Cat Family

CallMaker · September 09, 2011, 05:55:49 PM

Got this off the cam this morning. This is why my deer numbers are down. This bunch will kill a couple deer a WEEK!
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v455/CallMaker/Cats/?action=view¤t=9-9-2011CougarFamily.mp4

Daryl (deceased) · September 10, 2011, 06:20:14 AM

Yep, but that's nature. They'll move out when the deer numbers decline (or that's been my experience) to find a better food source. Where deer numbers are high, predators will soon be.

I don't like deer numbers declining any more than the next fella, but having lived in lion country all my life, I've learned to accept them as a natural predator. I've had to move my hunting spot several times because of high lion populations.

Daryl

CallMaker · September 10, 2011, 06:48:21 AM

The lions here have become a problem in the last several years since they disallowed hunting them with dogs. The cat population has increased to the point they are expanding their range into urban areas, eating dogs and cats and causing concern for the city residents. Just as well as the city people were the ones who voted in the no dog hunting law. Even now in some problem areas the residents are crying to the Game Dept. to "Do Something" about the big cats roaming the area.

Daryl (deceased) · September 10, 2011, 09:36:35 AM

Yeah, people seem to forget how they voted a few years back, once trouble starts as a result of that vote.

Look at all the folks who voted for Obama who are now complaining.

Daryl

CallMaker · September 10, 2011, 09:50:28 AM

davidlt89 · September 10, 2011, 05:26:56 PM

Excellent video!!!!! for years the state of Maine denied there were any mountain lions in the state. Over the last several years some people have gotten some good pictures of them and proved the state "wrong". Seeing one of them up here is almost a once in a lifetime thing. Do you guys have a hunting season at all on them? God Bless.

CallMaker · September 10, 2011, 05:33:29 PM

Yes, there is a hunting season for cougar. Opens Sept 1 and runs for several months. Some weapons restrictions for some parts of the season. No hunting with dogs allowed, as decided by the voters some years ago. That's why the cats are invading the urban areas, eating dogs and cats and upsetting the very city folks who are responsible for the over population of said cats. Too many cats for the rural range so they are spreading. Very territorial animals.

LvrLover · September 11, 2011, 07:08:39 PM

Is there an effective way to hunt lions without dogs? Calling? Spot and stalk? I heard of some in Idaho tracking in fresh snow.

CallMaker · September 11, 2011, 07:14:11 PM

Not to my knowledge. Calling, they say, has some success. However I have never seen any positive results. I have heard that some people have good luck baiting with live rabbits/chickens but that is just stories to me. It's mostly in the control of the "Great Potato".........being in the right place at the right time.

Rich Cronk · October 25, 2011, 08:02:32 PM

Nice video! We have a few cougars pass through here now and then, but I think there is not enough cover and too many people for the cougars to feel comfortable living here. They are not protected here as of yet. I would love to call one in and make a rug out of it. I know they will come to predator call screams if they here it. The problem is that much of the time they are too far away to hear my calls. I am in western Iowa.