Mountain Lion Hunting Advice

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Guillermo

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Buddy of mine has a female mountain lion on his property.

It was no big thing for the last 17 years because he used the property for hunting only.

She has "warned him off" a few times as he has walked around his property but never caused any problems.

Now he is building a house and the home site is very close to the den. (less than 100 yards) With grand kids, pets he would like her gone.

I do not have access to dogs but know exactly where she lives.

Was thinking about getting close and calling her.

Any advice would be welcome.
 
Call TPWD and get their take on it.

4200 Smith School Rd Austin, TX 78744
(800) 792-1112

Also, if its in the Austin area...don't let anyone know about it, the bleeding hearts there will descend upon you/him like the plague. :rolleyes:

If the "Den" has been continuously used/occupied by a Cougar each year...then I am sure the TPWD would like to document it for their studies.

I am sure they would "remove" and relocate a cat as well, sparing you/him the trouble of evicting the cat yourself.

Though its perfectly legal for a landowner/agent to dispatch the cat, better to just move it.

Also, I don't know if you mean't to imply that the same cat has used the den for 17 years, but that is doubtful, not that they can't live that long.
 
One option would be to see if TP&WD would trap the lion and then release her way out west. Way away. :) But we have plenty of room...

Otherwise, I recommend bait-and-watch. Table scraps with meat and gravy, a fresh-kill rabbit, and a handful of bulk catnip. Worked for me. :D And cats or coyotes start hunting earlier when the moon gets near to full and through the full-moon time.
 
the same cat has used the den for 17 years
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A cat has been there since he bought the property. Probably just a good location so it might have been several over the years.

I have never hunted Mountain Lion so was thinking it might be a good opportunity. It is not as though they are rare, but the opportunity to hunt them is.

FYI, the place is south of Austin in Hays Country. A few animal rights folks have migrated down there, but not too many. A buddy of mine lives in a neighborhood and many folks have deer feeders so as to harvest some venison.
 
Guillermo wrote:

is this like snipe hunting?
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Yes, only you'll need a larger bag! ;)

Protective face gear would probably be a good idea too. :D


If you are set on hunting the cat (your decision), you really needn't bait it...since you know the location of the den.

I don't know the lay out of the terrain, but all you really need is a vantage point from which to watch. If you have a game camera...it might be possible to pattern the cat before going in to hunt it.

Build a ground blind from native brush (cedar/mesquite) as far away from the den as you can accurately shoot....and simply wait.

Cougars... for the most part rely on their hearing and sight to alert them, but you'll have to be downwind as well....as they will not ignore human scent.

You'll basically be "sniping" the cat as it enters or leaves the den. You can "stop" the cat by emitting a soft whistle, (but be ready to shoot).

If it were me...I would first determine the sex of the cat and IF female, if there are any immature cubs present.
 
I will place a game camera near some cat nip, an open can of food and perhaps a squeaky toy. Perhaps I can use a laser pointer and get the cat chasing it. Move her out in the clear and squeeze off a shot.



Seriously, I will put a game camera at the den and see what we are dealing with.
 
Harmon Scent's has a product to help you if you can use scents to lure your game. Just dn't spray it on yourself.
 
Go to your supermarket and buy a frozen turkey. Hang it on a rope from a sturdy branch near the cat's lair and wait for it to come out at night. If you do not like this idea, roast the turkey and have it for dinner.
 
Find someone with dogs trained to hunt mountain lions...about the only way I know of to get one. if your buddy sees her again, put the dogs on her ASAP if you want to catch her. Mountain Lions have a range about 300 miles and can cover 60 miles a day.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
 
same cat for the past 17 years? i bet there are several generations that have passed thru that Den, & there are probably males and females that routinely use the area, with offspring. - probably more than one cat in the overall region... once the house is built, the big cat may abandon the place and look for a more remote location.
 
^^^^^^^^^

A female with kittens might use it up to six weeks or so, but cougars travel and basically just use what are known as "day-beds". A female will have a smaller home range than a male (especially a young male) but even so...its unlikely it would be in one place very long.

Just the same...if the shelter is known to be used frequently (regardless the cat) then staking it out...would be easy enough. But honestly, if I were concerned about cats returning and using the refuge, I would seal off the entrance and be done with it.
 
once the house is built, the big cat may abandon the place and look for a more remote location
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It is pretty remote and adjacent to an exotic game ranch. Small but deep cave in a jumble of Texas limestone. Lots of bones.

Don't know how many cats have been through there, but apparently they like it.

I am going to place a game camera and see what is currently hanging out there.
 
I am going to place a game camera and see what is currently hanging out there.
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Please post the pics you get.

And, if you've got photos of the den, us East Coasters would love to see that too. Bones and all. I have no idea what it looks like in that area, but I think I speak for many on the more lush and green east coast when I say we never tire of looking at pictures of the west.
 
Call TPWD and get their take on it.
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Agreed, I also would set up some game cams around the property just to make sure their are not anymore in the area. If they wont do anything, get a tag, and get something like a .45-70 Gov't brush gun and tag a tigr just like the pioneers did to settle a settlement. -- Good luck and be safe. :)
 
Thanks Art,

That is how I understood it.

While the Texas hunting laws of which I am familiar are pretty reasonable (with the exception of dove) one can't be too careful.

The chances of being caught doing something wrong is darned near zero but I like to follow the hunting rules to the letter.
 
Tpwd will trap it for you and remove it to be relocated to s. texas. I seem to hear more and more stories about mountain lions sightings around here. If your talking south west hays county thats just perfect habitat. And a joy to hunt!
 
Heck, there are caves on Town Lake just below the Tom Miller dam which would be just fine for Big Poo Tat. Think of all the dogs and cats around for yummies. :D And the deer in Rollingwood and West Lake Hills.
 
the idiot liberals in this town would petition to leave it alone.

and if it killed someone the lion would get more support than the victim;s family (like that lady in Cali)
 
Guillermo wrote:

the idiot liberals in this town would petition to leave it alone.

and if it killed someone the lion would get more support than the victim;s family
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Yup,

I grew up in Austin, spent most of my life there...but by the mid 80's it had gotten just so crazy Liberal and strange..that my wife and I decided to move.

Honestly, just drive past Pease Park when they are having Eeyore's Birthday Party and look at the folks in attendance there. That's what you are dealing with.

Kind of a shame when the most popular bumper sticker in the city is: "Keep Austin Weird". Its like San Francisco in Texas. :rolleyes:

Don't miss it at all.
 
Its like San Francisco in Texas.
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agreed

which beats the heck out of "San Francisco in California".

about 3 miles from where Art suggested would be a good den for a cat I am meeting a guy about buying a gun. It is a parking lot of a restaurant. Have done such things many times. Nobody ever looks twice.

In Cali the SWAT team would show up
 
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