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JerryBobCo
Senior MemberPodunk, Tx.Posts: 8,227 Senior Member
Mountain Lions
JerryBobCo
Senior MemberPodunk, Tx.Posts: 8,227 Senior Member
I've never killed or even hunted one, nor really had a big desire to do so, but wanted to start a post to see if I could generate a little interest. And, a friend of mine helps guide lion hunters, and was in on the kill of a big tom last week, so it has piqued my interest. At least for now.
From what I've been told, right here where I live has one of the highest lion populations in the country. Last summer, when it was so dry, a lion was seen on a local golf course. Most stay in the mountains or canyons and out of sight, but I guess this one was pretty desperate. But, I digress.
From what I can tell, here's how lion hunting works around here. The three main ingredients are a healthy lion populaton, fresh snow, and a good pack of dogs. I guess one should throw in a licensed hunter and several others to help do the tracking as well.
Any way, we had a light snow last week. My friend works with a local lion guide who has a good pack of dogs. Apparently, the guide also had a hunter lined up for a hunt. So, the morning after it snowed, they drove the back roads looking for fresh tracks. They found tracks of five different lions, several of which ran right through a forest service camp ground. They settled on a good sized track, and let the hounds loose.
The hounds treed the cat, the hunters and guide followed the hounds, and the hunter shot the cat out of a tree. My friend said it weighed between 150 and 175 lbs, and described it as a big cat. The hunter used a .243 to kill it. He also had pictures, and it looked like a very big cat to me.
I also learned that Colorado sells over the counter lion tags. I'm not sure what the cost is, but it's probably not that much for residents. And, since I'll be retired this time next year, and live close enough to take off on short notice, I'm thinking that maybe I'll try one of these hunts. It should be fun, and a lion mount would sure be nice.
Also, from what I can tell, the biggest hurdle for an out of state hunter is to be able to get yourself out here on short notice. Once a fresh track is located, there's not a lot of time to waste.
And, one last note for my good buddy Linefinder. The campground where some of the tracks were seen is the same one near where we saw several does in November 2011. You may remember we were trying real hard to put horns on one of the does only to finally figure out it was an inconeniently placed weed sticking up in exactly the wrong place. And no, we did not shoot it.
From what I've been told, right here where I live has one of the highest lion populations in the country. Last summer, when it was so dry, a lion was seen on a local golf course. Most stay in the mountains or canyons and out of sight, but I guess this one was pretty desperate. But, I digress.
From what I can tell, here's how lion hunting works around here. The three main ingredients are a healthy lion populaton, fresh snow, and a good pack of dogs. I guess one should throw in a licensed hunter and several others to help do the tracking as well.
Any way, we had a light snow last week. My friend works with a local lion guide who has a good pack of dogs. Apparently, the guide also had a hunter lined up for a hunt. So, the morning after it snowed, they drove the back roads looking for fresh tracks. They found tracks of five different lions, several of which ran right through a forest service camp ground. They settled on a good sized track, and let the hounds loose.
The hounds treed the cat, the hunters and guide followed the hounds, and the hunter shot the cat out of a tree. My friend said it weighed between 150 and 175 lbs, and described it as a big cat. The hunter used a .243 to kill it. He also had pictures, and it looked like a very big cat to me.
I also learned that Colorado sells over the counter lion tags. I'm not sure what the cost is, but it's probably not that much for residents. And, since I'll be retired this time next year, and live close enough to take off on short notice, I'm thinking that maybe I'll try one of these hunts. It should be fun, and a lion mount would sure be nice.
Also, from what I can tell, the biggest hurdle for an out of state hunter is to be able to get yourself out here on short notice. Once a fresh track is located, there's not a lot of time to waste.
And, one last note for my good buddy Linefinder. The campground where some of the tracks were seen is the same one near where we saw several does in November 2011. You may remember we were trying real hard to put horns on one of the does only to finally figure out it was an inconeniently placed weed sticking up in exactly the wrong place. And no, we did not shoot it.
Jerry
Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.
Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.
Replies
The mountain lion tags out this way run $29 for a resident.
BTW, y'all know I'm no Bunny Hugger, but by the same token, if I don't have any use for an animal being dead, I will let it live. Only when something becomes a problem or a real threat will I shoot it, unless it's game that I like to hunt. And I hunt mainly for meat so it better be good to eat.
But I will add, each to his/her own. If this is your bag, have at it and more power to you.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Ned, if you can duck hunt, ain't no kinda hunting beyond you, LOL!!! Go for it if that turns your crank!
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
I've read as well as been told from several sources that mountain lion is very good to eat. Don't know if it's true, as I've never tried any.
Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.
Yeah Jerry, I've heard that too. But guess I'm just not hungry enough yet to try it. I heard the same thing on here about wolf. I think I will stick to Deer, hogs, squirrel, and Rabbit, until that is I get Hungry, :rotflmao::rotflmao::rotflmao:
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
The humor escapes me.
Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.
The Humor is, I am NOT Hungry enough to eat Cats and Dogs!!! YET
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
But you'll eat a fermented duck egg that contains a half developed ducking in it?
Gotcha.
Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.
went away as soon as we descended a short ways.
I know that sounds dumb since I often did not wear my oxygen mask flying, but,
there was some cockpit pressurization.
Then Mike there is the following the dogs in that terrain.
Nope, I'm a sea level being.
Never eaten Mountain Lion (notice I didn't say "Couger" :tooth:), but have eaten Bobcat years ago. I worked on a Bobcat research study in my undergraduate years, and we trapped several hundred on the Savannah River Nuclear Project south of Augusta, Georgia. Our Wildlife Professor absolutely loved Bobcat about any way it could be cooked. We had cookouts with all the Budweiser and Bobcat you could consume a number of times!
Did you like it?
Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.
Keeping up with the dogs would be a factor for all but the more fit of us flatlanders.
When I used to hunt CO every year it took me at least 24 hours to get acclimated.
on being a sea level guy. We used to go to Sleepy Cat lodge the last night before we went in for a steak dinner and a few drinks. I met one of the locals and we remembered each other from year to year. He introduced me to his dad who rode the power lines for the electric companies.
He and his wife always went to AZ for the Winter. But last time I talked to him he was afraid if he went he would have trouble with the altitude when they came back. Don't know how that worked out but I imagine if I get to go again it may be an issue.
:spittingcoffee:
― Douglas Adams
Besides Balut is NOT fermented. It is only an incubated fertile duck egg. And on top of that, I was pretty loaded when I did it. If you got me loaded like I used to get, you could probably feed me mountain lion. But I don't drink alcohol anymore for that very reason.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
I agree, I'm sort of a flatlander too. I have been in the mountains many times, but I prefer flat land about 20 feet above the sea. But Ned, there's plenty of mountain lions here in Texas at elevations below 5,000 feet where there's plenty of oxygen.
And Rich, I don't know the difference between a mountain lion and a cougar. I thought they were one in the same. I know we have some big cats around here, and there are not many mountains. In fact, as you know, there isn't a hill over 25 feet high between here and Mexico along the coast.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
As far as I know, I don't want to eat nor mount a mountain lion. Them thar things gots BIG CLaws!!! Can you imag...oh never mind!!! :silly::silly::silly:
:tooth:
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
I have seen bigger claws on some of the 'cougars' I have associated wi.....................oh, never mind.
Different species.......
Reminds me of a book I read once, "Scream in the Bushes" by Claude Bawls...:silly::silly::silly: :tooth:
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
I will go sit in the corner for a bit..........
Our "neighbor" around Sargents, Jay Templeton and his son, hunts them around the Gunnison Valley with a pack of dogs. There's been times when MHS and I have been stalked by them during elk hunting. Never saw them, but have seen tracks way too big for a bobcat or lynx following our footprints......and that erie feeling where the hairs on your neck stand up.....that's happened quite a few times during the walk back to the cabin after sundown. It usually happens when either one of us are out solo.....could've just been the heebeejeebees......but one time we were together in Hicks creek and got that feeling enough that I shouldered my rifle and we continued out with my .357 in hand while MHS carried his rifle at port arms. Our tactical thinking was "close in engagement with big firepower back-up", with a lot of stopping to listen and looking at the trees. I don't think either one of us felt at ease until we got out of that draw and was trudging the last 1/4 mile to the cabin out in the open.
Tried to check the tag on CPW/CDOW, but their site is having issues loading up right now. I wanna say it's only $45 and season dates should be right about now. From what I've read/heard about hunting them.....you need dogs or basically live in the GMU to get familiar with a particular lion's patterns since they are rather nomadic unless a female is having cubs, then she sticks to an area of food/water/shelter.
They like abandoned bear dens and mine shafts...ready made homes to squat in for awhile. If the area has a lot of black bears like the Springs, Boulder, Ft Collins, and out west of us, there tends to be lions. Also, from what I've seen, the preferred territory seems to be the rocky and dry foothill areas like the Lockeed/Martin area by the South Platte. There's always some dumb mountain jogger around Boulder getting jumped every year it seems, as a lion tends to jump trotting deer from a tree while the deer is not paying attention.
I think that's what scares me most about them....death from above, but I've never really had a problem with them. I think it would be a magical moment to see one out in the wild. Seen enough bears and coyotes, but a lion or a wolf would be a sight to behold!
EDIT: JerryBob, can't remember if I liked Bobcat or not, but our old wildlife prof sure did!
Also, the lion was treed in a canyon that runs up from the campground I mentioned. There's a hiking trail that goes up that canyon, and I've hiked it several times. Once I even jumped a very surprised raghorn bull elk while coming down the trail. According to my friend, the lion was treed about halfway up the canyon and about 50 yards from the trail.
I've hunted a lot of places in this state, and hunted alone quite a bit. I've never seen a big cat, nor even seen tracks of one. Also, as Dan stated, it's usually someone jogging or running on a hiking trail in or around a populated area who have the encounters with cats. I think this is due to the animals moving into a populated area and getting used to people. In 'wilder' settings, the big predators prefer to avoid humans, and will do so if allowed.
Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.
Beat feet out of there, never having seen the cat but fairly certian I was very near to having a bad day.
Sako
I know of a guy that used to be well known here that killed a couple of nice cats in MT. They don't take a lot of killing. He preferred a .357/158 soft point. Btw. They taste good. Very light mild meat