mountain lion hunting

[franksolich]

This took place about eight miles from where I live, up here on the roof of Nebraska, north of Norfolk (if one wishes to consult a map).  I assume it's a big deal, but I'm not sure.  I know people are talking about it, even in my presence, right in front of my face, but being polite, I'm not going to annoy anybody by asking them to take the time and trouble to explain to me what's being said.

So I'll throw it in here.

On Saturday, a 15-year-old kid out hunting deer shot a mountain lion.

LINCOLN, Neb. – A 15-year-old deer hunter from Wayne killed a mountain lion near Creighton in northeast Nebraska on Nov. 12, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

The boy, hunting a shelterbelt in Knox County, spotted the mountain lion 10 feet away before shooting and killing it. The mountain lion was a young male, which has been typical of mountain lions found in Nebraska outside of the Panhandle, according to Sam Wilson, furbearer and carnivore program manager with Game and Parks. The carcass was turned over to Game and Parks, as required by law.

It was the 52nd confirmed mountain lion sighting in Nebraska outside the Pine Ridge population since 1991.

Mountain lions are protected year-round in Nebraska but may be killed if threatening people or attacking livestock. No charges will be filed, as evidence indicated self-defense.

"Game and Parks is interested in documenting observations or game camera photographs of mountain lions," Wilson said. "Please report any observations to your nearest Game and Parks office or call 402-471-0641."

This by the way is eastern Nebraska; the eastern one-third of the state, generally agricultural, rich farmland; the Sandhills start a few miles further out.

Is this a big deal, or is this a really big deal?

I dunno myself, honestly.  This place is congested with wildlife, but generally I leave wildlife alone to do its own thing, and wildlife leaves me alone to do my own thing.

[Eupher]

Mountain lions appear occasionally in Missouri. Since 1994, when the first official siting (and kill) of a mountain lion was recorded, there have been a total of 15 sitings (article written in Feb. 2011).

This article suggests that most of Missouri's lions are coming from Nebraska, oddly enough. The article states that there's likely a breeding population in NW Nebraska and that young males are migrating east and south.

I worry about our dogs sometimes since we let them out at night for brief periods - up to an hour - to do their business and sniff around and whatnot. Lexie, our mutt, likes to bark at distant neighbors and that could very well cue a cat to come visit which we absolutely do not need.

MO Dept. of Conservation

[BlueStateSaint]

Yup, Coach.  It's a big deal.  Anytime a BFC is around, it's a big deal.  The one that was "collected" in CT this spring/summer was tracked in Lake George, which is a major resort village in the Adirondacks.

[franksolich]

Yup, Coach.  It's a big deal.  Anytime a BFC is around, it's a big deal.

Thanks; I didn't want to look like an idiot in case my opinion's asked.....which it inevitably must.

My opinion's asked a great deal and embarrassingly many times about things which I know not; in this case, I'm not aware if encountering non-game beasts is common when hunting for game animals, and if shooting a mountain lion is a big deal or not.

This being hunting season, and apparently a good one, hunting is the hot topic at the moment, even in my own dining room, but I don't hear the comments.

I again give you the example of GOBUCKS' use of the word "backstrap" when referring to, apparently, the hind quarters of a deer.  That's a word that's probably been uttered in my presence hundreds of times in my life, but of course I've never heard it.  And I look like an idiot when I inquire what it is.

[Eupher]

I did a poor job of answering your question, Frank, but I can say with a certain amount of zeal that shooting a mountain lion in Missouri is a big deal too.

That report I linked doesn't think it's a huge problem given the low numbers of sitings (15 as of last Feb), but explain that to the family of somebody who's been attacked by one.

Mountain lions are protected species in Missouri (God only knows why), but the DNR people don't generally prosecute when one is shot unless they can see that it was killed for non-defense reasons.

So sayeth the article, at any rate.

[FreeBorn]

There have been rumors of cougars around these parts (southern tier of New York) for years.

Franksolich can find some very interesting reading here~

http://www.trackincats.com/

[franksolich]

There have been rumors of cougars around these parts (southern tier of New York) for years.

Franksolich can find some very interesting reading here~

http://www.trackincats.com/

You know, I dunno if I've ever seen a mountain lion in my life, either here or anywhere else I've ever been.

Growing up around so much nature and wildlife (and weather), it's kind of like I "erase" such phenomenons off my "radar."  As long as something doesn't bother me, I don't bother it.

[Odin's Hand]

They are fairly common in OK. I've seen them on my game cameras before in SW OK and on my friend's place in NE OK.

[Rugnuts]

here in southern mn even with pictures of them, the DNR denies that they are "out there"
co worker found half of a deer carcass up in the crotch of a tree.
a lady walking by the river 15 miles north of here took a photo of the back half of one in daylight. the dnr said it could have been a yellow lab. bulshit

big deal??? if the DNR would admit they are out there and people took precautions it wouldnt be that big of a deal.
theoretically almost every inch of land from canada to south america can "host" a cougar/mt lion/puma/BFC.

[Erasmus]

I've seen two in my lifetime.  One in person while bowfishing on the Brazos river, and the other on a deer camera at our lease.

[Wineslob]

You know, I dunno if I've ever seen a mountain lion in my life, either here or anywhere else I've ever been.

Growing up around so much nature and wildlife (and weather), it's kind of like I "erase" such phenomenons off my "radar."  As long as something doesn't bother me, I don't bother it.

I have. When you see one in the wild, about the only thing you think is "damn, thats a BIG cat". Even bobcats are bigger than you realize.

[Crazy Horse]

here in southern mn even with pictures of them, the DNR denies that they are "out there"
co worker found half of a deer carcass up in the crotch of a tree.
a lady walking by the river 15 miles north of here took a photo of the back half of one in daylight. the dnr said it could have been a yellow lab. bulshit

big deal??? if the DNR would admit they are out there and people took precautions it wouldnt be that big of a deal.
theoretically almost every inch of land from canada to south america can "host" a cougar/mt lion/puma/BFC.

Same here in eastern NC.  I have seen a black cat twice in my lifetime.  I've spoken with wildlife biologist after both sightings and been told it was a lab since all cougars are extinct in NC.  I told them that there was one, there answer was "If they were here, we would have found one dead on the road"   AYFKM