cougar

[leper]

They are like a ghost, Bob. No sign for months, then suddenly they appear when you least expect it. Although I have hunted for one the past 6yrs. I spent most of my hunt time focused on the coyotes.

When I do find a fresh track. I plan to see if it comes out of the section. If not, then obtain permission from the landowner to track it down. Or if the area has cover. Then call that area.

I'm going to retrieve my trail cam Wednesday. I set it up on the same section a white coyote has been seen in recently. A lion has also been seen going into the same section. But the lion was seen 2yrs ago if my memory serves me. Anyway the section is only a mile away from the river corridor.

Life would be boring w/o hunting huh

[broper]

I have never seen a cougar in the wild. I've seen lots of tracks while deer and elk hunting. Reading about what you're doing makes me want to get out there and try for one myself. Years ago I read a story, in Outdoor Life I believe, about a guy that was calling coyotes by his self. He never new there was anything around or coming into the call until a cougar slapped him on the side of the head. It had sneaked in behind him. What a shock that would be. I might have had a heart attack or at least, had to change my pants! Lol Be careful and have fun.
Bob

[leper]

Well if things pan out for me, Bob. I don't plan on fighting one Myself I've only found a few tracks which were old. Although I will be heavily armed, rifle, large bore pistol & a knife. I expect I will be panning 360 while calling. Not to mention having a structure to my backside for a possible blindside sneak attack.

I have many connections of landowners. Which should offer me some help on recent up to date sightings, should they occur. I'm chomping at the bit.

[leper]

Wife & I went to one of her friends funeral today. I seen an old guy there with his wife, he looked familiar.

After the service he walked up to me, then I realized he was an old school friend. We visited abit. He asked me if I still hunted coyotes? I told him I do but this yr I'm focusing all of my time for a puma.

He then went on to tell me they bought ground near the river. He has seen a mountain lion & some Winter tracks. He described that lion as "a big ole boy" Well not knowing whether it was a male or not. That gave me more insight as to this lions area.

Which happens to be very near where other lions have been seen. I have yet to get ahold of him & get all of the perticulars. As we only visited a few minutes.

I think about them most waking hrs.

[leper]

Vistied on the phone the other night. With a landowner who raises deer. His pen is on an 80 acre pasture with an 8' fence.

Within the last month. He had a lion kill 2 of his deer inside of the pen. A couple of weeks ago, early in the am. His neighbor across the road heard a rucus. He grabbed his rifle & spot light. He stepped out on his porch & scanned the area.

As his lamas, sheep & farm dogs were all worked up. He spotted a lion climbing the 8' fence across the road. He shot the lion with his rifle. Hit it midship from what he could tell. Lion fell off the fence & ran into 20 acres of standing corn next to the deer pen.

Today or tomarrow? the farmer is going to harvest that corn. He expects to find a dead lion in there.

Farmer told me he is sure there is or was? anyway. A lion with 2 yearlings hunting his area. As he has heard them call out to each other lately in the nearby timber at night.

He invited me down. I might head down there before snow hits? But my odds would be higher if there was snow cover.

[broper]

Get after 'em leper. I'm rooting for you to get a big cat this year!

[leper]

We get good snow cover this yr Bob. I expect to do well.
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BTW earthwalker, happy Birthday. I have a few months on ya

[leper]

Pair of lions were kicked out along a timbered creek a few days ago. Not far from me

[leper]

I heard of another sighting that occured around 9-10 days ago. A farmer had one cross a gravel road in front of him around 4:00 pm. Lion ran from one timber tract to another. That sighting occured a little over a mile away from a river corridor.

Track I found yesterday on a river sand bar.

BTW the little white stone above the print. Is 1 1/8" long for reference. I measured the stone & tossed it off of the river bridge down by the print for size reference.

[leper]

Another puma was seen a little over a wk ago. In the next county South. I'm impatiently waiting for snow cover in the meanwhile. To much ground & too much cover w/o the aid of snow. To expect to have a decent chance on one.

[broper]

When I saw that you had posted I was hoping it was to tell us you had nailed one. Keep after them.
Bob

[leper]

Sorry Bob. When I do connect I'll make a new thread. The wait for snow is tormenting to say the least. I'm still out looking for sign on mud & sand bars & road crossings most days each wk. Otherwise she is slim pickins for finding sign w/o snow cover.

Fall sucks, Snowy Winter good.

Puma tracks I've found so far this Summer/Fall. I believe the top 2 tracks were from the same puma.




A different lion. Track was slightly smaller than the above prints.

[leper]

Weathered prints I found last wk.

[leper]

Found this day old print two days ago. This is the best print from the tracks. I est it to be 4" wide or so.

It has occured to me, this hunt is going to be a long haul.
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As a side note the coyote pop appears to have rebounded. Seen one of the largest coyotes I've ever seen last wk.

[broper]

I keep hoping I'll see a post saying you got one! A friend and I went out to an area last weekl where we thought we might be able to call in a bobcat but, no luck. While we were out there we ran across a couple guys on atv's that had three hounds with them. They said they chased a lion for a while but wound up losing it. Well, you keep after them and good luck! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours.
Bob