lions

[goatpoop]

Couple years ago a mountain lion came into my cottontail distress call during a spring bear hunt . Could not shoot because lion season closed about 15 days ago. While elk hunting in the same area this year I had a lion 400 yards in the open. Again could not shoot because the area recently became a special permit area. I found out about that after I bought my license. These are my only two encounters with during hunting season.

Come up to Idaho or Montana and buy multiple wolf tags and a mountain lion tag. Find were elk/deer winter and call (elk or deer distress). That you can shoot whatever comes into your setup and you are helping declining elk/deer populations. Again make sure you read the regulations for the area. Call/email local wildlife biologist for intel on wolves, mountain lions, and wintering grounds. They will give a good starting point and will tell you the regulations.

 

[lperrett]

Calling definitely works. Here in South Dakota, we cannot use dogs or bait. Primarily people wait til it snows and cruise all the little roads until they cut fresh tracks. Some just get on the tracks and "hound dog" them out themselves and some get into what looks like a good area to call. Most calling set-ups need to be an hour or more. The cats usually come in extremely cautious. Following the tracks will sometimes lead you to a fresh kill. This is the holy grail up here. Then an early morning and evening sit is in order. Sometimes I will even follow the tracks backwards to learn where they have a den or a kill. I hear a lot of rabbit in distress and fawn in distress calls being used. I think it all depends on what is primarily around for them to eat. I have heard of about everyone calling in lions while elk hunting and turkey hunting.