Anybody ever bowhunt mt. lions?
03-14-2007, 07:34 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Missouri/Illinois
Posts: 327
Anybody ever bowhunt mt. lions?
Bowhunting deer is my absolute favorite of all hunting and not much else has really piqued my interest....until tonight.
I saw a guy walking through waist deep snow in the beautiful mountains somewhere and he nailed a mt. lion that was up a tree.
That really interested me. They had a number for an outfitter but I didn't catch it.
Anybody ever go after em with a bow?
I saw a guy walking through waist deep snow in the beautiful mountains somewhere and he nailed a mt. lion that was up a tree.
That really interested me. They had a number for an outfitter but I didn't catch it.
Anybody ever go after em with a bow?
03-14-2007, 08:18 PM
#3
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location:
Posts: 6,006
RE: Anybody ever bowhunt mt. lions?
Never have, no.
I watched a video where they hunted them with dogs, I actually felt sorry for the cat when it was shot. I don't know exactly how its different, but seeing that cat cornered on a cliff by the dogs and the hunter taking the shot just didn't sit right with me.
Maybe I'm a bit hypocritical for feeling that way, but I don't think its a hunt I would go on myself. Maybe if I called one in or something, but I couldn't hunt them with dogs.
I watched a video where they hunted them with dogs, I actually felt sorry for the cat when it was shot. I don't know exactly how its different, but seeing that cat cornered on a cliff by the dogs and the hunter taking the shot just didn't sit right with me.
Maybe I'm a bit hypocritical for feeling that way, but I don't think its a hunt I would go on myself. Maybe if I called one in or something, but I couldn't hunt them with dogs.
03-14-2007, 09:13 PM
#7
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Erie, Colorado
Posts: 1,530
RE: Anybody ever bowhunt mt. lions?
It's ok to chase ducks/geese, pheasant, quail, etc. with dogs, but when it comes to mt lions...that wrong? What wrong with this picture? Seem like a double standard to me.
Yes, I have hunting Mt. lion. Quite frankly to this day, ithas been the hardest hunt I have ever endured. I killed my lion afterfive days of strenuous hunting ( I was in the best physical condition of my life).Following dogs isn't as easy as you all think, nor is it a guarantee. My cat scaled cliffs unscaleable by the dogs or man. He jumped from tree to tree...tree to rock ledge. He went places the dogs could not follow. Many times the houndsman and I were left scratching our heads. I was forced to case my bow after my second outing. I thought hunting with a slung rifle would free up my hands and arms for climbing. In the end the rifle bruised my head plenty and it was severely damaged with the poor footing in icy conditions.I kill my lion with a pistol. The handgun seemed to be the best solution for the task at hand. I could throw it into a pack. Thus, offering the weapon some protection andallowing me the freedom to use my hands. My hunts lasted from sun rise to sunset (6:00 am to 5:00 pm). The miles put in would have killed an average person (honest). This hunt is not for the faint at heart and should be taken seriously.
Yes,killing the lion was not nearly as fun/hard as the chase. But it sure was rewarding to have the cat in the bag. Thecanines were a means to an end...no different than usingdogs to point birds. If it's not your cup of tea...don't play! If youdesire an incrediblyawesome hunt...knock yourself out!
Lion makes for someterrific table fare, and no, it doesn't taste like chicken (has the texture of a good porkchop)
My $.02
Yes, I have hunting Mt. lion. Quite frankly to this day, ithas been the hardest hunt I have ever endured. I killed my lion afterfive days of strenuous hunting ( I was in the best physical condition of my life).Following dogs isn't as easy as you all think, nor is it a guarantee. My cat scaled cliffs unscaleable by the dogs or man. He jumped from tree to tree...tree to rock ledge. He went places the dogs could not follow. Many times the houndsman and I were left scratching our heads. I was forced to case my bow after my second outing. I thought hunting with a slung rifle would free up my hands and arms for climbing. In the end the rifle bruised my head plenty and it was severely damaged with the poor footing in icy conditions.I kill my lion with a pistol. The handgun seemed to be the best solution for the task at hand. I could throw it into a pack. Thus, offering the weapon some protection andallowing me the freedom to use my hands. My hunts lasted from sun rise to sunset (6:00 am to 5:00 pm). The miles put in would have killed an average person (honest). This hunt is not for the faint at heart and should be taken seriously.
Yes,killing the lion was not nearly as fun/hard as the chase. But it sure was rewarding to have the cat in the bag. Thecanines were a means to an end...no different than usingdogs to point birds. If it's not your cup of tea...don't play! If youdesire an incrediblyawesome hunt...knock yourself out!
Lion makes for someterrific table fare, and no, it doesn't taste like chicken (has the texture of a good porkchop)
My $.02
03-14-2007, 09:49 PM
#8
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location:
Posts: 6,006
RE: Anybody ever bowhunt mt. lions?
ORIGINAL: iamyourhuckleberry
It's ok to chase ducks/geese, pheasant, quail, etc. with dogs, but when it comes to mt lions...that wrong? What wrong with this picture? Seem like a double standard to me.
It's ok to chase ducks/geese, pheasant, quail, etc. with dogs, but when it comes to mt lions...that wrong? What wrong with this picture? Seem like a double standard to me.
03-14-2007, 10:13 PM
#9
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Eureka, MO
Posts: 1,519
RE: Anybody ever bowhunt mt. lions?
ORIGINAL: iamyourhuckleberry
It's ok to chase ducks/geese, pheasant, quail, etc. with dogs, but when it comes to mt lions...that wrong? What wrong with this picture? Seem like a double standard to me.
Yes, I have hunting Mt. lion. Quite frankly to this day, ithas been the hardest hunt I have ever endured. I killed my lion afterfive days of strenuous hunting ( I was in the best physical condition of my life).Following dogs isn't as easy as you all think, nor is it a guarantee. My cat scaled cliffs unscaleable by the dogs or man. He jumped from tree to tree...tree to rock ledge. He went places the dogs could not follow. Many times the houndsman and I were left scratching our heads. I was forced to case my bow after my second outing. I thought hunting with a slung rifle would free up my hands and arms for climbing. In the end the rifle bruised my head plenty and it was severely damaged with the poor footing in icy conditions.I kill my lion with a pistol. The handgun seemed to be the best solution for the task at hand. I could throw it into a pack. Thus, offering the weapon some protection andallowing me the freedom to use my hands. My hunts lasted from sun rise to sunset (6:00 am to 5:00 pm). The miles put in would have killed an average person (honest). This hunt is not for the faint at heart and should be taken seriously.
Yes,killing the lion was not nearly as fun/hard as the chase. But it sure was rewarding to have the cat in the bag. Thecanines were a means to an end...no different than usingdogs to point birds. If it's not your cup of tea...don't play! If youdesire an incrediblyawesome hunt...knock yourself out!
Lion makes for someterrific table fare, and no, it doesn't taste like chicken (has the texture of a good porkchop)
My $.02
It's ok to chase ducks/geese, pheasant, quail, etc. with dogs, but when it comes to mt lions...that wrong? What wrong with this picture? Seem like a double standard to me.
Yes, I have hunting Mt. lion. Quite frankly to this day, ithas been the hardest hunt I have ever endured. I killed my lion afterfive days of strenuous hunting ( I was in the best physical condition of my life).Following dogs isn't as easy as you all think, nor is it a guarantee. My cat scaled cliffs unscaleable by the dogs or man. He jumped from tree to tree...tree to rock ledge. He went places the dogs could not follow. Many times the houndsman and I were left scratching our heads. I was forced to case my bow after my second outing. I thought hunting with a slung rifle would free up my hands and arms for climbing. In the end the rifle bruised my head plenty and it was severely damaged with the poor footing in icy conditions.I kill my lion with a pistol. The handgun seemed to be the best solution for the task at hand. I could throw it into a pack. Thus, offering the weapon some protection andallowing me the freedom to use my hands. My hunts lasted from sun rise to sunset (6:00 am to 5:00 pm). The miles put in would have killed an average person (honest). This hunt is not for the faint at heart and should be taken seriously.
Yes,killing the lion was not nearly as fun/hard as the chase. But it sure was rewarding to have the cat in the bag. Thecanines were a means to an end...no different than usingdogs to point birds. If it's not your cup of tea...don't play! If youdesire an incrediblyawesome hunt...knock yourself out!
Lion makes for someterrific table fare, and no, it doesn't taste like chicken (has the texture of a good porkchop)
My $.02
03-14-2007, 11:18 PM
#10
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: hunt\'n Idaho
Posts: 62
RE: Anybody ever bowhunt mt. lions?
I enjoy the chase much more than the kill. The cats I've harvested with a bow were pretty well worn down from the miles of rough terrain and hard running. But the bottom line is that I will be back out there next year with my bow and some dogs and doing it again.
