Question for Illinois Deer Hunters
 

Just curious if any of you guys have seen any cougars while in the field? Up this way around Marion County there have been 2 cases of horses been mauled. Just curious, I keep hearin more and more about them. Thanks . CH

RE: Question for Illinois Deer Hunters
 

We've got some locally (Pike County). A pair took out some ostriches owned by my wife's aunt. There are more than that around, but those are mainly from eye witness accounts.

RE: Question for Illinois Deer Hunters
 

iv never seen any but iv heard stories of people seeing them in my area i hunt in schyuler county.

RE: Question for Illinois Deer Hunters
 

yeah. pretty crazy feelin they're out there. but, i still haven't seen anything of 'em. the way i look at it, here are thousands of coyotes out there and i've seen one in the 6 years that i've hunted. so, i'm sure they're pretty few and far between. still makes ya think though. thanks guys. CH

RE: Question for Illinois Deer Hunters
 

phantom, where in marion county did this happen?
Where do you live? I'm near Patoka

RE: Question for Illinois Deer Hunters
 

Supposed to be some in the area of my Greene County farm. I saw some 3 1/2" wide tracks the other day that looked right. My farmer swears he has seen one.

I'm hoping to get a pic on a deer cam some day.

Can't say that I believe, but the habitat is right down there and there are plenty of deer to feed one.

Good luck.

RE: Question for Illinois Deer Hunters
 

HeyArnie, (LLBUX)
Long time since we talked. Just had to chime in, if I saw a 3-1/2 cat track, I THINK I WOULD BELEIVE!

RE: Question for Illinois Deer Hunters
 

swore I heard one in Pike two days in a row and the adjacent farmer found a track the same week.
They're out there!

RE: Question for Illinois Deer Hunters
 

i wonder what the chances are of coming across one. my guess is they'll stay clear of you unless they're cornered or they're starvin. they say the best thing to do if you come across one on your way into the woods or on the way out is to spread your legs as far apart as you can, then reach down and grab both ankles and put your head between your legs as far back as you can and kiss your butt goodbye! haha that's what my grandfather says. :) anyway, can't wait to get into the woods!

CH

RE: Question for Illinois Deer Hunters
 

Do you think these cougars migrated down or have been released by someone with a pen.

Could people be seeing Big Bobcats. They are known to be in the area?

RE: Question for Illinois Deer Hunters
 

I did not look for claw marks in the tracks to make sure they are cat or dog. I understand there are some big dogs that run loose in the area as well. Went down the same path last weekend and saw a number of coyote tracks in the wet mud. They are easy to ID at 2" wide with claws.

Mountain lions have large home ranges so maybe I am in one of them and will have to wait for the lion to return. Neighbors to the south claim cattle killed by large cat.

Greene County has bobcats, but their tracks are not 3 1/2" wide. Maybe I'll get something on a trail cam.

Illinois is surrounded on the south and west by sizeable rivers. I feel that would preclude mountain lions from coming in that way naturally. I think somebody has let some loose rather than go through the business of licensing and registering them with the state. They breed readily so it can be a problem getting rid of them legally. Some would think it better to turn them loose rather than feed them.

Bukmastr-I guess I'll have to wait and see if one is seen this fall or captured on tape.

I see you have some video and pix of a great non-typical. Good job-

I got pix and video of 2 Booners and 4 other P&Y bucks the other night. What a great site!

Good luck!

LLBUX

RE: Question for Illinois Deer Hunters
 

A local farmer lost a couple of cows last year and the vet swears that it was a large cat that did it. There was video on Channel 12 from Cape Girardeau that showed a large cat walking down the road, some said it was a bob cat, others thought different. If it was a bob cat, it was a monster. It was filmed locally. We are near the Shawnee National Forest, the Cache River area and Mermit Lake so there is plenty of wild area around.

RE: Question for Illinois Deer Hunters
 

Man it would be crazy comin across one. No idea what i'd do. Makes it an adventure at lease :)

RE: Question for Illinois Deer Hunters
 

least

RE: Question for Illinois Deer Hunters
 

chances are if you had cats down there they have been released animals, becareful of these critters cause they most likely have had human contact and may not be as fearful as wild cats and if they can't kill in the wild, they will kill what they can, hopefully not you. cougar tracks will be bigger than a mid to large dogs with "no toenails" on the ends. cats walk with retracted, SHARP claws.

RE: Question for Illinois Deer Hunters
 

If someone in the area sees one during gun season it will likely be shot. They have no protection in Illinois. Just gotta make sure it is not a bobcat.

I have a few guys bowhunting that farm this fall. I'm letting them know of the rumored lion in the area.

I agree it is likely a released cat and dangerous since it has little fear of humans.

I'll be watching paths and crossings a lot more closely and will have a camera with me to verify tracks.

I'm not sold on the mt lion thing, but it does pay to be attentive.

Good luck!