This is topic Called in a lion this morning... in forum Cat forum at The New Huntmastersbbs!.
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Posted by DAA (Member # 11) on December 08, 2006, 08:55 PM:
Me and Tim got out for some coyote calling today. Decided to try a new spot, before any big snow storms hit and possibly make it so we can't get around out in the desert anymore this winter.
First stand, 3 minutes into Utah Jack wailing on the new FX5, we had a coyote come blazing in for the caller. He flared, I hit the preset on the remote for coyote barks, he put on the brakes and turned around to look.... I... uh... well... I missed him... Rats! Ruined a nice streak there with that miss. I'd killed the last 12 coyotes in a row I shot at before that. Oh well - it happens!
Next stand, about a mile up the jeep trail (and a JEEP trail it was - my Dodge would have got both sides dented negotiating it), playing Utah Jack on the FX5 again. Tim is on the rifle this time, I'm on the camera. We were calling the edge where the higher, juniper/pinion covered hills met the sage brush. About 10 minutes in, I thought I caught movement in the edge of the junipers up the slope from us about 150 yards away. Then a big hawk lit on top of a tree right where I thought I'd seen the movement and just sat there. A couple minutes went by, and I hadn't seen anything move again. The brush between where we were sitting and that tree line was pretty thick and tall, and I was sitting there thinking that maybe we had a bobcat sneaking through the brush towards us. Tim was sitting out in front and down hill about 20 feet from me, and had a better view up slope to our hard left than I did, because I had a tree blocking part of my view in that direction. Well, just as I'm thinking to myself maybe we have a bobcat sneaking in, Tim pivoted hard left with his rifle and shooting sticks and put his head down on the scope. He doesn't make a move like that on stand unless he's on an animal. So I knew he could see something up there on the slope that I couldn't - because of that tree blocking that part of my view. Then he took his head off the scope and looked at me and mouthed "BOBCAT". Actually, that's what I THOUGHT he mouthed. Talking to him later, what he actually mouthed was "BIG CAT". Well, neither one of us remembered to put in for bobcat tags this year, so I figured there would be no shooting, so I may as well scoot down closer to Tim with the camera and try to get some footage. I scooted down there, and looked up where Tim had the rifle pointed, and there 90 yards away, sitting on his haunches, glowing in the morning sun like a beacon, was a mountain lion! I got the camera pointed in his direction and started recording. But, I guess me moving down there was too much commotion. He started to exit stage left before I even started to zoom. Ended up getting just a couple seconds of him, as I was zooming and he was leaving the camera's field of view. Really poor quality footage, not even worth posting. But, still, that was COOL! First lion I've ever seen on a calling stand. Tim could have shot him, real easy. But, no tag. Heck, we don't even know if there is even a lion hunt open right now in that area.
Kept calling new ground for the rest of the day. Didn't call in another critter. Did see three coyotes from the Jeep just before dark, but we didn't even try to get a shot at them. Some days, if they ain't called in, they ain't in any danger from us. Today was one of those days.
Wish I could have got some good footage of that lion though!
- DAA
Posted by UTcaller (Member # 8) on December 08, 2006, 09:38 PM:
Very cool Dave,I have never called a lion but last year my brother did.He was calling bobcats,and said he was just about to get up from a stand and he glanced to his right and the lion was just standing there watching him then looking at the enticer decoy back and forth about 20 yards away for a couple minutes.Then just turned and melted into the cedars.Good Hunting Chad
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 09, 2006, 07:46 AM:
One thing will change forever, Dave. When you setup in piņon pines, the possibility will always cross your mind. My first lion was in southern Utah. It will always be lion country, for me.
Good hunting. LB
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on December 09, 2006, 08:11 AM:
Very Kewl Dave!!
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 09, 2006, 08:51 AM:
Hey Andy. Have you looked at the cat fight over on the dark side? Moondog, the Admin. and Dusty. Why don't they just say: NO GIRLS ALLOWED IN THE CLUBHOUSE! Otherwise, you have to watch your mfn language and be careful which way you are facing when you take a leak. Like at home. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Posted by Tim Behle (Member # 209) on December 09, 2006, 01:07 PM:
Man, some guys just get all of the luck!
One of these days it's going to be my turn!
Posted by Lonny (Member # 19) on December 09, 2006, 03:13 PM:
Sounds like quite the memorable day.
You and Tim need to have those cat tags in your wallets next year.
When is the next video due out?
Posted by sporterweight (Member # 189) on December 10, 2006, 07:41 PM:
That must be a hell of a sight to see a lion propped up looking for the bunny !
I suspect Tims 243 would put him on the ground.
I've set a goal to get a ML and wolf before i kick the bucket. -Mike
Posted by DAA (Member # 11) on December 11, 2006, 05:34 AM:
Lonny, we should have a couple of new ones out by late spring/early summer.
Sporterweight, Tim was using my .20-250, but I've no doubt it would have dropped that lion too. Tim actually has not used his .243 for a little over a year now. He's been using my .17 Predator almost exclusively instead. Ever since the first time he tried it, he really hasn't wanted to use anything else. Including my "new" .20-250! Actually, Tim's had rotten luck with the big .20, doesn't care for the rifle at all. Only using it now to humor me.
- DAA
Posted by Locohead (Member # 15) on December 11, 2006, 10:59 AM:
Super cool Dave, Way super cool!!!
Posted by tooslow (Member # 1063) on January 03, 2007, 04:29 PM:
Tag or no tag I would have taken the shot without hesitation.
I've only seen two all the years I've been hunting with no possibiility of a shot.
Pure excitement there, good for you.
Posted by The Outdoor Tripp (Member # 619) on January 04, 2007, 03:34 PM:
Really.
I'm happy to say I wouldn't, but then again that's just me.
I've wanted a wolf for over 35 years.
A few years ago while hunting on Kupreanov Island in SE Alaska I saw two different mammoth blond wolves. One crossing a mud flat at 200 yrds, the other working the shore about 30 ft. away (both upwind).
I was in a remote area, 40 miles from the nearest town, 15 from the nearest light bulb.
The wolves presented themselves 2 and 3 days out of season. (May 2 and 3, season ended last day of April.)
I could have nailed both these bad boys and passed them off as in-season kills with no one the wiser.
Still happy to this day I didn't.
But that's just me.
[ January 04, 2007, 03:43 PM: Message edited by: The Outdoor Tripp ]
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on January 04, 2007, 04:05 PM:
Yeah, I hear ya, but you may be interested to know that AZ Game and Fish personel have advised people, (maybe not officially) to go ahead and shoot it, if you have the chance, and then get the tag. Probably not a single one would admit it, but I am not talking about a single instance, either. They are concerned about winding up with a California situation. I think Oregon and Washington have similiar concerns, and are attempting to liberalize the regs.
As far as wolves, well, you know they have just as many enemies as friends, maybe more? These large predators are big issues, and the emotion behind the protections is generally not justified, from a management standpoint....certainly not in Alaska.
Personal opinion, and I have no problem with somebody who speaks their mind. Better the lion than a child, and that's totally the opposite attitude of the bunny huggers. Friggin' shameful, if you ask me. We have more lions than any other state, and they are totally protected, and they kill and eat people. Bunny huggers are okay with that situation and that disgusts me. All we need is to instill the fear of man in lions, not wipe them out. That won't happen, even if we wanted to, but a kill of ten or fifteen percent per year might bring the population back under control.
Good hunting. LB
Posted by tooslow (Member # 1063) on January 04, 2007, 06:08 PM:
A Lion moratorium when first enacted eons ago was supposed to be a temporary act untill some study's could define their maintanance. Seems to me a study was never conducted. I am still waiting for them to lift the moratorium, love those bearocrats.
If lion tags were available I am sure it would make the houndsmen happy as well as farmers, and deer hunters.
I have hunted years, not lion specific but still out in deer country, I have only seen two lions. Point being other than reading about them the average citizen will never see a lyon and become a lyon lover.
Posted by Krustyklimber (Member # 72) on January 04, 2007, 06:56 PM:
My brother once admitted (on this site) to shooting at a lion, a few days out of season.
It didn't go well.
Krusty 
Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on January 06, 2007, 06:56 PM:
I can honestly say that if I saw one tomorrow while hunting, I would have a hard time NOT shooting at it. Not because I have to have a lion hide, but as a matter of public safety. If it were going the other way, I'd easily pass. If it were responding to my call, bam!
I'll be hunting an area tomorrow where the owner says he's seen one in the past month. His words, not mine, "Shoot it and give me a call. I'll bring a goat for you to cram in its mouth."
Posted by Tim Behle (Member # 209) on January 06, 2007, 09:29 PM:
I've had a AZ Game Warden tell me flat out, that if I called in a lion to take the shot, and then go buy the tag if I didn't have one with me.
I normally tell the guys who I hunt with who are from out of State, NOT to buy a lion tag. I carry the $10 Resident tag, but it is too much of a gamble for a non resident to pay $200 with hopes to call a lion ( While coyote hunting ) on the 5 day hunting license that they normally get when coming to visit.
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on January 07, 2007, 07:05 AM:
Tim, I was told the same thing and that has always been my plan. If I get lucky enough to call one down there, shoot and go to town to get the tag. I was told that was ok.
I dont know if thats a written law or not?
Posted by DAA (Member # 11) on January 07, 2007, 05:22 PM:
"I can honestly say that if I saw one tomorrow while hunting, I would have a hard time NOT shooting at it. Not because I have to have a lion hide, but as a matter of public safety. If it were going the other way, I'd easily pass. If it were responding to my call, bam!"
You have GOT to be shitting me?
Never mind that this is coming from the same guy who made a huge deal out of saying he'd make me walk home and then turn my ass in if I broke any game law in his presence, no matter how minor or how much sense it made. Just ignore that.
But are you honestly claiming "public safety" as the reason for shooting a lion? In KANSAS?
Uhhhh... "Whatever". How many people have been bit by lions in Kansas??? Yeah, "public safety".
That's funny!
- DAA
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on January 07, 2007, 07:09 PM:
note to self: Man, don't mess with Dave!
Posted by Kelly Jackson (Member # 977) on January 07, 2007, 08:01 PM:
oooooh busted....
Posted by DAA (Member # 11) on February 19, 2007, 01:50 PM:
Bump...
- DAA
Posted by slydog (Member # 389) on February 27, 2007, 02:03 PM:
Dave,
I respect Tim's trigger finger control, very cool and I admire those who do it right. There have been times when I had the thoughts go through my mind, just never made it to my finger.
Very cool story and I to want to get one on film.
sly
Posted by Q-Wagoner (Member # 33) on March 01, 2007, 08:20 PM:
I may be wrong but I don’t think they are protected in Kansas? I don’t think they have them protected in Iowa either. They are protected here in NE but like Iowa it would be like hitting some kind of lottery just to see one. Game warden shot one an hour west of me a few months ago and figured it as a public safety issue so the paper says. If I had shot the cat under the same situation I would have been hung by the media and fined by the same warden. Hell they would have probably taken my birthday away also. LOL
I want a Lion as bad as anyone but the risks are not worth the reward to me. My time will come.
Good hunting.
Q,
Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on March 01, 2007, 08:48 PM:
Me! I would settle for a nice 35-40 pound bobcat.
Posted by TOM64 (Member # 561) on March 01, 2007, 09:09 PM:
I watched one cross a pasture a few years ago here in OK (which btw doesn't have any large cats but they are protected, I mean if we had any) I was hunting on my sisters land and never once did the thought of shooting it cross my mind, nope not once. My dad had my nephew with him in a pop up blind and it crossed in front of them at about 50 yards before slipping into the woods.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on March 01, 2007, 09:58 PM:
Come to the campout, Quinton. I hear that Steve Craig is crawling in lions.
Posted by Cal Taylor (Member # 199) on March 02, 2007, 06:12 AM:
Dave, I remember that thread where you were chastised and told you were walking home. I'm going to have to look that one up, but if I remember right NO game laws should be broken ever, ever, fu%&$ng ever!
Posted by JD (Member # 768) on March 02, 2007, 03:00 PM:
"Q", we`ve spotted a lion in this area several times over the last year, the last time it was seen 50 ft to the south of my house, people call Game & parks when they see it, why? I`ll never know, but anyway the last time we saw the warden my neighbor asked him (mostly out of contempt) what would happen if Jason turned his dogs loose on him, ran him up a tree & had him mounted in his office, he said $10,000 per offense, I can`t afford that right now but I`m saving up. Even though I might have to walk home.
[ March 02, 2007, 03:01 PM: Message edited by: JD ]
Posted by Curt2u (Member # 74) on March 20, 2007, 05:12 AM:
Great story Dave. That had to be exciting as heck. Getting even a little on film is real cool too.
Goof hunting
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