i too found mountain lion hunting fascinating,in va. we dont have any,so the best thing for me was just to call a couple a lion hunters and just talk to them and ask questions,get your hands on an issue of Full Cry magazine,theres plenty of people in there.from what ive been told if you have a dog that will tree some sort of critter, your half way there. I talked to guy a few years back about huntin lions in british columbia,and he said if i wanted to bring my coon hounds he would send me a couple of bottles of lion pee to work my dogs with before i came.as far as dogs go i'm a little partial to walkers myself but any hound would be ok,bluetick,redbone,plott,black-n-tan,ect.theres also a fellow in new mexico,that ive heard is one of the best lion hunters there is,i cant think of his name but if i do ill let you know,good luck