Cougars in Illinois?
02-19-2010, 07:02 AM
#31
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Darien, IL
Posts: 6,744
Well yes you can indeed carry a handgun during firearms deer season. But not during archery as salukipv1 posted! You may also not carry a handgun when hunting the muzzleloader only season. You mentioned a .45 which would only be legal in a revolver and not an automatic.
Here's some info on legal handguns for deer hinting in IL:
And legal handgun ammo for IL:
Now those tracks you posted sure look interesting to me. I can't see the track imprint itself enough to say anything. But I don't believe a dog would usually walk on top of a fallen tree like that. And it looks like whtever was there kinda lept up onto the log from the spacing of the tracks showing very good balance.
I have no doubts that there are cougars in IL. And alot more than people may believe. They are rather secretive and don't roam open fields so not seeing them much isn't anything unusual. They don't put themselves on display. In the next 5-10 years I think peoples opinions will change quite a bit as evidence stacks up.
No black cats? Yep. And no cats in Il either.........
Here's some info on legal handguns for deer hinting in IL:
Centerfire revolvers or centerfire single-shot
handguns of .30 caliber or larger with a minimum
barrel length of 4 inches.handguns of .30 caliber or larger with a minimum
And legal handgun ammo for IL:
For handguns, a bottleneck centerfire cartridge
of .30 caliber or larger with a case length not exceeding
1.4 inches, or a straight-walled centerfire
cartridge of .30 caliber or larger, both of
which must be available as a factory load with
the published ballistic tables of themanufacturer
showing a capability of at least 500 foot pounds
of energy at the muzzle.Note:There is no case
length limit for straight-walled cartridges.of .30 caliber or larger with a case length not exceeding
1.4 inches, or a straight-walled centerfire
cartridge of .30 caliber or larger, both of
which must be available as a factory load with
the published ballistic tables of themanufacturer
showing a capability of at least 500 foot pounds
of energy at the muzzle.Note:There is no case
Now those tracks you posted sure look interesting to me. I can't see the track imprint itself enough to say anything. But I don't believe a dog would usually walk on top of a fallen tree like that. And it looks like whtever was there kinda lept up onto the log from the spacing of the tracks showing very good balance.
I have no doubts that there are cougars in IL. And alot more than people may believe. They are rather secretive and don't roam open fields so not seeing them much isn't anything unusual. They don't put themselves on display. In the next 5-10 years I think peoples opinions will change quite a bit as evidence stacks up.
No black cats? Yep. And no cats in Il either.........
02-19-2010, 10:27 AM
#33
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,262
Uncle Matt, quick question for you. Im not sure the answer to this put have heard peoples views. If you are shotgun hunting for deer aren't you allowed to carry a sidearm that is legally large enough for deer? I can see not being able to carry a .22 or .38 but If Im carrying a .45 which is legal to shoot deer in Illinois, isn't that legal? Again, Ive never carried a handgun hunting in Illinois but Im pretty sure that in Michigan, Wyoming and Kansas if it is a legal caliber to shoot a deer you are legal to carry in during the Firearm season. Bow season I completely understand not being legal to carry one but Firearm it should be OK. Not that I would ever carry one but just thought Id ask.
Also, I think Matt hunts around where I have hunted in Southern Illinois and the property owner of a piece of land that I have hunted has said in the last 10 years there have been a couple instances where he has seen a BIG black cat, larger than a house cat on a track of his land. He said that he doesn't tell anybody because he isn't there to brag about it but he has lived there his whole life and this is far different from a house cat.
When I was in school at U. of Kansas there was documented evidence of a large black cat in Douglas county. There were about a dozen good pictures of it over a couple years and it was some sort of large panther/cougar type cat. The crazy thing about it was that one spring it was spotted with 3 kittens. Now the large cat was declawed from the tracks they had found in the previous couple of years, but the kittens all had there claws. It had to have meant there was another large cat roaming the hills that no one ever saw.
Also, I think Matt hunts around where I have hunted in Southern Illinois and the property owner of a piece of land that I have hunted has said in the last 10 years there have been a couple instances where he has seen a BIG black cat, larger than a house cat on a track of his land. He said that he doesn't tell anybody because he isn't there to brag about it but he has lived there his whole life and this is far different from a house cat.
When I was in school at U. of Kansas there was documented evidence of a large black cat in Douglas county. There were about a dozen good pictures of it over a couple years and it was some sort of large panther/cougar type cat. The crazy thing about it was that one spring it was spotted with 3 kittens. Now the large cat was declawed from the tracks they had found in the previous couple of years, but the kittens all had there claws. It had to have meant there was another large cat roaming the hills that no one ever saw.
Cat's do not show claws in their tracks.
02-19-2010, 01:43 PM
#34
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 1,462
02-19-2010, 01:48 PM
#35
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,262
I'm not saying you did.Uncle Matt was trying to make that claim and I'm simply saying that there's no such thing.That picture is of a house cat.It's not even close to being disputable.
I'm not making the claim that you don't have mountain lions in Ill.There has obviously been concrete proof.I'm just saying people are not really seeing mystical creatures that don't exist.
I'm not making the claim that you don't have mountain lions in Ill.There has obviously been concrete proof.I'm just saying people are not really seeing mystical creatures that don't exist.
Last edited by DougE; 02-19-2010 at 01:57 PM.
02-19-2010, 04:43 PM
#36
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Darien, IL
Posts: 6,744
I'm not saying you did.Uncle Matt was trying to make that claim and I'm simply saying that there's no such thing.That picture is of a house cat.It's not even close to being disputable.
I'm not making the claim that you don't have mountain lions in Ill.There has obviously been concrete proof.I'm just saying people are not really seeing mystical creatures that don't exist.
I'm not making the claim that you don't have mountain lions in Ill.There has obviously been concrete proof.I'm just saying people are not really seeing mystical creatures that don't exist.
02-19-2010, 05:33 PM
#37
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 1,462
I don't think anyone was claiming there was a black mountain Lion, maybe a black panther. There have been reports across the US of people releasing panthers that they thought would make great "Pets" and thought they would fair better for themselves in a state park or a wide open area. This is what I believe to be a lot of sightings of big black cats across the midwest. Thats what was being claimed for the Big Cat that was roaming around 25 miles west of Lawrence KS where I went to school.
Personally, I think that there may be a big black cat or two roaming around down in southern Illinois. There is a forum on a website that only covers S. IL hunting and there are some pretty convincing stories and photos. I don't want to give away locations but the gentleman that I heard it from was within the Saline/Williamson County area in Southern Illinois. Im not sure if thats the general area that Uncle Matt hunts, but again, the gentleman that told me this I trust completely so I believe he is true. Another weird thing that they have told me about the farm which is VERY big is that they never find a deer carcass, ever, and with the HIGH population of deer on this farm, there is something weird about that, plus they RARELY ever see a coyote. Now, Im not saying this proves one way or another but just kind of interesting.
I have seen some BIG black Feral house cats as well. We finally got one we have been chasing for 2 years last year (In Michigan). This cat was known to stalk deer and try to take them down! It never did take one down but this cat thought it was a frickin' lion. I saw it attempt this once, it was pretty insane. When we finally got him in a trap, I couldn't believe his size. Was almost the size of a coyote! Almost a shame to put it down. So personally, I believe there are big black cats like panthers or cougars out there, but I also think that there are some extremely big Feral cats out there as well.
Uncle Matt, by the way that Obama comment made me laught out loud!
Personally, I think that there may be a big black cat or two roaming around down in southern Illinois. There is a forum on a website that only covers S. IL hunting and there are some pretty convincing stories and photos. I don't want to give away locations but the gentleman that I heard it from was within the Saline/Williamson County area in Southern Illinois. Im not sure if thats the general area that Uncle Matt hunts, but again, the gentleman that told me this I trust completely so I believe he is true. Another weird thing that they have told me about the farm which is VERY big is that they never find a deer carcass, ever, and with the HIGH population of deer on this farm, there is something weird about that, plus they RARELY ever see a coyote. Now, Im not saying this proves one way or another but just kind of interesting.
I have seen some BIG black Feral house cats as well. We finally got one we have been chasing for 2 years last year (In Michigan). This cat was known to stalk deer and try to take them down! It never did take one down but this cat thought it was a frickin' lion. I saw it attempt this once, it was pretty insane. When we finally got him in a trap, I couldn't believe his size. Was almost the size of a coyote! Almost a shame to put it down. So personally, I believe there are big black cats like panthers or cougars out there, but I also think that there are some extremely big Feral cats out there as well.
Uncle Matt, by the way that Obama comment made me laught out loud!
02-20-2010, 06:55 PM
#38
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location:
Posts: 1,408
I don't think anyone was claiming there was a black mountain Lion, maybe a black panther. There have been reports across the US of people releasing panthers that they thought would make great "Pets" and thought they would fair better for themselves in a state park or a wide open area. This is what I believe to be a lot of sightings of big black cats across the midwest. Thats what was being claimed for the Big Cat that was roaming around 25 miles west of Lawrence KS where I went to school.
Personally, I think that there may be a big black cat or two roaming around down in southern Illinois. There is a forum on a website that only covers S. IL hunting and there are some pretty convincing stories and photos. I don't want to give away locations but the gentleman that I heard it from was within the Saline/Williamson County area in Southern Illinois. Im not sure if thats the general area that Uncle Matt hunts, but again, the gentleman that told me this I trust completely so I believe he is true. Another weird thing that they have told me about the farm which is VERY big is that they never find a deer carcass, ever, and with the HIGH population of deer on this farm, there is something weird about that, plus they RARELY ever see a coyote. Now, Im not saying this proves one way or another but just kind of interesting.
I have seen some BIG black Feral house cats as well. We finally got one we have been chasing for 2 years last year (In Michigan). This cat was known to stalk deer and try to take them down! It never did take one down but this cat thought it was a frickin' lion. I saw it attempt this once, it was pretty insane. When we finally got him in a trap, I couldn't believe his size. Was almost the size of a coyote! Almost a shame to put it down. So personally, I believe there are big black cats like panthers or cougars out there, but I also think that there are some extremely big Feral cats out there as well.
Uncle Matt, by the way that Obama comment made me laught out loud!
Personally, I think that there may be a big black cat or two roaming around down in southern Illinois. There is a forum on a website that only covers S. IL hunting and there are some pretty convincing stories and photos. I don't want to give away locations but the gentleman that I heard it from was within the Saline/Williamson County area in Southern Illinois. Im not sure if thats the general area that Uncle Matt hunts, but again, the gentleman that told me this I trust completely so I believe he is true. Another weird thing that they have told me about the farm which is VERY big is that they never find a deer carcass, ever, and with the HIGH population of deer on this farm, there is something weird about that, plus they RARELY ever see a coyote. Now, Im not saying this proves one way or another but just kind of interesting.
I have seen some BIG black Feral house cats as well. We finally got one we have been chasing for 2 years last year (In Michigan). This cat was known to stalk deer and try to take them down! It never did take one down but this cat thought it was a frickin' lion. I saw it attempt this once, it was pretty insane. When we finally got him in a trap, I couldn't believe his size. Was almost the size of a coyote! Almost a shame to put it down. So personally, I believe there are big black cats like panthers or cougars out there, but I also think that there are some extremely big Feral cats out there as well.
Uncle Matt, by the way that Obama comment made me laught out loud!
02-20-2010, 08:11 PM
#39
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 1,462
Spaniel, believe me, if someone on here said it, I wouldn't believe it either. I wish I would have snapped a picture of it after we "dispatched" it with a .357. It was beyond any typical house cat I have ever seen. Next time I'll be sure to get a picture, but I don't think I'll see anything the size of this thing for a long time.
02-21-2010, 12:01 PM
#40
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location:
Posts: 1,408
Spaniel, believe me, if someone on here said it, I wouldn't believe it either. I wish I would have snapped a picture of it after we "dispatched" it with a .357. It was beyond any typical house cat I have ever seen. Next time I'll be sure to get a picture, but I don't think I'll see anything the size of this thing for a long time.
Maine coon cat perhaps? Males can go 25lb-ish.