Jaguar spotted in Arizona. Would you shoot it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noZBJ9X-iao

Long story short, a jaguar was recently spotted on a game camera by a man in Southern Arizona, where the population has been showing signs of recovery. Assuming it was legal, my question would be knowing its low population levels (here and in Mexico), would you shoot a jaguar? Or would you let it pass knowing any sort of harvest would continue to harm the species' recovery?

They are rare and gorgeous big cats -- the third largest after lions and tigers. Give it a pass and wish it bon chance!

Given a legal tag to take one, i sure would. Presuming the numbers are strong enough to be hunted, they will require management. Doubt if it will happen in my lifetime.

I tend to agree, but that would be me personally. I wouldn't have a problem with someone else shooting it per se, I just don't think I could!

I doubt it will in my lifetime either!

I'll shoot anything except a liger. It's pretty much my favorite animal.

Well, they're bred for their skills in magic.

Now I want some tots.

If it was a legal kill, I certainly would.

Animals are not immortal and die of natural causes.

If it was a young animal then maybe not but a mature or post mature male, I’m pulling the trigger.

No, cat meat sucks I hear.

I heard mountain lion is just like pork

Would not. Might be singing a different tune if it was killing my cattle. My gut tells me there are more here on THF that would shoot one than not. A black one wouldn’t stand a chance with this crowd.

Oh my.

Always been told bobcats are tasty.

Neither of these are true unless you’re starving.

I don't have cattle, so if it was on my land, it would get a walk. If it was on most all of my landowner's lands, then it would get shot.

As for whether or not cat tastes good, my neighbor and old hunting partner loves mountain lion meat. He described at a light flavored, sort of sweet meat as meats go, but the pork comparison isn't uncommon.
https://www.petersenshunting.com/editorial/how-to-cook-bobcat-cougar-meat/365086
https://forums.bowsite.com/tf/bgforums/thread.cfm?threadid=323788&forum=16

I don't doubt it may be pork-like in some manners, but if mountain lion tastes "just like pork," then why would I bother eating mountain lion if I can just have cheaper and easier to get pork?

No and same for mountain lions,could have shot a mountain lion in Nevada years ago.Pretty critters.

I would absolutely shoot a jaguar, and legalities would be the only thing stopping me. The people that think they’re neat and wouldn’t shoot them because of that probably don’t know a lot about predatory animals and the animals that they do like to shoot.

Sustainable and legal utilization. Even if extremely rare, if the law says it is OK based on the animal being very old /no longer able to breed then I see no reason why you should not be able to shoot it if you want to (and have the tag/permit).

How horrible. The jaguar should die of old age surrounded by all its animal friends while they discuss what a meaningful life it lived

I think I would but that decision would depend on the circumstances. I have let a mt lion walk because I was enjoying watching and intrigued for the moment. Now if there was a bounty or a call to hunt a jaguar to get rid of it I would thoroughly enjoy that opportunity because of the challenge involved. Kinda like the neighborhood cats....ok, forget I said that.

Actually, we should shoot all we see as it will result in an increased population. We all win!

If legal, I would shoot a jag. And if I ever see one, a mountain lion too.

Taste like bald eagle to me.

Considering the warden in that video mentioned that they are an endangered species and it is illegal to kill them, then, no.

Nowadays the only way it would be legal is if was sustainable, meaning it would not harm the species's recovery. So, yes. I'm thinking a rug.

not in this case

I think I land more in this category. The first time I saw one in the wild, I think I might just admire it and enjoy the moment. The second or third time, I'd probably shoot it straight off because that would be one hell of a story, but the first time probably not.

(And for those mentioning it's illegal to kill them, my original question was IF they were legal.)

OK, IF they become legal, then it's a maybe. It would make a very cool rug. But it would be pretty cool to just watch it. So, my official answer is Maybe.

They are considered endangered. You would be an idiot to shoot it because you can be damn sure they are keeping a close eye on it

Folks are missing the "Assuming it was legal" part of the OP.

What, and QMC SW/EXW miss a chance to call someone a name? It's what he does.

Yes, I was not advocating committing a crime.

on my ranch in texas, no doubt i would. same with a grizzly or a wolf.
in arizona or new mexico, nope. they would be monitoring it im sure.

If legal.

And if there had been reports of livestock being killing unexplained, then yes, put it down.

A shock to myself and anyone else in the area, that it is even there. My shots would only come from a camera.

I kill the hell out of coyotes. We've got no shortage of them, and they cause all kinds of damage. But, I have this deep respect for all large cats. They are the ultimate predator.

I've always wanted to hunt a wolf!

Where is "South/Central Texas"? I'm south of Austin myself.

That is a moron's statement because you will never legally kill a jaguar in the USA. Not gonna happen.

Idiots like you need to be called out and I reserve the right to do so. Don't like it? Don't read it.

Smiley

No I wouldn’t.
I’ve seen 2 in my life and we didn’t bother each other

You fell for it. You’re easy.

I would shoot without a doubt.....mountain lions average killing one deer a week! So a bigger Jaguar would need a little more I would think.



https://mountainlion.org/about-mountain-lions/frequently-asked-questions/

I have heard from more than one source that mountain lion is a delicious white meat. The biggest concern is trichinosis if improperly cooked -- like bear. Some here may recall that "Meat Eater" Steve Rinella and his homies got trichinosis from eating undercooked bear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx5ZKJ0Vozc

No way would I shoot it. It has enough to contend with for survival without knuckle-heads trying to shoot it with a gun. Most likely it will succumb to death by automobile. Sad but this is the way that a lot of the cats go. I would want it to live as long as it could and reproduce. Would be nice to have a LOT more of them munching on liberals bones out that way...

I would not shoot it. Don't have any reason to.

Would not. Seen one Jaguar in my life. In the jungles of South America. There are many more in Mexico. Not plentiful but not as endangered. Arizona is the very tip of its range and well outside the normal habitat. That's enough of a handicap in my view.

No way. I don't have an interest in hunting large predators unless the population is stable and large. I'd love to see a jaguar in the wild

Hold my beer

It might but I have tasted a few 2 legged cat that were pretty good

Hell even a few 2 legged Cougers where not to bad

Enjoyed all of the responses so far!

No, same as with bobcats.

I would not shoot it but I’d love to see one

If they were coming place and not endangered maybe but really no drive to shoot one either. Same with mountain lions and badgers. Being they are endangered def not.

Huh?

Very cool in a way that a apex predator like that from central and south America can make it's way that far north.
To me, pound for pound the Jaguars are the baddest cats on the planet!

Someone lied to you Bobcat is just nasty, no other word for it.

I wouldn't kill it unless it was a threat. Apex predators like a Jaguar are relatively rare and I admire them simply for what they are and don't need one hanging on the wall.

Death to anything that has murder mittens.

Unless there was a sustainable population or a threat to livestock, I would probably let it walk.
It seems that most folks are of the opinion "if it can kill a deer, kill it."

Well, that’s the thing about these murderous predators. They don’t need a population.

🤔

If one had a feral hog problem than maybe might be a good thing to let it go. Thinking they might be one of the only predators around capable of stalking and killing a hog of any size. If i had cattle and they were being targeted than different story.

If they were a bit more specific about targeting invasive species over natives, then you’d be on to something. As it turns out, however, they are much less discriminate than that.