I think the predators decimating the game populations is overstated by a large degree.

Coons rarely get a pass either. I wish there was a market for furs again.

One interesting bit of trivia Dalroo. Skunks are one of the favorite prey of Great-horned Owls. Pretty darned tough bird to eat a skunk.

I let predators get a pass. Hogs always get shot, I like the meat. I'd potentially shoot a big old bobcat or mountain lion, but only if I was in financial shape to get a full body mount made. Otherwise, no interest in killing one just to kill it.

The rancher that leases our pasture from us would like to know what about the value of the livestock that a couple of mountain lions could cost him in a year? He pays us good money for the grass rights, keeps the fences repaired etc., and does a good job of managing the land's resources. As landowners we would expect the same from a hunter that leases from us.

Shoot predators if you like and I’m not a tree hugger by any means, but I personally don’t have the view that every animal that poses a threat to livestock must be eradicated from the face of the earth.

This came up this weekend. I personally have no desire to kill a bobcat, mountain lion, armadillo, etc... when I am hunting just for the sake of shooting something. I have known some hunters that will shoot at animals like that if they come out while they are deer hunting. I guess I never got it. There was another family at the lease this weekend and the boy (in his late 20's) started talking about trying to shoot a bobcat that came out at his stand but he could never get a clear shot. The dad asked him why did he want to shoot it. His answer was just because. Not a good answer and a hunting ethics conversation proceeded between the two. The dad said he had watch 2 bobcats play in a clearing that morning while there were deer under the feeder. Where I will perform what I call an "extermination hunt" is for coyotes and hogs. The coyotes have killed our calves and the hogs...well that's obvious. What's your thoughts.....