That's a big cat! I've only seen one that looked to be that big here in Montana. They are hunted here so not quite as bold, but have followed me when I've been out elk hunting. I am more worried about a big cat than one of our grizzlies when out in the mountains. DP

 

That is one big cat!!
Hand's down cat's are the ultimate predator.
If a cat that size was after you. You wouldn't know it before it's to late.
How big was that thing?
Judging by the size of its paw I'd say well over 200 pounds.
That thing is amazing!

 

XMAN

I don't have any details on the size of the Cat. I am judging he weighs in at over 200# and close to 10 ft. long. His paw is darn near 10 inches wide. I wish I had more details but I am sorry to say I do not.

Buck

 

Big Cats are the only thing I fear hunting Elk!

 

The largest cat on record was shot in N.California and the estimated weight was over 300lbs.

 

That thing looks like a lioness. Maybe it's a female african lion. Yea that's it! There are siteings now and then around here in the Texas hill country. Leon valley, a little town that use to be outside of San Antonio, but is now surrounded by it, use to be called the valley of lions. Were very common way back when. That's a beast.

 

Here in skansin the Dnr denies they exist in our state even after countless sightings, I even personally spoke to a retired sheriff who witnessed seeing one in his neighbors back yard in a somewhat rural area. Tons of kids and pets in that area. Shoot first ask questions later when it comes to those cats, anybody wanting to reintroduce them should have to do it in their backyard first...

 

My mom swears to heaven she saw a black panther last week. She don't take drugs or drink and she's not one for makin up stories, so idk.

I've always wanted a pair Olathe boots. Are they still made in Olathe?

 

My mom swears to heaven she saw a black panther last week. She don't take drugs or drink and she's not one for makin up stories, so idk.

Was it in front of an election poll.:biggrin:

I do know of a big Panther that was penned up right across the Delaware river from Pa., about 20yrs ago. Don't know how they got it, don't know if they still have it. Would have never thunk it in this state, but then I never thought I'd have a bear in my back yard until it got my feeder Thursday night.:ahhhhh:

 

leverdoug

Hyer Boot Company is no longer there. Been gone for some time now. They did make a great pair of boots. Made to fit and fit like a deer skin glove. I had a pair of elk hide. Great Boots.

 

They are being reintroduced in some parts of California that was once their natural range! They are thriving because of so many feral hogs. But, with this also comes the declined of black tail deer. The cats are protected by law. It makes one wonder about these executive decisions.

 

Big cat for sure and hunters take them in trees with a .22 handgun. It must work for them but bigger is better IMHO. Have fun and bangaway.

 

same story here in Oklahoma....they said for years that we didnt have any...and everybody kept reporting sightings....then 1 was killed while stalking a mans horse...then 2 road kills...they have been genetically connected to the black hills cougars...that puts them in Nebraska and Kansas...since man and other lions are their only predatator...there will be more and more until a person is killed....its like the wolves....you have got to have seasons on em or they will get out of hand...

 

I love the photos that keep showing up showing outsized beasts. Last time I saw this one it had been killed in Iowa if I remember correctly. We have plenty of these in AZ, they respond to varmint calls and we do have a season limit of one per hunter per year- the season runs year round. We also have quite a few packs of lion dogs around the state that do a pretty good job of bringing them to bay - although the one guy I know that has a pack is also a vet which is a good thing for his dogs as they tend to get cut up from time to time. Hard to see these animals as they are pretty stealthy. Most of the predator callers in our club carry a large caliber pistol just in case things get too close. I have only seen one in the wild and it was at 200yds visible for about 15 seconds and was gone before I could get set for a shot. During some of the extreme drought summers there have been some aggressive actions by these cougars. Game and Fish usually gets right after any which so aggressiveness toward people and hunt them down. The bad part is the large metro areas full of city folks don't have any idea how close they live to these cats. They come right through some of the residential areas in Scottsdale, Carefree, Cave Creek and Tucson without significant incident. Good idea not to hunt alone for this and any number of other reasons.

 

WE not only have a healthy bear population here we have a healthy cougar population as well. Seems every year people are getting attacked by them. In the northern end of Vancouver island where I live a few years ago a old fellow was riding his bicycle along a logging road and was jumped. Another one last year in the interior of BC a small lady was on her couch reading on a hot summers evening and a cougar came through her open door and attacked here, but her collie dog chased it away and she survived. I have two hunting buddies that shot 3 one fall, one the cougar took his deer and dragged it away, and when he went to find it the cougar jumped him , he got cut up a a bit but shot the cat as it landed on him, and the other two were while they walked game trails. I always think look how fast a house cat can be swiping at you and he does not have to do that for survival , hpow fast can a hunting cat like these be ? I don't need to find out. I was hunting in a snow storm one time I had left the truck and it started getting so bad I couldn't see 20 yards so turned around and headed back to truck and there was cat tracks following me right from the truck all the way in the snow, they were no more than 30 yards behind me, and I never did see the cougar. At least yo have a better chance of seeing and hearing a bear lol

 

Hey KansasGirl 444 posts in the 444 forum, can only ever happen once

 

You just blew it lol 445 now

 

When I lived in the Chicago area, about six years, ago, one was sighted in a Forest Preserve, numerous times, and was finally hunted down and shot by the police. Any time you have a large number of deer, sooner or later, you will get mountain lions (cougars) since these cats have been steadily expanding their range, again. Urban and suburban areas are not off limits to these cats, since they are not put off by humans and these areas have high densities of deer. We've now seen them enough in Wisconsin that the DNR has actually confirmed it.

Personally, mountain lions concern me more than black bears. If you look at the stats, more people have been killed by mountain lions (cougars) in the last twenty years than black bears or even grizzlies, but, hey, the woods are the woods and that's all part of living the outdoor life. Wouldn't have it any other way. If I wanted to stay nice and cozy safe, I'd just play golf or watch TV.

 

That's one big kitty cat. We got 'em here in Florida, but they are protected. They've been sighted around where I hunt, and I've seen their "litter box" a few times so they are out there. During the day, I take comfort that I'm the one with the gun. If I have to be moving near or after dark, my ears sure do tune in a lot better than in daylight. In the end, I think it's great they are out there (here) and would love to see one in the wild, but still hope we both see eachother from a safe distance.

 

Several years ago I saw one chasing our milkcow herd. The thing was screaming like a woman, made the hair stand up on my back of my head. Took a shoot at him with a 22lr at a fairly long distance, which ran him off. That nite during milking found one of our cows had big scratch marks down it's back.
Saw another one last spring when I was hunting mushrooms, was about 25 yards away from me down in the river bottoms. Spooked me pretty good as all I had was my Single Six full of snake shot. I don't go out in the woods now, with out my 1894c slung over my back.

 

Have I had my head in the sand Buck? I have never heard or read of the re-introduction of mountain lions any where. Are you kidding me? Like others here, we have them here and when out camping or hiking, we are always on the lookout ... but I am not so sure that makes a difference. The cats are the ultimate predators on this planet in my opinion with this including all cats from the feral to the lions of Africa.

 

Funny thing about nature is she don't rely on humans to reintroduce her critters back into areas. Coyote's are getting to be common here in central Jersey and I'm talking big Golden Retriever size. State denies it but we saw one on the burm at the Fort Dix range this past winter. Bears are showing up in areas I would have never thought (see post above) and reports of Cougar sightings along the eastern side of the state.

 

Yeah, I haven't heard of any re-introductions, either. They do it on their own. I've seen a momma and two kittens up close while muley hunting in New Mexico (only had one shot - primitive unit, muzzleloaders only). I don't mind sharing the woods; magnificent creatures. I do feel better when I can pack a side arm.

 

The standing joke for years was that the Nebraska G&P was using black helicopters to introduce cougars to control the exploding deer population. The G&P had scoffed at the idea of cougars within the NE borders and 'splained away the sightings as a "stray cat" from SD. Then 1 was hit on I-80 between Lincoln and Omaha, and another was spotted galavanting through a west Omaha neighborhood. The latter one was "put down" by Omaha's finest after it was determined to be a danger to residents - imagine that! Many more sightings and close encounters followed.

So the G&P had to adjust the narrative that a few cougars may actual live within the state. Then the kittens showed up in several locations. Then a young hunter shot one in self defense. Now the wizards of smart at the G&P think we might have a season for cougars. Their population estimate is around 22 cats in the Pine Ridge area of north west NE. I think they see it as another revenue stream due to declining deer population/permits.

If they do permits I will probably try and get one for the outside chance I may see one while out deer/coyote hunting.

 

Hey 444,

That is one big cat!

Later, Mark

 

I was hunting in Duval county TX back in 68 or 69 and saw one laying on the side of a sendero. It blended so well with the background that I have no idea how long it might have been there before I spotted it. As I approached it got up and ambled into the brush. I ran to the spot and there was a game trail there but it was already hidden and the brush was too thick to follow it in there.

Ten or so years ago I had some tracks on my place in Coleman county where one was prowling around. I never saw it and after a week or so it left and I never saw tracks again. It gave me a creapy feeling even though I never saw it. The tracks were big, but not as big as the one pictured. My first reation when I saw the tracks was disbelief. That voice in my head said that is something that happens somewhere else not on my place. The next season one was killed on a ranch about nine miles southeast of me.

 

We have a very healthy population in Alberta. They have been eating cats and dogs in a small resort town on the Banff Park border and spotted in Calgary. Considering the numbers and proximity we don't have very many attacks. That same town uses firework to run the grizzlies off the golf course. The mountain corridor parks, Waterton, Banff, and Jasper keep the area well stocked in both species. Wolves concern me much more because of the livestock and deer predation to sustain large packs.

I have mixed feelings about reintroduction and protection. The Canadian mountains without cats, bears, and wolves is just a big city park or the Alps. The deer populations in North America are so high and well managed it is no surprise the lion population is expanding.