Any lion hunters?

[Reelamin]

DO NOT LISTEN TO THAT GARBAGE SAYING YOU CANT TRACK COUGARS. HELLO YOU CANT it is super effective!!! No not going to be able to track on ground that does not leave a clear, identifiable, and constant track. We track them down in the same areas we call coyotes. No one has been able to call one in that we ever saw. Cut a fresh track after the snow and simply get on it at a constant and steady pace. A steady pace you can maintain and not push it extremely hard. Dont loop to cut the track just stay right on it from the time you cut it. They can be tracked down easier than most think. Keep looking ahead and and you may catch movement. When they start stopping and looking back for you they are close. They will usually not look back after the first time they stop for a little longer distance, and then their stopping and weaving to get a view of their back trail will increase. Start looking and watching in those distances and locations when you see it and they like to get on a small rock out cropping or elevated edge to look back and down. Seems like we see them the most after they take off from a stopping location. This is where the steady pace does not blow them out at a fast run. The most important thing is a fresh track and to hit the roads/trails as soon as you can after the new snow.

 

[WYO300RUM]

First we have very few if any lions around here. So I have never hunted one. Years and years ago we called one up in south Texas but it was more curious than hungry. If you are very patient I'll make a unorthodox suggestion. Around here the coyotes and vultures are very attuned to gun shots during hunting season. Places I pig hunt it happens year round! A shot means food! If you can find recent sign set up in a location with good visibility, before day break or early enough in the evening for them to respond. In soft ground or a soft tree touch of a round. You will want it to smack hollow, like an animal hit. Then wait. A few years ago we hunted elk in Colorado. Friend shot a nice bull. Over night a bear knew exactly where to find the carcass! Sounds travel a long and animals know exactly where they come from!

Sounds like grizzlies here. Get it cut up fast and get out. Hope you have a buddy with a gun who can watch out while you do it.

 

[WYO300RUM]

started calling cougar in 1991. I find a set of tracks generally driving snow covered logging roads once I find a fresh set of tracks i walk them down a bit till I find a place where I think would be decent cover with some semi open areas to shoot in. I hunt cougar about 20-25 days a year. I got lucky in 1995 and called in a 110lb female. I say lucky because I have learned a lot of cougar behavior since then. In 2004 I called in a 168lb Tom to 33 yards. I have called in two others one without a shot opportunity one I just missed and still have no idea how. Ive changed up some of what I do calling now. I use a decoy ALWAYS. I have a small deer silhouette decoy and use my Mojo critter a lot. I try to elevate myself high and be able to see down onto my set. Plus I set up further away then I would set up for coyotes and never turn the call off I let it run. I will adjust volume sporadically but thats it.

2 yrs ago coyote hunting we (17yr old daughter and myself) went to a place that always produces coyotes. We go early in the morning well before sunrise since we walk in with the sun at our back. We sit with a rock wall to our back and this canyon where we are watching has 4 draws that meet right there in front of us. We are literally less than 100 yards from huge cut wheat fields. Anyway we set out the caller and decoy and as the sun rose I did my first call set. After the third set I was puzzled, we always get coyotes here. It was weird not even birds chirping. Then I see a shadow out in front of us from on top of the rocks behind/above our heads. Its a cougar literally 10 ft above our heads. I immediately shut the caller off but that dang Mojo kept whirling away. I looked up and behind me and I could see the mist as the cat was breathing. I look at my daughter and she was white as a sheet. I was worried the cat would jump down and be right in our laps. The other problem was between my daughter and I we only had less that 60 grains of bullets between both our AR's (17 Rem and 204 Ruger). Plus we are both below the min caliber requirement for cougar. About 20 min has passed with that cat sitting there watching that decoy. We could literally smell the cougar. I decided I had to do something before we had a big cat in our laps. I thought if I lean out and turn I might be able to see the cat thru my fast fire mounted at 45 deg. That way if he did start to jump I would have to shoot it. As I turned my gortex coat rubbed the rock just barely and I mean instantly that cat was gone. I walked around and up on top of the rock wall. That cat had a pretty good track but was gone. I was literally looking at 100 or so yards of Sage brush and then cut snow covered wheat stubble. I didnt follow the track but it amazed me how that cat just vanished. That is the closest Ive ever been to a cougar. That is also the reason I dont go hunting for anything unless my 10mm is in my chest holster.

Ive shot one other cougar and that was a chance encounter while elk hunting that cougar didnt fair to well when the 340 WTBY hit him he was about 145lbs.

Good luck and be patient the other thing is when I do a cougar set I dont move for a while I usually try to give it at least 90min per set.

Keep a set of eyes looking behind you . Watch your back. Seriously.

 

[WYO300RUM]

I guided cat hunters for 15 yrs
Used dogs almost exclusively
Went out once with a moth call and a Ghillie
Suit
Found the cats tracks, had trees him a few times
He was small Tom(120lbs). That sucker came up from behind be me, we scared the heck out of each other
He went back over the ridge from were he cam and I went home.
You CANNOT hear them coming. Only reason I knew he was there was a Whiskey Jack and squirrel quit messin around.
I'd say if I was to do it again, I'd find a fresh track after a snow, take snow shoes and try and stalk one
They have very small lungs and don't like running unless they have to.
They are an ambush predator so ya gotta be careful
If you are intent on calling. Keep a rock cliff at your your back side or be in a tree stand
Maybe get a wolf tag too.
.243 and VMax bullets work very well for lions
Just my .02 worth
Good luck