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Re: Mt. Lions....shoot or don't shoot??
[Re: mickeyhft]
#7964124
09/07/20 02:58 PM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 7,759
snake oil
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 7,759 |
I say I wouldn't shoot. But I probably would. 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.
Last edited by snake oil; 09/07/20 03:08 PM.
"You may all go to hell and I will go to Texas".
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Re: Mt. Lions....shoot or don't shoot??
[Re: Buzzsaw]
#7964892
09/08/20 02:54 AM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 29,604
Sneaky
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 29,604 |
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.
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Re: Mt. Lions....shoot or don't shoot??
[Re: Buzzsaw]
#7964985
09/08/20 05:57 AM
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Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 110
Ftttu
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 110 |
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.
Retired!
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Re: Mt. Lions....shoot or don't shoot??
[Re: Ftttu]
#7964988
09/08/20 07:51 AM
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Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 151
Dimitri
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 151 |
He told me that the immediate concern was for the deer herd and not for a perceived lack of the large cats. 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?
Last edited by Dimitri; 09/08/20 07:52 AM.
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Re: Mt. Lions....shoot or don't shoot??
[Re: Dimitri]
#7964991
09/08/20 08:30 AM
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Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 110
Ftttu
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 110 |
Retired!
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Re: Mt. Lions....shoot or don't shoot??
[Re: Buzzsaw]
#7973113
09/14/20 01:13 PM
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,170
Jimbo
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,170 |
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.
Thursday at 12:45 PM #33 Once i learned that i didn't "NEED" to kill something, and that if i did kill something all the fun stopped and work began, i was a much better hunter.
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Re: Mt. Lions....shoot or don't shoot??
[Re: Sneaky]
#7973143
09/14/20 01:36 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,465
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,465 |
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. 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
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Re: Mt. Lions....shoot or don't shoot??
[Re: Buzzsaw]
#7973149
09/14/20 01:39 PM
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Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 474
rex47
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 474 |
seems to me that sometimes WE forget that We are the ones moving in on wildlife.
when the going gets really tough, I sit down and rest
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Re: Mt. Lions....shoot or don't shoot??
[Re: rex47]
#7973195
09/14/20 02:02 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,465
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,465 |
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.
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Re: Mt. Lions....shoot or don't shoot??
[Re: Buzzsaw]
#7973396
09/14/20 04:33 PM
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 580
ErnestTBass
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 580 |
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.
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Re: Mt. Lions....shoot or don't shoot??
[Re: BOBO the Clown]
#7974249
09/15/20 04:27 AM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 29,604
Sneaky
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 29,604 |
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. 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 Makes sense. I’d love to see it. A hunt like that has to be a a blast, especially in Texas.
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Re: Mt. Lions....shoot or don't shoot??
[Re: Buzzsaw]
#7975840
09/16/20 05:18 AM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 162
Shooter499
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 162 |
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.
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Re: Mt. Lions....shoot or don't shoot??
[Re: Buzzsaw]
#7975907
09/16/20 11:57 AM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,336
Dave Davidson
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,336 |
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.
Without a sense of urgency, nothing ever happens.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley, Rancher Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Re: Mt. Lions....shoot or don't shoot??
[Re: Sneaky]
#7975986
09/16/20 01:24 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,966
gary roberson
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,966 |
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
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Re: Mt. Lions....shoot or don't shoot??
[Re: Dave Davidson]
#7976042
09/16/20 02:09 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,525
SnakeWrangler
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,525 |
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. 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 believe in science and I’m an insufferable [censored] Actually, BBC is pretty damn good "You Cannot Simultaneously Be Politically Correct And Intellectually Honest!"
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Re: Mt. Lions....shoot or don't shoot??
[Re: SnakeWrangler]
#7976386
09/16/20 05:10 PM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,794
ILUVBIGBUCKS
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,794 |
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!
High fence, low fence, no fence, it really doesn't matter as long as you're hunting!
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Re: Mt. Lions....shoot or don't shoot??
[Re: TexasKC]
#7976635
09/16/20 07:33 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,075
aerangis
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,075 |
This. If I don't eat it, I prefer not to kill it unless its unavoidable. Unless it's skeeters.
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Re: Mt. Lions....shoot or don't shoot??
[Re: aerangis]
#7976670
09/16/20 07:57 PM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,031
skinnerback
THF Celebrity Chef
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THF Celebrity Chef
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,031 |
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.
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Re: Mt. Lions....shoot or don't shoot??
[Re: Buzzsaw]
#7976686
09/16/20 08:07 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,331
Dave Scott
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,331 |
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.
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Re: Mt. Lions....shoot or don't shoot??
[Re: Buzzsaw]
#7976767
09/16/20 08:38 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,409
rickt300
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,409 |
Why you would prefer to have a lion eating the deer at a one a week level all year around is beyond me.
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Re: Mt. Lions....shoot or don't shoot??
[Re: SnakeWrangler]
#7976892
09/16/20 10:32 PM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,336
Dave Davidson
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,336 |
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
Without a sense of urgency, nothing ever happens.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley, Rancher Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Re: Mt. Lions....shoot or don't shoot??
[Re: Buzzsaw]
#7976901
09/16/20 10:39 PM
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 19,132
TCM3
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 19,132 |
in fear for my life or others/livestock i would shoot one.. but not for sport or "just cause"... Not sure about their meat?
Last edited by TCM3; 09/16/20 10:40 PM.
Do not forget to entertain strangers, For by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels Hebrews 13:2 (R-TX)
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Re: Mt. Lions....shoot or don't shoot??
[Re: gary roberson]
#7976913
09/16/20 10:47 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 29,604
Sneaky
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 29,604 |
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 Fascinating, Gary. I never would have guessed that, but it makes sense when you explain it. I’d love to hear more about it.
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Re: Mt. Lions....shoot or don't shoot??
[Re: TCM3]
#7976914
09/16/20 10:48 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 29,604
Sneaky
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 29,604 |
in fear for my life or others/livestock i would shoot one.. but not for sport or "just cause"... Not sure about their meat?
It’s made of high quality proteins and fats, just the way God intended. Fear not, young man.
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Re: Mt. Lions....shoot or don't shoot??
[Re: Dave Scott]
#7976924
09/16/20 11:01 PM
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,694
krmitchell
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,694 |
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. 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.
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