances for shooting these animals are for protection of livestock and human safety.
