lions

[az.mountain runner]

Now that my archery elk is over with, I'd like to help my states deer and elk populations out by hunting mountain lions, can't afford a guide, and haven't heard of that many hunters being successful calling them in, any western hunters got any ideas on how too improve my odds.

 

[Hilltop]

A buddy of mine shot his over a carcass. Look for scavenger birds to help locate any dead animals in your area? Just an idea... I grew up hunting in lion country and it was a rare day that we ever saw one. Difficult proposition hunting one without dogs.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

I know of a few guys that have called them in. It takes a lot of pataince to do it tho and yes odds are low. Maybe put trail cams on water and see if you can locate an area where they are watering and call there. Not sure the rules for your state but you can sit on a carcass of a deer, elk, horse and see what's feeding on it. They won't eat cows FYI. I have an elect caller that has female lion in heat calls that a guy could try and bring in a male during mating season.
Good luck

 

[Hilltop]

I know of a few guys that have called them in. It takes a lot of pataince to do it tho and yes odds are low. Maybe put trail cams on water and see if you can locate an area where they are watering and call there. Not sure the rules for your state but you can sit on a carcass of a deer, elk, horse and see what's feeding on it. They won't eat cows FYI. I have an elect caller that has female lion in heat calls that a guy could try and bring in a male during mating season.
Good luck

My buddies was shot over a dead cow... The dead cow was only about 50 yards off a major highway in the mountains. Several people saw the cat feeding on it when they were driving by. My buddy was a bar tender at a little lodge a few miles away so he heard the news quickly. The next morning he bought a tag and then sat about 100 yards downwind of the carcass. He shot it that evening. I have no idea if the cat killed the cow or if it died from other causes.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

Wow first I've ever heard of a cat eating a cow. But good to know that they will. We have tons of cows all over the mountain here in Nv and I would think that cats would kill them left and rite. I do know they will kill horses every chance they can.

 

[Hilltop]

Wow first I've ever heard of a cat eating a cow. But good to know that they will. We have tons of cows all over the mountain here in Nv and I would think that cats would kill them left and rite. I do know they will kill horses every chance they can.

I really had never heard of this before this incident. People speculated that the cow had died from other causes and the cat was just being an opportunist? There are cows grazing all over the NF in this area as well. I've never heard of a cat killing one but I really have no clue... My buddy was sure happy though.

 

[az.mountain runner]

Not sure if that is legal in Az.I'll have to check.

 

[az.mountain runner]

Thanks I'll try that call, my idea was to find a canyons edge with a climbing tree stand and sit a game trail early and late afternoons to dark.

 

[az.mountain runner]

I had been told that a lion would only eat, something that it had killed itself, not anything it found, any truth to that? But according to hilltop that's not so, but I guess there is always exceptions to the rules.

 

[Hilltop]

I had been told that a lion would only eat, something that it had killed itself, not anything it found, any truth to that? But according to hilltop that's not so, but I guess there is always exceptions to the rules.

For all we know he may have killed it. I don't believe anyone witnessed it- people just saw the lion consuming it. We just had a hard time believing a 100 pound cat could bring down a cow. I also have no idea what age or size the cow was as I didn't see it.

 

[AzCamoLife]

I think it depends on how fresh the kill is when they find it. It is my understanding that lions like fresh meat, not rotting meat. Also, I have heard of plenty of guys calling them in. Get into the nastiest canyons you can find and start calling. I would try secondary canyons, not major canyons. Probably an hour at a time. Don't stop either for more than 10 seconds or so. Good luck and I hope this helps.

 

[trkytrack2]

A mountain lion can easily bring done a full grown 700/800 pound bull elk so I doubt if a cow would be hard for them to tackle.

 

[Gr8bawana]

Without dogs I think getting a cat would be almost exclusively a chance encounter while hunting something else. If you knew where one
definately was youmight be able to call it in, I have heard of it being done before. i'd sure hate for the cat to be hunting me while calling.

 

[QuazyQuinton]

There are two guys over on Ifish who have called in and killed two cats apiece here in Oregon in the last few years, so calling can definitely work. One challenge is their large home range and the difficulty of finding them in all that area. The other is that I don't think anyone has really figured out what calls, techniques, etc. work best, so it's a lot of experimenting. If you want to get one, just go give it a try. I've always figured I would concentrate on elk or deer wintering areas.

QQ

 

[OregonJim]

Back about 7 years ago in California X3B,....... talking apparently worked pretty well as a call.

Damn cat followed us down a trail for almost a mile.

 

[Againstthewind]

I joke sometimes that our little corgi is coyote and cat bait when we take her hiking, but after seeing cat tracks in my foot prints elk hunting I keep an extra eye out for the little pork shaped dog.

http://www.outdoorlife.com/node/1005005280 I think this was posted before, but I am not sure.

 

[HuskyMusky]

cut a fresh track/fresh snow, and go after it with a rifle? possibly try calling, at least that way you know there's a cat in the region...

 

[wa-hunter]

cats can be called my buddy called one in on one of his first few times in early September with a fawn distress call on a fox pro. i have tried off and on for a few years with no luck (i don't have much patience for sitting though). here is a good site about calling cats, what where and when. it is a hour long so takes time to listen to the guy but he has a lot of info.
http://podbay.fm/show/303304389/e/1250460128?autostart=1

 

[hoshour]

"According to the 1990 figures in the state of Texas, confirmed mountain lion kills of domestic livestock were as follows: 86 calves (estimated value = $40,850); 253 Mohair goats (estimated value = $12,771); 302 Mohair kids (estimated value = $13,690); 445 sheep (estimated value = $31,132); 562 lambs (estimated value = $33,909). (1991 Figures from U. S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, San Antonio, Texas)"

You can read the rest of the article here. It's old but probably still holds true.http://www.aws.vcn.com/mountain_lion_fact_sheet.html

 

[hoshour]

Best strategy when confronted by a mountain lion -
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/should-you-run-or-freeze-when-you-see-a-mountain-lion/