First off let me start out by saying I do not want to stir anyone up. My first love is deer hunting but a close second is chasin kitty cats. I got my first hound about 20 years ago because we were seeing quite a few lion tracks on our ranch. I like the rest of the "uneducated" people on this site blamed the lions for the declining deer population. The first few years in the hound business we caught and killed plenty of lions. Since that time deer numbers have not seem to increase, and now are at an all time low, along with the lions. Landowners and hunters think that there is a lion behind every bush on the mountian and I can assure you this is not the case. From now until the middle of January I will spend over 30 days hound doggin over a 70 mile area every day and will be extremely lucky if I can cut 10 fresh chaseable lion tracks. I do realize that lions eat deer, but they, in my hunting area at least, are not the main reason for the declining deer numbers. Everything adds up and yes lions are part of this. How big of a part depends on the area, am sure some areas have more of a problem then others. In Utah the DWR is doing their share to eliminate lions in these areas. Lions are a game animal that definitely needs to be managed and protected, if not it would be relatively easy to kill them out of most areas. Lion hunting is a tradition in my family and I hope that I will be able to continue this tradition in the future with not only my children but also my grand children. Hunting isnt always about the kill but about the memories. And by the way in the winter while I am stomping around the hills I run into way more deer that have been killed by coyotes than by lions, it is not even close. Coyotes will kill deer of all ages not only the fawns. If you do not believe me ask anyone who watches the deer on Antelope Island.
