This is the way I would probably be. I've only seen one in the wild at lake Whitney in Steiner Valley. Friend and I were calling on night setting back to back and called nada. When we left we caught one in the headlights down by the water, already put the guns up.

Bobo, how successful would you say those houndsmen are in Texas? I’ve always wondered how many lions are killed in Texas every year. I very rarely hear of it.

When I was on the job, I told one of our GWs that we had been getting calls of mountain lions in the area. He instantly said "shoot them" before he said anything else. I thought he would have replied the opposite due to my belief that they were few and far between in the west Texas area I patrolled. He told me that the immediate concern was for the deer herd and not for a perceived lack of the large cats. I had never seen one in all of my years, but have seen them only in local's photos. An 18 wheeler had hit one time, but I only knew that from the pics.

Are deer very scarce in that area and was the GW concerned that mountain lions could put the sustainability of the deer population under threat there? Or did he simply mean that there are enough mountains lions in the area to warrant hunting them?

Low deer population.

They can live around populated areas especially when new developments go in due to urban sprawl.
I've seen them on ranches where neighborhoods backed up to the large ranch I was hunting.
I've seen 5 over the years at different times in broad daylight, and found evidence of kills and in very close proximity to peoples homes,
As a rule you normally don't see them in the daylight hours, and never know they are around.

Highly they are not going in blind. One ranch manager in STX told me they wait until they have three confirmed different lion tracks before they run them. Essentially they are hunting know lions and fresh tracks

seems to me that sometimes WE forget that We are the ones moving in on wildlife.

most states have a growing lion population. Some states that have banned lion hunting now have to kill and discard to the dumpster more cats then what hunters killed. Sad it's now a wasted cost factor resource for many states.

Beauty of hounds man is they have the ability to be very targeted in the cats they take. specific sex and age classes, etc.

They aren't endangered - just darn hard to intersect with one. I'd definitely shoot one if it crossed my path when I had a loaded rifle in hand.

Makes sense. I’d love to see it. A hunt like that has to be a a blast, especially in Texas.

I would probably only shoot with a camera. It would be really cool to see one in the wild. I would love to take one and have it mounted but for the price it cost and with as many bad mounts as I've seen i just wouldn't take the chance.I would be heartbroken to pick up a 3k mount and it not look right.

I've seen 3 while hunting out of state. I have, on occasion, found their tracks on my place South of Bowie. Each time, I have called the GW and asked about it. He said sightings had been reported and that a female had raised some kittens in the rocky area around the Amon Carter lake.

Once, while hunting Colorado, I walked in to a place that I wanted to hunt. On the way out, I found a lion track over my tracks. That was neat.

A lion in South Texas is an easy catch as track is generally fresh, working off a kill. The main reason that lions are easy to catch down south is that there's no place to hide. What I mean is, they can't jump ledges or cross rock slides or bail off rims like they can out west. Scent holds well down south as humidity is generally high and lions give off way more scent than a bobcat.
Adios,
Gary

Was the track moving the same direction as you or in the opposite direction. My reaction to seeing a track on top of my track would be vastly different depending upon the direction the cat was moving....

I was thinking the same thing SnakeWrangler!

My first reaction would have been to drop my wranglers and check to be sure my tighty whities were still completely white!

This.

If I don't eat it, I prefer not to kill it unless its unavoidable. Unless it's skeeters.

I’ve always heard they were good eating, I’d give it a shot.

To me the biggest thrill is the chase if you are using hounds. I'd really like to try that. I asked a ranch in West Texas and the guy thought I was crazy, go chase a lion and not shoot it.
Oh well, if it was a world class trophy- then I'd pop it. 44 Mag or 454 Casull.

Why you would prefer to have a lion eating the deer at a one a week level all year around is beyond me.

The track was not only moving my way but over a couple of my tracks. I was wishing I had a 30-30 instead of a scoped rifle

in fear for my life or others/livestock i would shoot one.. but not for sport or "just cause"... Not sure about their meat?

Fascinating, Gary. I never would have guessed that, but it makes sense when you explain it. I’d love to hear more about it.

It’s made of high quality proteins and fats, just the way God intended. Fear not, young man.

Watching dogs work in the high country is pretty amazing. They are over the next mountain before you know it when you cut a track. Coolest hunting experience I’ve ever had.