North Americas Big Five

[Cam Moon]

@Newboomer Women are without a doubt the most dangerous game worldwide.

 

[Newboomer]

They say the most dangerous/treacherous of any species is the female.

 

[Wade J VanGinkel]

I think for north America it's going to be more of a personal list.
I'll eventually draw a sheep tag here in Colorado but that's the only way I'll hunt them. Failed on goats once but I will draw again.
Other than that I've taken caribou and moose.
Those 4 are on my list as beyond normal hunts for me.
Last is a wolf which I want the most. I've held 4 tags but only once as a primary hunt. Things always go wrong. Just can't get a bullet in one. Best chance was a miss at over 700 yards when I couldn't get the range until after he was gone. Under judged by about 75 yards.

 

[IvW]

According to Yellowstone Park from 1978-2000, two and a half times as many were attacked by bison in the park as there were by grizzly bears, and they killed the same number of people in that time frame.

The deaths I am sure will be related to human stupidity rather than the Bison actually being aggressive and killing the people as a result.

 

[thriller]

Dangerous in terms of claws and teeth or slip and fall off a mountain or just brutal traveling..
Wild Sheep (Stone/Dall ect)
Mountain Goat
Coastal Brown Bear
Muskox
Wood Bison
6th a Rabid Bearmanpig (location unknown)

It’s manbearpig I am super cereal!

 

[Certus]

The big 5 aren’t the big 5 because they’re dangerous.

When I read this thread title I tried to guess what they’d be. My list was:

Moose
Brown bear
Cougar
Bison
Elk

 

[Randy F]

Big 5?

Moose
Elk
Bear (any)
Bison
And I think I'd have to go with Mountain Lion for the fifth.

 

[Rare Breed]

I've seen this debated before but most people seem to leave out the fact that Africa's big five was done by choosing the hardest and most dangerous animals to HUNT. Personal this would be my list and I'm curious to see yours.
Grizzly
Polar Bear
Cougar
Bison
having a really tough time with this one but I'll put BLACK BEAR only because not everyone hunts alligators with a hook and line in which case that would be in.
Honorable mentions: Alligator, wolf, and moose. I would have put Jaguar but since it's completely illegal to hunt there is no real point putting it on here.

I agree with both your rationale and list except for bison. I would put moose instead

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

Walrus should make the list, dangerous elements to hunt them and the only huntable ivory in North America.

walrus
Polar bear
Brown bear
Mountain lion
Bison/moose

hook and line alligator is more fishing to my mind. If that’s the case honourable mention should be made to sticking a swordfish.

 

[Ravensview]

An enraged porcupine, an irritated skunk, a squirrel at the feeder when you try to get it out of there,

my thoughts really are
1) polar bear
2) kodiak / grizzly bear
3) moose
4) wild boar
5) black bear

 

[Longwalker]

All three species of bear will hunt humans for food if they're in the right mood. In order of that likelihood, polar , black , and grizzly. Grizzly may be moved up one notch because they also have a bad attitude and don't react well to invasions of their personal space. Cougars have killed enough people as a deliberate predator that they should make the list too. Last but least is my vote for mountain goat. They won't kill you themselves but their mountain habitat makes up for that small deficiency. I hunted goats three times. Each time the mountain beat me. Hypothermia, altitude and exhaustion problems, and falling rock. I'm done with goats.

 

[Alaska Luke]

I think grizzly/brown bears and polar bears are the main ones that are dangers to a hunter in a wild situation. I don’t see much chance of a mountain lion attacking a hunter for example (usually hunted with dogs) and black bears usually won’t charge when wounded.

Bison, deer, and other critters might hurt more people but those tend to be clueless tourist and/or habituated animals. A hunter with a rifle and situational awareness is much safer.

So in order of danger to a hunter
Polar Bears
Grizzly (interior Brown Bear)
Coastal Brown Bear (tend to be fat and happy with fish)
Black Bear (small chance of a charge or predatory behavior)
Mountain Lion (but only as a predator)

I believe black bears are more likely to actually hunt a person but this is very rare. Other bears are more likely to charge when shot.

As far as “coolness goes” I’d think
Grizzly Bear
Sheep (any)
Elk
Goats
Moose

These 5 are cool looking and tend to live in really wild and cool areas.
Honorable mention to white tails, pronghorn, polar bears, mountain lions, black bear and gators.

 

[Firebird]

bnC 04- I only recently learned about the bearmanpig-but I believe extinct since season 10 episode 6-also known as manbearpig-lmfao!

 

[CoElkHunter]

I have read that more people have been attacked by black bears than any other animal in North America. I believe it was from Outdoor Life Mag.
Early pheasant season in Kansas and quail season in Texas I have walked up on rattlesnakes. Pretty scary IMO!

Remember, more hunters have been injured in the US by “undead” whitetail bucks, than any other game animal. Wonder where they fit in with the Big 5 list? Or maybe on a list of animals hunted/wounded by stupid hunters? Ha! Ha!

 

[tigris115]

Times like this make me wish that all the cool stuff wasn't speared to shit/wiped out by climate change 10k years ago

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

Times like this make me wish that all the cool stuff wasn't speared to shit/wiped out by climate change 10k years ago

mastodons would of been pretty awesome with a double rifle.

 

[mikecatt13]

Only thing is is I'm not sure about bison. They seem so dangerous to people but all the hunting videos are the equivalent of shooting cattle.

Having been charged by one, with the full intent to trample me, they are plenty dangerous IMO

 

[Whacker]

Remember, more hunters have been injured in the US by “undead” whitetail bucks, than any other game animal. Wonder where they fit in with the Big 5 list? Or maybe on a list of animals hunted/wounded by stupid hunters? Ha! Ha!

https://time.com/5710197/hunter-dies-deer-attack-arkansas/?amp=true

It does happen. We have had a few attacks by rutting bucks but they are fairly rare...however all animals including humans have an instinct to fight to live when they are immediately scared and faced with death. Once it takes over and the rush of Adrenalin hits, any animal is capable of becoming extremely powerful and dangerous...including deer. Remember to keep good situational awareness out there.

 

[BeeMaa]

NA Big 5 IMO...
Polar/Brown/Black Bear
Mountain Lion
Moose
Bison
Wolf

Sorry, had to combine the Bears to get my list down to five. If I were allowed to add two more to get to the same number as Africa and the Dangerous Seven...I'd add in Alligator and Feral Hog.

And statistically...

 

[BourbonTrail]

We forget the Jaguar…they are far more terrifying than anything on this list save for the 2 largest bears. They are a leopard on steroids. It’s just their rarity that knocks them off of the list.

They are top of my things “I wish I could hunt but can’t” list.