Wed Aug 29, 2012, 09:30 AM
Bonhomme Richard (7,814 posts)
Strange question. Anyone here familiar with hunting/tracking Mountain Lions?
I started this project yesterday with my camera. l live in a State that denies they exist and a friend of mine, while jogging, ran into a female with cubs. I want to get some pics and I wanted to know if anyone might have some insight or experience with this.
I am not unfamiliar with tracking and such and I have a pretty good understanding of their behavior but I don't know everything. I went out yesterday for the first time to get a feel for the trail area.
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15 replies, 1203 views
| Author | Time | Post | |
| Bonhomme Richard | Aug 2012 | OP | |
| petronius | Aug 2012 | #1 | |
| Bonhomme Richard | Aug 2012 | #2 | |
| gejohnston | Aug 2012 | #3 | |
| Bonhomme Richard | Aug 2012 | #4 | |
| gejohnston | Aug 2012 | #5 | |
| Bonhomme Richard | Aug 2012 | #6 | |
| gejohnston | Aug 2012 | #7 | |
| former-republican | Sep 2012 | #8 | |
| Bonhomme Richard | Sep 2012 | #9 | |
| former-republican | Sep 2012 | #10 | |
| Bonhomme Richard | Sep 2012 | #11 | |
| former-republican | Sep 2012 | #12 | |
| rqsulfates | Sep 2012 | #13 | |
| loli phabay | Sep 2012 | #14 | |
| Bonhomme Richard | Sep 2012 | #15 |
Response to Bonhomme Richard (Original post)
Wed Aug 29, 2012, 11:49 AM
petronius (19,641 posts)
1. I'm not - sadly, I've never seen one - but my suggestion would be to try
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and get a hold of a trail camera or two. If there are cubs, the family is probably not ranging too far, and a remote camera along a game trail or near water might be luckier than you just hunting around with a camera...
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Response to petronius (Reply #1)
Wed Aug 29, 2012, 12:58 PM
Bonhomme Richard (7,814 posts)
2. Not ranging far is what I figured.
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From my scouting yesterday there seems to be plenty of food and cover with overlooks. It's no good putting a trail camera unless I know what is used regularly. Thanks for your input, kind of an odd subject.
I was thinking, if I actually got the shots I would probably have to keep them to myself. If I used them to prove they exist then I would probably be signing their death warrant. I'll poke around a bit for a while. |
Response to Bonhomme Richard (Reply #2)
Wed Aug 29, 2012, 01:05 PM
gejohnston (12,553 posts)
3. Is lion hunting legal in your neck of the woods?
Response to gejohnston (Reply #3)
Wed Aug 29, 2012, 06:02 PM
Bonhomme Richard (7,814 posts)
4. Not at all.I am hunting with a camera.
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Though the state denies they even exist here.
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Response to Bonhomme Richard (Reply #4)
Wed Aug 29, 2012, 06:38 PM
gejohnston (12,553 posts)
5. I gathered you were using a camera, but
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you mentioned "signing their death warrant."
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Response to gejohnston (Reply #5)
Wed Aug 29, 2012, 07:17 PM
Bonhomme Richard (7,814 posts)
6. The thing is that the state won't admit that they are here in CT.
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Even though one was hit by a car down by the coast. I think if someone had definitive proof, especially that they were breeding, the state would have to admit they are here. I imagine the uproar from worried parents would cause the state to try to eliminate them.
That's what I meant by death warrant. |
Response to Bonhomme Richard (Reply #6)
Wed Aug 29, 2012, 07:32 PM
gejohnston (12,553 posts)
7. I see, I was thinking you were in a western state.
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I'll have to read up on them and their range. I saw one in the wild growing up in Wyoming, at a distance. It is entirely possible that the state doesn't want to admit they are there simply because they don't want freaked out suburbanites demanding game wardens go on search and destroy missions.
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Response to Bonhomme Richard (Original post)
Tue Sep 4, 2012, 02:10 AM
former-republican (2,163 posts)
8. Dogs are the correct way to track them.
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It's really the only way to track big cats.
Forget about any other way. What part of CT does your friend thinks he saw one? |
Response to former-republican (Reply #8)
Tue Sep 4, 2012, 09:43 AM
Bonhomme Richard (7,814 posts)
9. I thought about dogs and....
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I have two large ones that would love nothing better than going out with me. If it was just the cat I would do that and let them tree it but there are cubs and I don't want my dogs getting between mom and cubs. Nor do I want to risk my dogs harming the cubs. No good can come from that scenario.
Mountain lions are very territorial and I think I will attempt to call her to me rather than traipsing around in the woods. The habitat that she is in is small so, theoretically, I should get her attention. I prefer not to give out the location at this point and I have no doubt he saw one because he described it and the cubs to a tee. He is also very credible, fireman, EMT, etc.. Not one to make rash judgements. Whether or not she is still in the immediate area...that's another question but from my observations there is a lot of food (deer, turkeys, etc) and very good rock ledge cover and cubs so I think she will remain static for a while. |
Response to Bonhomme Richard (Reply #9)
Tue Sep 4, 2012, 11:25 AM
former-republican (2,163 posts)
10. If you're tying to get them to come to you
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you can try a distressed electronic fawn call.
Be careful and watch your six when trying to call in a big cat You will be doing this when the sun is going down or before dawn. That is when they hunt. I personaly wouldn't think of doing this without a firearm. |
Response to former-republican (Reply #10)
Tue Sep 4, 2012, 03:56 PM
Bonhomme Richard (7,814 posts)
11. Yeah, my back will be protected as....
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that is how they attack.
I am debating with myself whether or not to bring a handgun. I really do not want to bring any harm to the cat as I am the one infringing but.......? I thought I would use a recording of another cat because they are territorial and use her curiosity. I didn't think to call her in to eat, LOL. |
Response to Bonhomme Richard (Reply #11)
Tue Sep 4, 2012, 04:47 PM
former-republican (2,163 posts)
12. They are very territorial
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either way she won't be coming in only for curiosity. It will be to protect her cubs.
Other males will kill cubs to establish a territory. Using a recording of a cougar scream will send chills up someones spine that might be hiking through. It's like nothing you ever heard before. and yea bring your handgun just in case good luck |
Response to Bonhomme Richard (Original post)
Thu Sep 6, 2012, 03:54 AM
rqsulfates (7 posts)
13. Spam deleted by CaliforniaPeggy (MIR Team)
Response to Bonhomme Richard (Original post)
Tue Sep 11, 2012, 10:16 PM
loli phabay (2,831 posts)
14. if you believe them to be in your area, a tethered goat and trail cams could be the way
Response to Bonhomme Richard (Original post)
Tue Sep 11, 2012, 10:28 PM
Bonhomme Richard (7,814 posts)
15. I've been out a half dozen times now and.....
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haven't seen or heard a thing. Tried calling it in, etc. I'll give it one more shot at it but I think its moved on. The area around here is good habitat but it is a large area to try and cover.
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