Handi and a lion...

[eskimo36]

Last night on my way out of a single calling set (hunting with handi in 7.62x39) on a ranch I regularly hunt for predators, I saw a grown mountain lion. I was in the middle of a herd of 250 cows when I saw it run across in front of me at about 100 yards.  It was nearly dark and I think the sound of the ATV spooked it.  It offered no chance for a shot.  Yes it is legal in Oklahoma to shoot a mountain lion  in Oklahoma for depredation problems.  This rancher had lost a calf on Friday night about 600-700 yards (through two fences) from where its remains were found covered in leaves in the edge of a hay meadow.  He had told me I might run into one that afternoon.  About 6 years ago he lost 11 calves to a big cat, one every 3 or 4 days, during the winter but was unable to shoot it before it moved on.    I did my usual call set in my order of call sites that I use for this property, not thinking much about the propsition of seeing this cat..  I rotate enough call locations on this 1700 acre ranch to not call anywhere more often than 15-20 days.  It turned out to be a very exciting evening when I had only anticpated shooting a couple of coyote pups at best.

[Ditchdigger]

Eskimo,you might check with the game wardens in your area. Down here they told me that they would try to trap the lion first.That was a year ago though.If you do get him,follow the 3 S's ,shoot,shovel,and shut up.They may have changed the rules by now though.Digger

[eskimo36]

I am well versed in the 3 S's from my days of having sheep and goats. Of course the neighbors dogs don't chase them and kill them.....

and the laws have changed this year concerning mountain laws..... " Mountain lions can now be taken year-round when committing or about to commit depredation or when deemed a nuisance, safety or health hazard. "

[Ditchdigger]

I did'nt know that,from now on there it trouble,because every big cat that I've seen was either coming from a calf kill or going to one. The area I hunt hogs in has some slightly smaller black one's that I think are panther's moved up from LA.. Digger

[myarmor]

Cool story. And nothing other than a 7.62 Handi on hand at the time too. That would have been an interesting story if you had killed it with this cartridge. Though I don't think you would have had a problem laying him down with the little Russian at the range you were talking about. I am still a fan, even though it has it's quirks. I look forward to hearing more on this one.





-Aaron

[30-06man]

wow. i had a problem yesterday were i had a coyote get into the chicken pin and kill 2 of my new laying hens. i got out there with the 06 and called and he came and i popped him. going to see what i can get in the mornin

[bluebayou]

Was funny thing last year.  I read an old article in a magazine about how Oklahoma and other states didn't not officially recognize mountain lion populations.  If they did then (according to the article) there would be problems for Weyerhaeuser and other timber companies.  That sightings of mountain lions were just wrong...that carcasses of mountain lions could be explained away.

So the next day I drove over a bridge on 259 that crosses a little creek.  There is a mountain lion standing in the road and he/she just looks at me as calm as can be and jumps to the water's edge.  Two days later someone spotted it up the creek about 15 miles.

[aulrich]

Cougars have been showing up all over Western Canada and not just a Country and Western bars. A place I hunt elk is on the eastern side of the province up until the last few years it had probably been the better part of 100 years since that last ones.  Lately I am hearing stories as far north as my cabin and as far east as Ontario.

I wonder what the pre-columbian distribution was, is this net new or just a natural expansion, because prey animal populations are high.


For you south of the border it not surprising to see the shy big cat quietly filling the void left without the wolves, but in Canada alot of the new sighting are coming from areas that have wolves.

[Chilachuck]

Someone snared a cougar across from Petersberg, Alaska a couple years ago. That's in SE, two islands from the mainland. Hope they like bear cubs, the grizzlies are eating up all the fawns there.

[Plainsman]

ND has been allowing 5 Mt. Lion kills a year for a couple of years now.  Who would associate ND and MT. Lion?!?!? right?!  Anyhow, sitings are generally in the SW corner where the Badlands and Breaks are, but they are often spotted in the Eastern half of the state as well now.  Usually they are moving North East up to Manitoba and ONTARIO!!!   They say they are expanding due to a rise in the population!