After two claims of mountain lion sightings in my area, I have decided to write an article about them. Would like to hear from anyone that has, without a doubt, spotted one. Hunting at the time? Better yet, got one on a game cam?

article

Seems odd that with all the cameras in the woods there would be so few pics of them...especially with all the alledged sightings.

Lots of people here on the forum have seen the color phase ones. Few have seen the tan ones though.

Jcb has a point. Black ones are more often sighted.

Elizabeth saw one this year on 37 just south of the 115 intersection - right below I30 and Mount Vernon. It was very early (around 4:45 am). The Mountain Lion crossed the highway about 30-40 feet in front of her truck. She's seen her share of bobcats and I have no doubt she saw exactly what she said it was ... a Mountain Lion.

I saw one when I was a kid outside Athens on a friend's ranch while riding around in a golf cart. There was no question what it was. Haven't seen one since.

Saw one on the lease I had west of Camp Wood. Couple weeks after season closed the Goverment Trapper for that area caught one on that ranch.

Over the years there have been 2 that I know of killed in Eastland County. One of those was on display in the pawn shop in Eastland for years. Might still be there.

Had a buddy that swears up and down he saw one dead on the side of the road a couple of years ago outside of Eastland.

well bmd ..here's your chance...go ahead and tell the big boss that elizabeth was mistaken...

Never seen a mountain lion. I have seen pink elephants and black panthers though.

Never seen one outside of the zoo. But I have seen tracks, and the neighbors dog got into it with one probably 5-6 years ago. He watched it with his own two eyes and he is not a man that would lie about anything, other than his 4 dwi's.

All the pipeline and mobil employees that work the night shift in hawkins say they see them all the time

Below is a cut and paste from an article in the Houston Chronicle, I guess its hard to deny they were actually mountain lions when you corner one in your office and kill it.


But there have been plenty of other things keeping Texas wardens busy, as the first three items in this edition of our continuing series of field reports from wardens illustrate.
�Val Verde County Game Wardens Mike Durand and Aaron Willoughby were kept busy over the weekend of Sept. 8-9 investigating reports of mountain lions roaming the outskirts of Del Rio.
The first investigation was for a horse that allegedly had been attacked and the second involved a herd of goats.

Wardens found no indications or evidence that a mountain lion is roaming and feeding on pets in Del Rio.

The wardens also ruled out the chupacabra.

�That rash of mountain lion reports may well have been triggered by a Sept. 5 incident in which Val Verde County Game Warden Mike Durand responded to a call from the Del Rio Police Department concerning a mountain lion sitting on a hood of a car in downtown Del Rio.
The lion had been cornered in a building and the PD wanted to know if it was OK to shoot it.

Because of the lion�s location and behavior, it was dispatched by the Del Rio Police Department.

http://blog.chron.com/shannontompkins/20...s-game-wardens/

Shot this one myself.



The next four hunters have taken off of my place.

Very nice DH!!

So whats it cost your best THF friend in the world to come hunt one of them critters??

I have seen two out in the Gibbons Creek Mine near College Station, did not see them at the same time. One was around 9AM and the other was around 1PM. These where the tan ones not the black ones like I have seen in deep east texas.

We have seen two on the ranch south of Midland.

The call of nature got me out of bed early one morning......sun was just barely breaking on the horizon. As I exit the trailer I see him ~30yrds away on the corral fence above our bird cleaning station.

In the cold morning air I see his dark figure silhouetted in the glow on the horizon, his warm breath at one end and long tail at the other......I freeze and slowly step backward to alert my buddies but.....he saw me and took off.

If I had had a camera that would have been a world class picture I could have sold to magazines!!!

My cousin saw the same or another cat in the area a few months later.


Tbar

Son saw one in Comanche Co 4 years ago, about the same time the rancher had a sheep killed and drug out in the county road Around the same time they had the one in Glen Rose or somewhere in that area.

Saw one walking down the driveway in Evant.

They don't eat corn

My mom had 3 on her land but that was in OK.....Durant

San Saba mason gibbins ranch
Another crossing 377 south of bluff dale
Another sighting and gw confirmed ml calf kill out side of Glen rose.

Several in CO including one that was treed infront of our old cabin south of pagosa springs by my grand parents German Sheppard.

For you it would cost double, I'm tired of you constantly trying to open the door while I'm busy getting rid of the hush puppies.

Received an email from a friend that stated there was a confirmed sighting along with physical evidence of a mtn lion in Shannon County, Missouri (southcentral). Have been alot more confirmations of them in Missouri in the last five years. One (young male) lion was hit by a car and killed only 10 miles from the land I own.
We are starting to see more bears too. They actually darted a few and put collar cameras on them to see where they were going.

For research purposes-there's a pic in the little store outside Ringgold Ok of one a guy killed. They say there are a couple others in the area too. You better be ready for a LOT of field time if you're planning on writing anything original..

I've seen two in my life. First one was in Starr County crossing FM 649, just north of the San Roman Ranch going from SW to NE. Took me about 1/4 mile to realize what I'd seen. This was probably in 1981 or 1982.

The second one was in 1995, just west of Terlingua crossing the highway that runs from Study Butte to Presidio. Happened about 9:30 at night. Saw him on the river side of the road, he jumped, landed in the westbound lane, jumped again and was on the bank, alongside of the road and disappeared.

Both were light tan in color.

my wife seen this one at the wal mart in Gainesville yesterday!!!!

If ever I meet one of you E.TX boys who doesn't claim to have seen a black panther. Well I'll buy him a Daniel Webster Cigar and shake his hand.

Shot in Oldham county Thanksgiving morning last year.

Shot in Oldham county February this year.

Slung an arrow at one about 7 years ago, near Megargel, Archer/Baylor County line.... friend had claimed he saw one, we laughed....

I had just started bow hunting, it was my first shot at an animal with the bow..... that would have been a great story.

I'm an east texas boy, and I've never seen one.

Got to admit, for whatever reason, I'm fascinated with these animals. Because I've never seen one, I sorta view mountain lions as Bigfoot. It's like "Can't convince me until I see one first hand." Also don't know if I'd shoot one if given the opportunity.

I'm mailing you a Daniel Webster Cigar right now.

DesertHunting, How did you kill that big lion inthe first picture? Were you calling or did you just happen to run across him?

Thats funny, JCB. BTW, my bro and I struck out last wed. on Ray Hubbard. We'll keep tryin' though.

I drove over the I-30 East bridge today (the one closest to Rockwall) and saw a guy netting what appeared to be a really nice Hybrid right in front of the bridge. There were a few other boats there with him so I am guessing thats where the fish were this morning. Would have been a great day to be out there!!

For some Folks, PICS aren't even good enough......

Watched one walk across a private lake cove on a downed tree, look right at me and my buddy, then casually walk down the bank and up through the trees, milling around for about 10 minutes. Long tail and tan, about as tall as the tree trunk, which I know is over 2 feet diameter because I've crossed that cove on it myself. He knew we were there, for sure, but never did anything more than walk and wave his tail around. Totally relaxed. This was in early 2005 10 miles due west of Lindale, Texas.

Other sightings with tracks I've been privy to were since then and in Jacksboro (12 miles NNE from town) and Alexander (Greens Creek area), with tracks spotted south of Stephenville (Sims Creek / Selden).

seen 2 before.
maybe the same one twice because
it was at different times.
didn't have a camera.
wasn't there for picture taking.

Growing up, my grandpa always had one that would come out and play with his black lab. I only got to watch once, they obviously weren't fighting. About a week later was the last time he ever saw it.

Had a guy go through a Divorce and I moved areas and took his stand and area and sold mine to the FNG, then Thanksgiving weekend this steps out in broad Daylight and he shoots it at my Old Feed Pen..Lucky

SniperRAB,what county were you hunting?

Edwards County between Sonora and Rock Springs

My dad and I both saw one opening morning last year. Walked about 60 yards from me and later that morning when my dad got out of his stand he rounded the corner around this pack of cedar trees and it was standing there looking at him. I couldn't see this happen from my stand but all of a sudden the cat took off back across the path i saw him and back into the woods, 2 seconds later my dad appeared freaking out. Luckily it was afraid of my dad. This was in Fairfield. We have been hunting there for 5 years and never even saw sign of one.

Saw one on my place in southern Grayson county back in1999 while cutting firewood. Filling the saw with gas and looked up to see what looked like a young animal walking along a game trail. It never looked at me.

Hunted him for eight days on a neighbor's ranch. Had him called in one night but he busted me before I could get a shot. Finally called in the dogs and we treed him after a two mile cold trail. He was missing his two middle fingers from a trap, I found the guy who has his fingers today actually.

There is NOT a confirmed case with the state of Texas of a " Black Panther" or "Black mountain lion" ever. Sure would think of all the 'sightings' someone would have shot or got pics of one by now........... If they existed...

I drove over the I-30 East bridge today (the one closest to Rockwall) and saw a guy netting what appeared to be a really nice Hybrid right in front of the bridge. There were a few other boats there. Thanks JCB,we're gonna' give it a few more try's. J/K,we're in it for the long run. We're thinking about Texoma though...They are catching some big ones right now.

I drove over the I-30 East bridge today (the one closest to Rockwall) and saw a guy netting what appeared to be a really nice Hybrid right in front of the bridge. There were a few other boats there.......( Thanks JCB. We're gonna'give it a few more try's...J/K, we're in it for the long run. We might head up to Texoma though...Still just a thought.)

The only one I have seen here in TX was here in Gaines County around 93 or so. Messed up thing is I called my friend everything but a liar when he kept telling us they kept seeing a cat on their place. It had actually attacked one of their young horses and cut him up pretty bad. I did not believe it at all due to I have never seen one and have not heard of any here. Well not a month after that story I actually saw him on a pond bank. He didn't stick around long though. There was also one run over between Seminole and Andrews about 7 years ago. They are out there just not common for sure....

as a child I remember my Dad saying he spotted them while hunting around San Angelo.

Saw one in Rocksprings, Tx and one in Midway, Tx.

This was not a black one. Just a regular mountain lion, just wanted to clear that up.

seem to always have one around in Oct at the Sulphur Springs lease along the white oak creek. Did not see one or any evidence last year though. Probably will not this year either since the pipeline folks are there working. But for 3 years straight had the Regular Tan Lion sightings in October, 1 year was Momma and 2 half grown cubs

Alec,
At that lease, I often had the feeling we were "being watched"... Especially when we were walking back from pig hunting in the middle of the night with NO FLASHLIGHTS !

Of course you don't have to outrun the lion... Just your hunting buddy. LOL

They are in McCullough / San Saba county for sure. Friends own a ranch there I use to hunt a lot. One day a gov't tracker called the ranch phone requesting permission to enter the property. He was on a fresh track. He was denied. Brother saw one and I found 2 fresh kills with a set of prints by one. This ranch had a real good food supply for them.

I have to agree, had a Bow Lease in Cherokee and there was a huge cave on this property and seen some fresh tracks Also..Thanks for reminding me of the Dell Babies buying up that Ranch and pushing us Hunters off, Little Jokey Joke

Quick question:

In texas mountain lions are non-game animals and are fair game to shoot anytime you see one, correct?

I have seen three mountain lions in New Mexico,but none in Texas.

One ran across a road in the Gila at night when I was driving. The other two I watched for about half an hour in the Cooks Range.

For those two, I was hunting muleys, and was up on a little point glassing around, and I kept hearing this noise I couldnt identify. Finally they got a little closer and I realized the noise sounded like a 100 pound house cat would sound if you stepped on its tail! I spotted them through the binos, and they were working their way down a little canyon, and would come up to a clump of brush and kind of go around opposite sides of it, and one would yowl as they did it.

I watched them do this four or five times over ten minutes coming down the canyon, and a rabbit ran out of one of the clumps of brush! They both disappeared on the backside of the brush chasing the rabbit. Dont know for sure if they got it, but they came back around the brush in sight pretty quick, so likely not.

Anyway, they finally worked up one of the sides of the canyon, and laid down in the sun for a while on some low bluffs at at the top. They stretched out in the sun and were switching their tails, and looked for all the world like a house cat laying on a window ledge.

They looked about the same size, but I imagine it had to be a mom and an almost-grown kit for them to be hunting together like that...

Let er Rip Tator Chip, Fire at Will

On the ranch i manage in southern lasalle cty seen 1 in april this year, 1 in july, 1 first part of sept.

Kimble county just off the Llano river. Saw one at a distance and have found tracks.

I'm excited for the day I see one...

Heart shot headed its way

X2 cept for me it'll be neck or shoulder.

Had one haul off a doe two years ago. Got growled at one morning walking to blind. Yelled hey stomped foot and kept going didn't give it another thought. That evening shot doe in that same area left it lay dead blood everywhere tongue hanging out dead. Went with a buddy to help him find his doe when we returned she was gone. All of the blood GONE looked like it had been sopped up with a towel. Probably a female and cubs nothin left but a broken branch where she drug it off through a bush and one giant paw print in the damp ground. Standing by the spot where doe died while friend went for truck I could here her and her cubs chewing through bone and grissle about 100 yds up the plateau. Center City 10 miles west of Evant. Had been listening to her and her cubs talk for a few weeks. Here's the spooky thing two weeks earlier I got up to pee stepped out of camper and got growled at from under the camper, yelled hey stomped my foot finished my business went back to bed never gave it a second thought.hmmmmmmmmmm creepy huh

Anyone else have a story to tell of a mountain lion under the camper. I'm sure everyone wants to hear it.

I'm pretty sure I called one in between Leakey and campwood one early morning. Only saw him a split second at 50 yards by time i got scope on him he was behind some bushes . Landowners said they had seen one with cubs years before and seen it one other time alone that and said they heard it at night plenty of times . I found large poop piles with hair in them. U never knew what the hell was gonna step out down there

kmon it is no longer there. There was killed my my cousins little boy south of Carbon 3 weeks ago. The cat that was at the pawn shop was killed at Gorman in a pecan orchard with 1 shot to the neck with a .22lr!

You are correct...... especially for the black ones

Doesn't everyone yell "Hey" and stomp their foot when a mountain lion is fixing to attack?

Late '70s buddy and I saw a tan one on the outskirts of Copperas Cove.

Late 90's my crew and i saw two while flying around the Davis mountains fighting fires.

Several years ago I was on a lease west of Pidcoke. Found lots of large tracks around the creek. Neighbors shot two doe one evening, one went one way, the other ran the opposite direction. They found the one doe, but didn't find the other. So they came back the next morning to search, and found her covered in grass, uncovered her and saw she was missing a large portion of her hindquarter. So they went back to get the 4 wheeler to load her up, when they got back, the doe was once again covered in grass.

Needless to say, they got out of there fast.

Forgot to add one. Spousal unit saw one standing off west range road earlier this year as she was going thru Ft Hood. She's seen plenty of bobcats, and said this was defiantly not a bobcat.

Saw one in San Saba two years ago and two have been sighted on my place in Blanco, county in the last year. Could not say if it was one lion or two. I believe there was a sighting in city of Blanco about two weeks ago. The latest on my place was stalking a herd of axis deer and my daughter scared the deer with her car and after they ran off the cat stood up from the tall grass about 25 yards from where the deer had been. Sister is a wildlife biologist and she saw one on my ranch entrance road as she was leaving one night. Take the photos, the trail cam pics and the eye witness accounts and you have to conclude that Texas does have a decent population of big cats.

Heard of 3 in my area. There is currently a mountain lion feasting on dogs between Kendalia and Bergheim, Texas. A black panther has also shown up twice on separate trail cameras outside Blanco, Texas and another confirmed cat in Leakey, Texas. Pics of these cats later

KSAT segment on the cat:
http://www.ksat.com/news/Bergheim-family...e3/-/index.html

I assume you live on Cox Road if we're seeing the same thing?

The lion you have been seeing in Leakey. Taken by a friend on facebook.

i would be patching 45 holes in the floor and buying some new glass if i saw that

Do you have a little yappy dog or cat you want to get rid of? Just open the door!