Mountain Men & mountain lion “hunting”
- Thread starter hittman
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Chasing the cat a few miles only makes it come back hungrier than before. 
Mountain Men was mostly made for TV dramatization with a dash of reality for flavor.
Mountain Men was mostly made for TV dramatization with a dash of reality for flavor.
We have a few lion hunters here. They all use dogs. They bag cats every year.
Many years ago, about 1964, my Dad and I were in the back of our ranch in the hills of northern California. We came upon an old guy walking through our place. He had a canteen and a small pack. I did not see any gun. He said he had been tracking a Puma for many miles and hoped to catch up with the cat. I did not know what he was planning on doing about it. It did not seem me meant to kill. We left him on his own.
Many years ago, about 1964, my Dad and I were in the back of our ranch in the hills of northern California. We came upon an old guy walking through our place. He had a canteen and a small pack. I did not see any gun. He said he had been tracking a Puma for many miles and hoped to catch up with the cat. I did not know what he was planning on doing about it. It did not seem me meant to kill. We left him on his own.
contender
Ruger Guru
Mountain Men TV is NOT reality.
But...but...but. I saw it on TV. It's gotta be true.
contender
Ruger Guru
Our own "Ruger Girl," Kelly Glenn Kimbro who has been our poster girl for over 25 years with Ruger is a mountain lion hunter & guide.
Go ask HER about true lion hunting. And inquire about how the TV Mountain Men do it.
(PS; I want to watch and I'll bring the popcorn. )
Go ask HER about true lion hunting. And inquire about how the TV Mountain Men do it.
(PS; I want to watch and I'll bring the popcorn.
)
Around here, the recidivism rate for depredation by Mountain Lions is exceedingly low.
Big cats have a place in our world BUT it shouldn't close to habitation. Plenty of game for a cat to live on so they shouldn't be allowed the opportunity to predate livestock or threaten humans.
A few years back, a cougar took up residence near an Amish community in Macon county MO. Amish tend to have an assortment of small animal type livestock and the children often walk or ride pony carts to school so a cougar setting up shop in the area is/was disturbing. They formed up in the typical 'fox hunt' surrounding the area where the cat was suspected to be hiding and dispatched the cat. MDC got all upset but public opinion and publicity overcame the state's hissy and it all settled down.
What does this have to do with 'Mountain Men'? Anyone who thinks that chasing a cat for a couple of hours will make it leave the area has no clue about cougar behavior.
A few years back, a cougar took up residence near an Amish community in Macon county MO. Amish tend to have an assortment of small animal type livestock and the children often walk or ride pony carts to school so a cougar setting up shop in the area is/was disturbing. They formed up in the typical 'fox hunt' surrounding the area where the cat was suspected to be hiding and dispatched the cat. MDC got all upset but public opinion and publicity overcame the state's hissy and it all settled down.
What does this have to do with 'Mountain Men'? Anyone who thinks that chasing a cat for a couple of hours will make it leave the area has no clue about cougar behavior.
Busterswoodshop
Buckeye
Especially when they naturally roam a 50 - 150 square mile area.Anyone who thinks that chasing a cat for a couple of hours will make it leave the area has no clue about cougar behavior.
That's a lot of country.
One of the things I assumed is they were chasing them out of season. So they had to be satisfied with chasing them out of the area. Am I missing something?
The oft quoted range of a Puma assumes adequate food supply. They will range as far as needed to find food. They do not care whether that food is another wild critter, livestock or person. It doesn't have to be alive when found they will eat carrion if need be.
They will hunt an area out and move on. But they will return to an area once the food supply rebounds.
They will hunt an area out and move on. But they will return to an area once the food supply rebounds.
"One of the things I assumed is they were chasing them out of season. So they had to be satisfied with chasing them out of the area. Am I missing something?"
That is a possibility. License/permit (or lack of) might be another. Another might be not wanting to upset the PETA/anti hunting folks.
That is a possibility. License/permit (or lack of) might be another. Another might be not wanting to upset the PETA/anti hunting folks.
contender
Ruger Guru
"Another might be not wanting to upset the PETA/anti hunting folks."
Most likely this. Remember,, it's TV,, and they have an audience. They want ratings,, and want to push an agenda that appeals to anti's as well as others. Selling the idea of "moving" an animal is more acceptable than killing one.
One question I'd have for those who believe that,, " Once you move it,, it will become another person's problem. What happens then???"
In NC,, bear hunters are allowed to run bear in the off season. It conditions their dogs, and preps them all for hunting season. But the bears do not relocate. Especially if they evade the dogs. They know their territory,, as do all critters.
Most likely this. Remember,, it's TV,, and they have an audience. They want ratings,, and want to push an agenda that appeals to anti's as well as others. Selling the idea of "moving" an animal is more acceptable than killing one.
One question I'd have for those who believe that,, " Once you move it,, it will become another person's problem. What happens then???"
In NC,, bear hunters are allowed to run bear in the off season. It conditions their dogs, and preps them all for hunting season. But the bears do not relocate. Especially if they evade the dogs. They know their territory,, as do all critters.
Don't ask. Don't tell.
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My place is right across the lake from "Rich" on Mountain Men and it is definitely dressed up for TV. I got the biggest kick out of when he had to cross the lake on the ice and they made a big production out of it. First there is a road that goes all the way around the lake and absolutely no reason to cross it on foot, secondly we drive pick up trucks on it to ice fish, not a thin piece of ice to be worried about like the show made it out to be.
When I was young, we ran problem cats for fish and game, we treed them and killed them, running them off only moved them for a couple days at best, if there is easy food they will return. Both of the guys in the show are actual cat hunters and good ones from what I've heard but there is a lot of drama made for tv.
When I was young, we ran problem cats for fish and game, we treed them and killed them, running them off only moved them for a couple days at best, if there is easy food they will return. Both of the guys in the show are actual cat hunters and good ones from what I've heard but there is a lot of drama made for tv.
Don Lovel
Hunter
Several years back a woman hit a cougar with her car at the I35/I29 interchange in North Kansas City. MDC swore up & down there were no wild big cats in the state.Big cats have a place in our world BUT it shouldn't close to habitation. Plenty of game for a cat to live on so they shouldn't be allowed the opportunity to predate livestock or threaten humans.
A few years back, a cougar took up residence near an Amish community in Macon county MO. Amish tend to have an assortment of small animal type livestock and the children often walk or ride pony carts to school so a cougar setting up shop in the area is/was disturbing. They formed up in the typical 'fox hunt' surrounding the area where the cat was suspected to be hiding and dispatched the cat. MDC got all upset but public opinion and publicity overcame the state's hissy and it all settled down.
What does this have to do with 'Mountain Men'? Anyone who thinks that chasing a cat for a couple of hours will make it leave the area has no clue about cougar behavior.
I found big cat tracks while spring turkey hunting near Kingston Missouri a couple years after that incident. Kingston is like an hour drive north of the KC Metro.
When I lived in Crestone Colorado we had cat tracks on top of the deer tracks in the snow right up against our house and our dog drug up a freshly killed doe skull with 4 big tooth punctures in the snout. I even found cat tracks and a tail drag in 2ft deep fresh snow on our driveway.
A puma was caught on camera at night roaming a neighborhood a few miles from my house a few days ago. WFAA has the video on their website.That's the third time one , I'm guessing its the same one, has been recorded since Oct 27 in different towns/cities.
Plano has a population of 290,000+, Frisco is 230,000+, Lake Dallas is under 7,000.
Plano has a population of 290,000+, Frisco is 230,000+, Lake Dallas is under 7,000.
fiasconva
Blackhawk
I saw on an earlier show that he said he had vowed to never shoot a mountain lion unless it was attacking him or one of his dogs. He carries a gun for that reason only he says. It's entertainment, you know.
