I was considering going out West for a mountain lion and Mule deer (if I can combine them) hunt and took alot of flack from my hunting buddies! Still though it was what I expected from them. It was the same old: Why do you want to hunt them? Don't they tree them? Don't they use dogs to track them and the infamous I don't want to hunt and kill what I can't eat answer! Now take into consideration these guys have never been out of our home eastern state to hunt before, none of them have killed anything but whitetails before and add in the fact that when they hunt deer they do so with bait (its allowed in our state) and also with well organized deer drives. So you can see why I don't think I should pay attention to them. I have been caribou, bear, boar and deer and want to add to the list and to the trophy room. I think that when other hunters start questioning cetain hunting methods it hurts and divides hunting as a whole (as long as its legal) I am also a part time taxidermist and this also furthers my reasoning for wanting a big cat. What is your thought on this. Responses apprietiated, Thanks

As a former resident of California where nobody can hunt mountain lions anytime, I can tell you that there it was a pure exercize in the power of Democracy better known as mob rule. Nobody cares about the rights of the minority unless it is a racial or sexual matter.

Hedhuntr, it sounds like a little jealousy problem with your friends. I'll bet if you offered any of them a completely paid hunt to go along, their wouldn't be one of them to turn you down! Go for it! Good luck!

A combo hunt in conjunction with mule deer is not very common. Reason being, no one wants to run dogs during deer season. And the majority of hounds hunt best on snow. And most mule deer seasons don't have much snow. That is why winter is best success for cats. We won't run a cat during any other hunting season for fear of our "fellow hunters" shooting the dogs.

I can assure you and your buddies, that 90% of lion hunts are more physical than elk hunting. Turn 5 dogs loose and try to keep up with them some time. Granted the cat is smaller to pack out but you don't hunt elk on a dead run or marathon walk very often.

I can go on and on, but I am sure I will be attacked for hound hunting, so I will stop
here, it is the way hunters are. And as for eating, ask some one who has eaten cougar. I have, and it is excellent chow. Not pleasant to think of eating a cat but it is good. I don't make a habit of it but some houndsman do.

Go ahead and hunt them. They wreak havoc on the deer herds when left unchecked.

Good luck on your hunt!!

I've eaten lion several times...........Not bad at all!!!!!!!!!

I love mountain lions! An absolutely beaurtiful animal! And, from what I have heard, are darn good eating too! I see absolutely nothing wrong with hunting mountain lions behind hounds (I am actually in the process of picking a good breeder for hounds right now). I wouldn't hunt them during deer season, or at least in an area that has a good possibility of holding other hunters during that time. Hounds running through the area could easily spook and startle the deer herd with no problem. Also, as was stated before, there is typically no snow during mule deer season, and unless someone has extrememly good cold-nosed, dry ground dogs, I wouldn't want to sink $3,500 into a mountain lion hunt that would most likely occur on dry ground. There are a few out there that will run their hounds on dry ground, and have had good success at it. These are mainly in southern Arizona and New Mexico. If I were you, I would stick to two different hunts than try to combine them. You would also probably enjoy it a lot more!

None of your freinds would likely survive a lion hunt. It is tough hunting and keeping up with dogs over rough terrain is not for the typical deer hunter. As for the meat it tastes similar to pork IMO and a lot better than bear. I hope you get to do the lion hunt and let us know how it turns out. Good hunting.

I know of no western state that allows the use of lion dogs during a general season elk or deer hunt. So if you are booking a combo mulie and cougar hunt, you'll most certainly have to rely on some other method besides the use of dogs to get your cougar.