Best way to locate them is the same way that the hound hunters do, find fresh tracks in fresh snow. The fresher the track the better your chance of catching up with the cat.
If you're going to call them, guys use electronic calls with mtn. lion sounds and also use some distress sounds. Both work. BUT, not all states allow the use of the e-callers for mtn. lions, CO. for example allows only hand calls. IF you can use an ecaller, that will help get the cats attention away from you, and will hopefully help you keep from being the hunted.

To try to go into an area with zero tracking snow and find a mtn. lion would be like finding a needle in a hay stack. Even with fresh snow and fresh tracks, it'll be tough to even see the cat.

I wouldn't carry to long guns for sure, and if you're not proficient with a handgun, I wouldn't recommend carrying it either. You're over scoped too, need a scope that can go down to at least 3 power, in case of close action.

Sheridan, one good aspect of shooting a treed mtn. lion is you get to make a well thoguht out choice as to weather or not you want to kill the cat. If it's a female, or a young male, many times guys will pass on the cat. That same decision isn't so much of a choice otherwise.