Mountain Lions

Just curious on everyone's encounters, thoughts, etc about mtn lions while out hunting deer and elk etc.
Any close encounters, where you have seen them the most ie cliffy areas, oak, sage etc.

My closest encounter was out shed hunting. I was hiking through some really thick mahogany in moderately steep terrain and there was some snow patches on the ground where it was real thick and the sun didnt hit and a tad bit muddy. I began seeing fairly fresh lion tracks and seemed like a very large track to me. I kept hiking down the trail and after entering some pretty thick brush i decided id seen enough and started back tracking, . After hiking back 20 yards i took a little differt trail that forked off, and there i found it, a pretty fresh dead elk that had been eaten on. Well that wasnt a very comfortable feeling so kinda hollered a loud HEY! in case it was nearby. I walked another ten feet and right there in the snow was a very fresh looking track in the snow that looked like it was just made, I once again gave a little yell and kinda crept out quickly but not so fast that i looked like a retreating animal. My other buddy was just off the hill from me a couple hundred yards and he said he heard me holler and shortly after something went crashing passed him in the thick mahogany. Pretty uneasy feeling to be in thick brush and know a mtn lion is close and especially walking right up to its fresh kill.

Every once in a while i'll be hiking and out of nowhere i'll feel like something is watching me and kinda get the mtn lion creeps.
I know everyone says they are afraid of humans, but it doesnt make sense to me for them to be so fearful. they attack large deer,and elk which are all stronger than humans.

Any ideas why a lion would be so fearful of humans, and do you guys ever get creeped out when hiking around?

They are afraid of humans because a lot of them have been chased by humans, or at least mom has so they learn to avoid what she is afraid of. In CA they are not nearly as afraid because they can't be chased. Just my thoughts on it.

>They are afraid of humans because
>a lot of them have
>been chased by humans, or
>at least mom has so
>they learn to avoid what
>she is afraid of.
>In CA they are not
>nearly as afraid because they
>can't be chased. Just
>my thoughts on it.

thats kinda what i thought, but you think about it and there are probably some lions deeper in wildnerness areas etc that dont see humans often. so it cant be the case on all of them. Is it because we are not a natural looking prey maybe?

Hey ox!

Until You've been Hooked You have nothin to worry about!









Back Me Off to 1,700 Yards,650 is a Little Close & I'm Not Comfortable with it!

A GUT SHOT at 1,700 Yards will Still Make Some Good BRAGGIN Rights so I Can Say I At Least Hit Him!

FELLAS........MT. LIONS IN CALI. DONT HAVE IT EASY. THEY GET SHOT AT A LOT. TONS OF CALI. HUNTERS STILL WONT PUT UP WITH THEM......................YD.

I was scouting an area a few years ago, hiking along a deer trail I came around a bluff above me. There was a cat about 20 feet above me waiting to ambush a deer on the trail I was walking. He immediately went the other way. I think tall 2 legged critters intimidate them.

>I was scouting an area a
>few years ago, hiking along
>a deer trail I came
>around a bluff above me.
>There was a cat about
>20 feet above me waiting
>to ambush a deer on
>the trail I was walking.
>He immediately went the other
>way. I think tall 2
>legged critters intimidate them.


thats crazy! well im doomed! im not very tall lol

I know parts of Utah have way to many of them. I have seen 15 lions in about a 8 year span while out hunting/scouting. I know 4 people that have had to shoot them because they were coming at them fast and low. All were shot less than 5 yards away from them. 3 with bows, 1 with a rifle. Really effected one of those people, he hasn't been the same since. Scared the hell out of him. They have their place, but I don't care to much for them. I don't think you need to be to worried about them, but they are a big wild lion, so I would keep them in the back of your mind. I have been close to a few of the ones I have seen, and they don't run off. Seems like they try to hide and then sneak off. I'm sure people walk right by them all the time and never even see them.

>I know parts of Utah have
>way to many of them.
>I have seen 15 lions
>in about a 8 year
>span while out hunting/scouting. I
>know 4 people that have
>had to shoot them because
>they were coming at them
>fast and low. All were
>shot less than 5 yards
>away from them. 3 with
>bows, 1 with a rifle.
>Really effected one of those
>people, he hasn't been the
>same since. Scared the hell
>out of him. They have
>their place, but I don't
>care to much for them.
>I don't think you need
>to be to worried about
>them, but they are a
>big wild lion, so I
>would keep them in the
>back of your mind. I
>have been close to a
>few of the ones I
>have seen, and they don't
>run off. Seems like they
>try to hide and then
>sneak off. I'm sure people
>walk right by them all
>the time and never even
>see them.

Thanks.....I feel much better now.

I've only seen one while not specifically hunting them , it was over 20 years ago and was close to a mile away. I've seen more than a few with hounds !

I have had a couple cat encounters but the worst by far...

I was in AZ in late May in the White Mountains near Nutrioso AZ at me ex-wife's family ranch (1999) The elk had just started dropping their calves. The neighbor told me he killed a big cat the day before stalking some Elk. He had pictures and sent it out to taxi already. He told me to be careful but I didn't think there was a chance to see another lion in the area the day after he killed one.

I was setting up in small clearings and calling softly. The cows would come in pretty quick and I would get a few great pics. I would stop calling when I saw the cows coming in and stay quite until they left the area. I had several great calling sessions.

It was getting close to dark as I set up one last time in a great little clearing. I start calling and see the blond hair of an "elk" coming in quickly from below. I stopped calling and just watched. When the "elk" was about 50 yards out I got a good look when it can into the clearing. It was a very large lion. I immediately jumped up, stood as tall as possible, waved my arms and yelled. The lion immediately stopped and crouched down. I realized I had left my pistol in the cabin at the ranch so I bent down to grab a rock. As I took my eyes off the lion it did the quick stepping low crawl towards me.

That was when I really started to pucker. I yelled again and the lion just starred from about 30-35 yards away. I had picked up a few small rocks but decided I might want something bigger. As I turned to look for a bigger rock or stick, the lion did several more quick low crawl steps. It was about 20 yard away. I knew I couldn't run away and there was no way to out climb the thing. I was in a total Mexican standoff with a hungry cat.

The only thing I could think to do was attack! I ran at the lion throwing rocks and yelling. I had thrown my last rock and was about 5 yards from the lion when it decided it didn't like the taste of crazy geingos. It turned and ran but I was close enough that I was almost able to kick it. I chased the cat for a few hundred yards then made a quick and nervous exit to the cabin.

To this day I am not sure what would have happened if the lion had not turned tail. I was planning on diving on the lion and who knows what else. For those as old or older than me, John Bulushi in continental decide comes to mind. In all seriousness, I was very lucky and I know it. Sometimes violence and force of action can save your ass.

That was a very nervous walk back to the cabin and the last time I have hiked without a pistol or knife. I still think about that encounter when I am in the woods alone hunting.

We outlawed the poisons in the Nixon era. Shelf life of 10 to 15 years. Presto we start seeing lions in the late 80's..more and more each decade. I see a few every year in the woods and a couple a year in the head lights. 42 mile commute at 3:30 AM helps my sighting statistics. Have lots of stories but instead I'll go with a serious question for all the MM experts.
One fall showing the clients some bulls the night before season I noticed the bulls looking to the right. I panned over.. Two adult lions watching the elk and rolling around in the Cedars. So this is my question. Think about it. What did I see that night at prime time?
#1.Two freaking lions? OR
#2 Two lions freaking?

I had one charge me one night. I kinda provoked it, but wasn't aware that's what I was doing until after it was over. I kept hearing something walking behind me in the dark just out of sight. I finally got tired of it and thought someone was messing with me. I walked over to the pile of rocks I figured they were hiding behind, as soon as my light hit it, it jumped at me. Pretty intense for what felt like minutes, which was only just a few seconds. Hope I never have to experience anything like that again. I hate lions and have seen many. Fun to see from a distance or even up close when they don't know you are there... it's the ones that you see up close that do know you're there that are the scary ones. Or even worse, the ones you never see

Here's one I videoed a couple years ago while sitting water during the elk hunt. Had no clue I was ever there. Kinda cool

https://youtu.be/-MvmDjEvY-E

Utah400
Holy crap!! Thts what i fear.
Thing is us hunters are out at prime lion times hunting prine lion food.

Im shocked to hear all these lions charging stories. I thought it was less common than that!

>We outlawed the poisons in the
>Nixon era. Shelf life
>of 10 to 15 years.
>Presto we start seeing lions
>in the late 80's..more and
>more each decade. I
>see a few every year
>in the woods and a
>couple a year in the
>head lights. 42 mile
>commute at 3:30 AM helps
>my sighting statistics. Have
>lots of stories but instead
>I'll go with a serious
>question for all the MM
>experts.
> One fall showing the clients
>some bulls the night before
>season I noticed the bulls
>looking to the right. I
>panned over.. Two adult lions
>watching the elk and rolling
>around in the Cedars. So
>this is my question.
>Think about it. What did
>I see that night at
>prime time?
> #1.Two freaking lions? OR
> #2 Two lions freaking?

Two freaking lions freaking? I'm no expert.

"they try to hide and then sneak off" Sounds like a lot of big bucks many of us don't see.

I would like to know we're all these lion are.Where I live we've drove around in the winter for 4 or 5 days and can't even find a track.And spent all winter looking for a good Tom.

>I would like to know we're
>all these lion are.Where I
>live we've drove around in
>the winter for 4 or
>5 days and can't even
>find a track.And spent all
>winter looking for a good
>Tom.


As You can See arns!

They're behind every Tree waiting for people like ox to become their next Meal!

Looking for & Finding a Big Tom these Days is Tough!

Just remember!

Nobody has ever seen a Small Lion!









Back Me Off to 1,700 Yards,650 is a Little Close & I'm Not Comfortable with it!

A GUT SHOT at 1,700 Yards will Still Make Some Good BRAGGIN Rights so I Can Say I At Least Hit Him!

I got a cat story for you. About three years ago I was glassing (Wasatch Front Extended) on my lunch break and spot a nice buck at mid mountain and decide I am going to play hooky the next morning and go chase him.

I park at the trailhead at 5:00 am and I am the only car there at that time. I hike for about an hour in the dark and I catch what I think is another hunters headlamp weaving through the thick oak and ponderosa's on the trail towards me.

I'm thinking where the hell did this guy come from and what time did he start hiking? I stop and wait for this person to get around the last corner of trees to get to where I am standing. Here comes the light again around the corner. At this point I know that this is not a person with a headlamp, its a lion and he is at 20 yards.

I will never forget how bright his eyes were as my headlamp was shining directly at him. When he gets around the corner I'm standing right there he stops for what seems like a solid minute and we just look at each other. After about a minute of the stare off I see his eyes go from 24" off the ground to about 12" and he starts slowly creeping towards me.

As he takes one step closer to me I take one step backwards away from him. Once he closes the gap to 10 yards I stop and draw my bow and at that time he stops. I tell myself if he takes one more step in my direction I am going to send one. We have another stare off for what seems like an eternity but was probably only 20-30 seconds while I'm at full draw.

I start slowly stepping backwards and he never makes another move. He stays in the crouch position as I slowly backstep until he is out of my sight and then I let down and walked down the trail checking my backside every 2 seconds to make sure he is not right behind me.

Truth be told Im glad I never had to shoot an arrow at this cat because there was not a chance in hell I would have hit him or for that matter even been close enough to scare him.

That morning scared the ##### out of me. Lets just say I don't do a bunch of hiking in the dark without a side arm. Not that I could have hit him with a gun but at least I would have the noise factor on my side

Well arns as far as Utah goes, you could start by looking on the pahvant, the wasatch from Spanish fork to Ogden, stansbury range west of grantsville would be another place to look. Funny I've had supposed "houndsman" tell me there is very few lions in some of these particular area's, yet everyone I know is seeing them more often than ever. Maybe they should invest in a new pup?

>I got a cat story for
>you. About three years
>ago I was glassing (Wasatch
>Front Extended) on my lunch
>break and spot a nice
>buck at mid mountain and
>decide I am going to
>play hooky the next morning
>and go chase him.
>
>I park at the trailhead at
>5:00 am and I am
>the only car there at
>that time. I hike for
>about an hour in the
>dark and I catch what
>I think is another hunters
>headlamp weaving through the thick
>oak and ponderosa's on the
>trail towards me.
>
>I'm thinking where the hell did
>this guy come from and
>what time did he start
>hiking? I stop and wait
>for this person to get
>around the last corner of
>trees to get to where
>I am standing. Here
>comes the light again around
>the corner. At this point
>I know that this is
>not a person with a
>headlamp, its a lion and
>he is at 20 yards.
>
>
>I will never forget how bright
>his eyes were as my
>headlamp was shining directly at
>him. When he gets around
>the corner I'm standing right
>there he stops for what
>seems like a solid minute
>and we just look at
>each other. After about a
>minute of the stare off
>I see his eyes go
>from 24" off the ground
>to about 12" and he
>starts slowly creeping towards me.
>
>
>As he takes one step closer
>to me I take one
>step backwards away from him.
>Once he closes the gap
>to 10 yards I stop
>and draw my bow and
>at that time he stops.
> I tell myself if
>he takes one more step
>in my direction I am
>going to send one. We
>have another stare off for
>what seems like an eternity
>but was probably only 20-30
>seconds while I'm at full
>draw.
>
>I start slowly stepping backwards and
>he never makes another move.
>He stays in the crouch
>position as I slowly backstep
>until he is out of
>my sight and then I
>let down and walked down
>the trail checking my backside
>every 2 seconds to make
>sure he is not right
>behind me.
>
>Truth be told Im glad I
>never had to shoot an
>arrow at this cat because
>there was not a chance
>in hell I would have
>hit him or for that
>matter even been close enough
>to scare him.
>
>That morning scared the ##### out
>of me. Lets just
>say I don't do a
>bunch of hiking in the
>dark without a side arm.
>Not that I could have
>hit him with a gun
>but at least I would
>have the noise factor on
>my side

Yikes! Thats crazy!

Keep the stories. Coming guys!

I tend to have way more lion stories than others. Not sure if it is just my luck or a reflection of the excessive (according to my wife) amount of time outdoors...

I will share 2 stories.

Back when my wife and I were first married we hiked up a set of shear cliffs during archery elk season. This area had always held elk and typically a lot of elk due to its location. This trip we get up on top and at first light we are listening and checking wind and getting ready to make our hunt. As we sat there is was unusually quiet. As light came, we started our hunt. moving quietly from park to park, calling here and there etc. As the sun came up we never heard an elk. Hardly any birds etc. We started checking trails for tracks, nothing fresh, we we checked feeding areas no fresh sign, bedding areas. etc. There were no elk to found anywhere in a several mile loop where we typically kill and elk or at least run into 3-4 separate groups. Any rate by about 11 I am thinking we need bail back off the cliffs and find some place else for the evening. While making our loop I had noticed that all the mole, chipmunk, hole in the ground were dug up... So as we decided to head back we were sneaking along a trail in the aspens. Suddenly I look up and freeze. My wife comes to a stop and I am doing all I can to get an arrow in my hand and to keep myself in front of my wife.

Just 6 yards up the trail was a big female lion. She was busy digging a mole hole and had not seen me. Before I knew it I spotted her first cub about 8 yards past her, then a second cud in the grass next to her. Again remember we are just yards from her. Neither of the cubs knew we were there, I slowly started to back my wife off, had my arrow in hand and took 2 steps backwards my self when a third cub showed up behind us on the trail making its way towards the mother. We froze and as soon as we knew the cub was there it was around us and walking up the trail to mom. I am not sure if it had no idea we were there like a little kids playing looses sight around them, or it knew but had no fear, or what... But after it passed the mom moved over to a new mole hole about 10 yards off the side. we took a few more slow steps back. Eventually the mom lion and all 3 cubs left the aspens across a small park and out of sight. Honestly they never even knew we were there... It was scary as all get out especially in those second that the one cub was behind and right next to us. The other scary part was that the trail we were on was running the edge of the cliff. Even if we needed to retreat fast there was only one way and it was down. Needless to say we figured out why there were no elk in the area. As we headed out you could see where those 3 lions had been everywhere digging moles etc.

That was probably the scariest situation simply because of how long it lasted and the fact it was a mother and cub and way to close.

The second story worth telling... As a teacher I seldom get any time off for regular big game seasons. It just does not happen. But I do get a nice little break at Christmas. At a Christmas Party in November. I get to talking predator hunting with an outfitter/houndsman. At the time I was a pretty intense predator hunter and spent a ton of time killing coyotes, badger, and coyote. We were talking lions and the guy mentioned that he had a new set of dogs that were ready to run, but he was hesitant to have them run for a paying customer. In the process he said that if I went and got a tag he would take me out with his green dogs and see what we manage to find. This was for 3 days after Christmas and before New Years. So during the final week I grabbed a license.

Since I had a few days before we were going to run hounds I decided I should try and call a lion. Never had a lion tag before in my life. Had sat on hundreds of stands before. I call my buddy the nightbefore and I remember telling him. Hey I finally bought a lion tag. Think I will head up to xxxx mountain and see if I can not call in that cat we know is up there. He laughs knowing exactly what I know. Calling in a lion and getting a kill with a hand call and all alone is pretty rare and a great feat. So the next morning comes I am out at early light blowing long and hard on the call. Nothing in the first stand which is OK because I know I was not really in the right place for this... As the sun rose a little bit I made my way around the mountain in the truck and stashed it. I hiked up into a big rocky steep canyon a little over 2 miles and set up. I called there for almost 3 hours. Herd some coyotes howl from near the truck but no lion despite tracks on the way up. So now I decided back to the truck. I grab a quick snack a dronk, and the most important thing I did that day... I grabbed the TP and found a good stump....

After getting compose, I decided that I should call lower near the truck. After all I knew there were coyotes down there and bobcats (which always pay for way more than I spend). So I grab my gun and calls and go south of my truck about 3/4 of a mile and into steep cut ravine. This ravine was running from left to right. It was around 120 yards across and 80 yards straight up and down. I set up with a good view straight ahead and to my right. I would see very well in every direction except over my left shoulder. I start playing the dying rabbit blues... About 10 minutes in the coyotes all light up again from over my left shoulder, then everything gets very quiet. I call again nothing. Then a few more times. My internal clock is saying it is time to head out no coyotes or bobcats are here... Then mid call I catch a glimpse of movement over my left shoulder and really close. No sure what I saw I sit motionless looking that direction. About 6 steps away there is a little cedar tree waist tall and very bushy. Around the left side of the tree I see a single ear and 1/2 an eye slide out to take a peak, It was a lion and really damn close. It was slight up hill and hid perfectly behind the tree. I slightly shift my weight and get my gun around (a real pain as I shoot left handed). Once I get the barrel between me and the cat I raise the scope up and can still clearly see one of its paws near the base of the tree. It was its front right paw, off the ground and it was being flexed almost like it was stretching getting it loose. I raised the cross hair up and for some dumb reason I hissed like cat... I always bark to make a coyote stop so hissing apparently is what I needed to do for a cat. At the hiss the cat shifts its head out from behind the tree and I the white patch under her chin.

As the shot range the lion (which was slightly higher than me on the hill) Exploded into the air like a spring, as she went up I ran like hell towards my truck. I had no idea what had happened and I was shook to my core. Apparently I made it 1/2 to my truck when I decided I was safe enough to slow down. I do not recall exactly what happened at that point but my tracks indicated that I must have walked in 10 circles in the snow trying to decide. Do I go get help? Do I get my shotgun from the truck since it was more defensive? Did I kill it, did I miss, was I about to be comes cat crap? After I calmed down, I decided my best bet was to get my shot gun for defensive purposes and return the stand. As I headed back I discovered my frantic pacing location... Then I got to where I could my but print in the ground. I could see where the cat had walked up behind the tree... Then I looked down and could the lion piled up. I believe the cat was dead before it landed. I had shot her right in the throat and she slid on the fresh snow and steep hill about 20 yard down.

She ended up being aged at 7 1/2 years old and weighed in at 138 pounds. Not a massive old tom or anything but a called lion non the less on the first time I had a tag.

Oh I got a bunch or crap because my wife was at home very pregnant with our daughter....




Oh and that break sucked. After that ordeal I had nightmares for over 2 weeks. I did not get back to hunting for almost 4 weeks after it happened. When I did go make a stand to call I found the stupidest most wide open location I could and called...

Damn Ox, you scared of a little Kitty cat??

You want some real excitement? Come up and hunt in Grizz county.

Nice stories. Thanks for sharing.
I'm surprised how many hunters are afraid of a mountain lion. Seen three in the wild not hunting a fair amount behind dogs.

Try going into a 3 in diameter cave about 6 feet to pull a dog away and after that have the lion run past you to get out of the cave and squeeze by you. That will get your attention.

most of the time lions won't hurt you, unless they are cornered, hurt, sick, or very hungry.

Had a friend ride a mountain bike up the canyon with his dog. He saw something off to the side, it was a mountain lion. He stopped on the dirt road, and had to put hit bike between him and the lion, which was about 10 feet away hissing for 30-45 seconds. That was rare. The lion was probably after his dog, then turned on him.

A number of years ago when it was still the open bull elk hunting era, a friend of mine and a couple of our sons went elk hunting. I went out on one ridge, along with one of my sons my friend went on an adjacent ridge. Soon after the sun came up I heard a shot from their direction. Headed back to camp around noon and met up with them there. Of course I asked- so was that you who shot- did you get an elk? He said yes and he got something-- he had a funny looking expression on his face-- he proceeded to tell me that he shot a cougar. I thought what the heck happened? He said they were standing on the top of a ridge, saw some movement off and down to the side of the ridge, it was a cougar coming up toward them, he said he yelled at it waved his arms, thinking that would scare him off, the cougar just crouched lower, with its tail waving slightly from side to side and continued toward them. When the cougar got to within 15 feet, he decided there was no time to figure out why it keep coming at them. He raised his rifle, saw only hair in the scope and fired. He hit the cougar right in the chest. They were all shaking like a leaf when it was all over. I went back over to the spot 2 days later to see if the corpse was still there. As I walked on to the spot I saw 2 spotted furry little kittens take off. As I inspected the cougar, the kittens had eaten most of the hindquarters. There was also a large fresh cougar track in the soil. Looks like a big tom had checked her out and just went on its way. The kittens must have been very close to the hunters and momma was out to protect them-- No time to be negotiating with her at that point-- My friend shot her at less than 15 feet away and she was on the move right at them. I personally have seen cougars 8-10 times out in the wilds. Watched 2 of them working a sidehill-- one would walk while the other sat and watched. It was actually very interesting to see them coordinating together on a hunt.

Mountain lions will leave you alone.....until they don't. Make a loud noise and throw something at them if they get too close. Seems like sound advice.

It's been over 10 years ago but I was followed by a mountain lion while stalking a buck in eastern Montana while my wife watched from about 3/4 of a mile away. I didn't know it until I got winded by the buck and he took off to the next county. I turned around and started back the way I came and a few steps that lion took off. Scared me a bit but he was going the other way so he lived. A couple years later the police killed a lion with two cubs prowling around one of the elementary schools in town just north of where I was hunting.

Hey ox!

I've never heard of a Lion taking a TARD off of a Wheeler!








Back Me Off to 1,700 Yards,650 is a Little Close & I'm Not Comfortable with it!

A GUT SHOT at 1,700 Yards will Still Make Some Good BRAGGIN Rights so I Can Say I At Least Hit Him!

^^LMAO!!!!!

Man, I've been in the hills for over 35 years and to this day I have never seen a lion! I hike, camp, and hunt in lion country every year. I hike in the dark both morning and evening. I have seen their tracks, but never seen one. I am sure I have been watched by them, but wow, some of you have had some bad or good luck with encounters depending on how you look at it!

(I am sure I just jinxed myself for the upcoming hunts lol!)

I have watched a lion take down a doe by catching it by the neck and killing it. Then drag it uphill behind a fallen pine tree to feed on it.
As for fearing man, some of the lions here in CA. do not know that rule. About 35 miles from my house about 10 years ago a man was sleeping on the ground in a sleeping bag at a forest service campground near the upper Yuba River. A lion attacked him while he was sleeping. He beat the lion off forcing it to run away, but after he received some serious bite and claw injuries.

A friend of mine was turkey hunting about 20 years ago and was sitting in the middle of buckbrush that was about 3 feet in height. He was using his turkey call while his shotgun was laying on the ground at his feet. Upon seeing movement in front he bent over to pick up his shotgun. As he bent forward a lion, about 90-100 pounds in size hit his shoulders from behind. due to bending over the lion flew past him as it struck his upper shoulders and hit the ground in front of him. The lion then took off running away.
My friend said what saved him from serious injury was the fact he bent forward just before the lion hit him causing the lion to overshoot him. He now hunts with a tree to his backside while calling turkeys. He is convinced the lion thought it was attacking a turkey in the middle of the brush that hid him from the lion's sight.
I know one other person that had a lion come up to him while he was sleeping in the woods in a sleeping bag. His small dog gave warning that woke him up and the lion was about 20 feet from him coming in at a walk. He yelled and the lion took another step towards him and did not run off until he fired a shot from his pistol in the ground in front of the lion.
Lions are protected here in CA., but many hill residents use the three S's on controlling lions around their residence. Shoot, shovel, and shutup.

RELH

I have had more than my share of Lion sightings while out in the brush. One of these encounters stands out from the rest.
I was in Western Colorado hunting bucks not far from where I lived. Just to the north of Rifle Colorado on the Bookcliffs. Well I was at the spot that I wanted to be before daylight and was glassing a big sage basin that was fringed with oak brush and cedars. There were about 8 deer moving in and out of the oak brush. All of a sudden at least half of them went full on alert. I figured it was another hunter coming up from the bottom. I kept watching them and never seen anything. After about 10 minutes or so the deer started to settle back down and feed. After another few minutes of watching them feed a real nice dark horned buck starts to show himself. He finally walks out of the brush so I could get a shot. I was about 230 yards of when I shot him. He wheels around and makes it back into the brush. From my vantage I watch him stumble and fall a couple of times before he finally takes his last dirt nap. I watched him for about 10 more minutes to make sure he does not get up again. I start working my way over to where he is laying. It takes we over and hour to get there due to the rim rock ridge that I was on. So I get to him and admire him for the brute that he is. About 28 inches wide and real heavy horned 4x4. I field dress him and then quarter him out and load up the first load of meat to take back to the truck. When I return for the second load I get to the buck and notice lion tracks in the dirt around the kill. Let me tell you the hairs on the back of my neck stood straight up. I went full on alert. Being the Great White hunter that I am I have left my rifle back in the truck with the first load of meat and horns. I do have my trusty Ruger 22 on my side. I pull out the little semi auto 22 and think to myself, Damn this pistol isn't big enough for the size of the tracks. Well anyway I start to look around through the brush to see if I can see the lion. I have looked for a good 5 or 6 minutes without seeing a thing. Then out of the corner of my eye I catch movement. And there he is not 25 yards away laying in the brush staring right at me. Heart rate goes full throttle and I sight down the under sized barrel. Well the cat just stared back and kept switching his tail. Now from what I know of cats, this is a sign of being pissed off. My first thought was to go ahead and shoot him, or at least at him. For some which I can't explain I did not. We just sat there locked on each other for a couple of minutes when all of a sudden the cat gets up and starts moving away. I follow the retreating cat as long as I could. I then waited a half a minute and went to see if I could find a spot to watch it to make sure it was leaving. I got to the edge of the brush and sure enough there was the cat 40 yards out into the sage basin. But now it has two small kittens with it. The three of them make it to the other side of the basin and then stop just as they get to the brush. So by this time they were a good 300 yards away. I watched them for a while and then went back to load up the rest of the meat. Every five minutes or less I would walk over and check on the cat. The entire time I was loading up the meat her and her two kittens just sat there and looked back across the basin in my direction. Well I finally got the meat loaded up and started out back to the truck. The last time I could look back to where she was, she was still there watching me. Just glad it ended the way it did. If she would have wanted to take me I would have never known she was there until she was on me. About a week later I went back to the kill sight and it was littered with cat tracks. There was nothing of that carcass.

Heavy stories here...Wow!
Thanks for sharing!

Ya, I'm skeered of mountain lions too!!

>Ya, I'm skeered of mountain lions
>too!!
>
>


A COOL CRISP Morning Right there!

ox Would be Wetting Himself!







Back Me Off to 1,700 Yards,650 is a Little Close & I'm Not Comfortable with it!

A GUT SHOT at 1,700 Yards will Still Make Some Good BRAGGIN Rights so I Can Say I At Least Hit Him!