mountain lion help

[destroyerbear]

my mom believes she saw a mountain lion or cougar run across a field beside our house. i don't hunt at all but i believe i could do fairly well with info from all of my neighbors and friends, but im not sure what kind of gun i should use. all i have is an 870 12 gge with a modified choke, a .45 acp s&w, and a .22 lr single shot and a compound bow. i was thinking of gettin a .270, or something that will hit it without it having a chance to get close to rip my face off. and if ya have any hints and tips on hunting these cats, let me know. thanks :B
i live in west virginia. i havent checked laws or anything yet, but i'll find out, don't want it eatin my sister or my neighbors when they are out taking a stroll. there are also some small small children around here so hopefully my neighbors and i can keep them away. also forgot to mention, the govmnt released some cougars around my area. i have decided to go with a mossberg 100 atr in .270 and find a mid-range scope so i can bait him in with some decoy animal and calls without being right beside him. im gonna carry my 12 with some 00 buck while im taking my trek to get setup.

 

[Purgatory]

870 would be good for your back-up wingman to carry if you're goin' huntin' for this thing. Slugs in the 12 ga would probably work dandily, if not be recommended. Good double or triple ought buck would be fine too.

.270 SHOULD be fine for the main dispatching rifle that you will carry, but, considering a large, very dangerous cat, some might recommend a larger caliber. Possibly a .308 or bigger.

A good .45 is not a bad idea on the belt stoked with quality fmj's or even some of those flat point hard cast that Buffalo Bore or Double Tap makes. -If your gun will run 'em, that is. This option would only be used if your head is in the cat's mouth and your buddy is out of commission, of course.

In any instance, use the shotgun and/or rifle FIRST.

I would most-certainly leave the do-it-all .22 at home for this one particular mission. Though we do love it so.

 

[Roughneck08]

Cougars are good at hunting the hunter. Unless you have dogs to run 'im up a tree I'd say don't go looking for him. I can speak from experience we had one cross paths around our land. They are usually hunting you before you see him. A .270 would do fine. These cats aren't bullet proof old timers would tree them up north and pop 'em with a 38 revlover. Be careful, though and have fun. If you do kill one make sure to call the gamewarden and let him know you shot one they do research and track their patterns. Atleast that is what they do here in TX.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

What state are you in?

 

[slabuda]

Yea most folks in Idaho that purposely hunt them, run them with dogs and lots use a .357/.44 mag or .45 colt. Most any deer rifle would work. A 12 g. would would with buck and slugs for sure. A .270 would drop one good. A .45ACP not my 1st choice but it could work if its all I had. Better than a rock I suppose, but it is what I have normally carried when out in the mountains as it was the biggest I had. I now have a .45colt and that will be my new mountain gun.

Others that get them are usually by accident (seeing one while out for deer) and use their deer rifle.



Ill say that these cats worry me more than the black bears and even the wolves here in Idaho. Idaho has some of the biggest cats around. Holds a fair amount of record cats. Im talking females over 100lbs and males...its not uncommon to hear of one going 140lbs. plus and you hear of some that are monsters now and again. Easily the size of a full grown average male. My point in all this is, unless I happened across one, I wouldn't look for them unless I had dogs.
http://www.rmgameandfish.com/hunting/big-game-hunting/rm_aa014605a/index.html

I have never "seen" a cat but have seen sign (fresh too!!) a few times. When Im up in the mountains, you wont catch me with out a gun at night when going to the "bushes"

 

[Art Eatman]

In general but not always: Mama cats tend to hang around a den area and hunt at night. Rarely seen except maybe when teaching cubs to hunt.

Toms are travelers. Depending on intents which are known only to the critter, they may travel as much as fifty miles in a day.

For any, a hunting radius of some five miles is not unusual.

 

[saturno_v]

270 SHOULD be fine for the main dispatching rifle that you will carry, but, considering a large, very dangerous cat, some might recommend a larger caliber. Possibly a .308 or bigger.

A .270 Win is almost too powerful for a Cougar....with the right bullet it would tear one to pieces, however there is a risk of a bullet exploding on impact (resulting in too little penetration) at extreme close ranges, always a possibility with high velocity rifle cartridges.

 

[Purgatory]

Quote:
270 SHOULD be fine for the main dispatching rifle that you will carry, but, considering a large, very dangerous cat, some might recommend a larger caliber. Possibly a .308 or bigger.

A .270 Win is almost too powerful for a Cougar....with the right bullet it would tear one to pieces, however there is a risk of a bullet exploding on impact (resulting in too little penetration) at extreme close ranges, always a possibility with high velocity rifle cartridges.
Today 08:42 AM

I do forget when speaking of large cats that they are said to be thin-skinned.
Usually just factor for the size and weight range.

After reading your post, I'm sincerely curious now. What would you recommend would be better?

A heavier similar velocity bullet (.308, .30-06, .300 win mag) or a heavier much slower velocity bullet? (.44 mag, .45-70, etc.)

 

[Greg Koziol]

your 870 would work. Get the winchester super x slugs for your 870. Get the 1 oz rifled slugs 3" shell, they travel at 1700 fps.. their pretty flat shooting up to 100 yards, plenty of power... though its gonna involve more work and time on your part to get that close to a mountain lion. Your gonna need to do a lot of scouting, which sounds like you have plenty of info from your nieighbors and friends on where this cat is. If not get something like a .308 or .30-06 with a long range scope and get a good vantage point and camo yourself real well. Mountain lions like all big cats have very good vision.. especially at night!! Cats typically hunt at night, but they do hunt during the day too. Get good camo and stay as still as possible, don't do a lot of moving, approach known dwelling areas as quietly as you can. Get your .308 or .30-06 and sit at a good area where you can see your entire area like the top of a hill and just sit around and look around for em with binoculars.

 

[oneounceload]

Use the 12 with 00 buck - unless you're somewhat close, you'll either not see the cat or won't be able to get the shot off. We would run them with dogs in northern NV, tree them, and either shoot them with a camera or a 38

 

[Flintknapper]

Cougars are NOT hard to kill (given good shot placement), so no need for anything over .243 or 7mm-08 if you do buy a rifle.

Chances are....you will never see the cougar again, so I wouldn't run out and buy a new firearm for that purpose only.

OTOH....if you just have a hankering for new rifle, then.....a cougar sighting makes one fine excuse.

 

[Blue Brick]

38 Spl.

 

[sonier]

I live in the second most cougar populated county in colorado, my next door county is the first. The hunting guides around here recomend VERY LIGHTWEIGHT rifles such as lever actions and single shots. the most common dispatch caliber is a .243 many use pistol calibers such as 357 mag 45 long colt etc. Cougars are not hard to kill at all, the thing you need most is a reliable rifle that can be very mobile. Go buy a H&R singleshot .243 winchester.

DOUBLE CHECK YOUR LAWS, in Colorado they set up an investigation if a cougar is killed, in order to legally have shot that cougar. You must have been in imediate danger and the animal must have been close enough to rip your arm off. If you kill a Cougar be careful, the fines can be very pricy.

 

[saturno_v]

After reading your post, I'm sincerely curious now. What would you recommend would be better?

To a 270 bolt I would much prefer a 30-30 lever for cougar defence.

More handy and a faster repeating platform.

You can use any of the commercial soft point 150 or 170 grainers, no risk of exploding bullets at 30-30 velocities even at almost point blank range.

A 170 gr. partition would give you expansion and deep penetration but it could not expand much on a light framed animal like a cougar at typical defense ranges...it would be a straight go-through shot...in few words, not need of exotic bullets in a 30-30 against a cougar.

 

[Art Eatman]

Don't wreck the backstraps or hams. Yummy eathing.

 

[slabuda]

Don't wreck the backstraps or hams. Yummy eating.

Are they Art? Ive never had cat. Whats a good way to cook them? Id like to give it a try sometime. Be nice to say my rug tasted good!!

 

[Purgatory]

Yeah, a lever .30-30 would certainly be handy.

So, I guess my SKS with 150 grain Cor-Bons would be perfect, then.

Still haven't secured a good lever gun, but my journey of firearms exploration keeps bringing me back to the practicality of the concept. And, of course I just think it'd be really cool to have and use one.

I'd like one in .30-30 and, eventually, one in .45-70. So, I'd probably end up with a few of the calibers in between as well.

But, for having handy in Big Cat-ville, the .30-30 seems plenty efficient, if not ideal.

And I would actually love to try some wild cat meat.

Would make the hunt that much more necessary.

 

[saturno_v]

Purgatory

I own a 30-30 lever (Marlin 336) and I'm in the process of getting a 45-70 myself...

 

[Leanwolf]

"SATURNO V - To a 270 bolt I would much prefer a 30-30 lever for cougar defence.

More handy and a faster repeating platform.

You can use any of the commercial soft point 150 or 170 grainers, no risk of exploding bullets at 30-30 velocities even at almost point blank range.

A 170 gr. partition would give you expansion and deep penetration but it could not expand much on a light framed animal like a cougar at typical defense ranges...it would be a straight go-through shot...in few words, no need of exotic bullets in a 30-30 against a cougar."

I'm with Saturno V. Marlin 336 in .30-30 WCF (or Win. 94, etc.). Lightweight, easy handling, and plenty of power.

Here is a "rig" that I often carry when out scouting for elk and deer, etc., in Black bear, Mountain lion, and wolf country, before hunting seasons. I don't always carry the revolver but I'll carry the rifle; I don't always carry the Marlin, but I carry the RBH .45 Colt, but when I am totally alone and my partner is hours away scouting in another drainage, I carry both, along with the stuff pictured and an unpictured, small daypack which will get me through the night should I have to stay out.



As others have said, Mountain lions are not hard to kill if you shoot accurately.

L.W.

 

[Purgatory]

That's a pretty slick set-up, there, Leanwolf. Think I'd feel plenty confident in my ability to stay over night on the mountain. -Might even make it two nights.

Especially if there's a fire starting implement in that knife sheath. Or is it just sharpening stones?

Either way, a kit like that gives a man a good reason to happen to get stuck in the woods and have to tie-up horse and make a quick lean-to and start a camp fire.

If for no other reason, but to test his steel. -And to scout out the area strategically for the hunt, of course.

 

[blackops]

Art explains it best.

Usually guys will hunt them down with dogs or bait them.

I wouldn't use a 30-30. I think the 270 is perfect actually.

 

[Greg Koziol]

A spear works good too...!! haha just walk around in the woods and see if he tries to attack and when he does spear that f'er

 

[OYE]

Have lions here in S.W. Idaho within 2 miles of the house. See them now and then in winter, caught a few in traps from time to time. Never had the urge to shoot one.
Spent a total of many months camped in lion country with horses with no issues. You can always stay home and watch television ( don't have one of them either). Might try
a deer distress call if you have evidence of one close by though and the season is in.
Without hounds it's probably a poor proposition unless you're in the backcountry in winter. Of course finding a fresh kill can improve your
odds dramatically ( they ain't too far away, and they are coming back).

 

[Art Eatman]

A friend of mine did a slow-cook barbecue of hams and backstraps from a 3/4-grown cougar. Brought the meat to a party gathering where there also was beef, pork and venison.

The lion meat was "all et up" first...

 

[Joe Demko]

Ive never had cat. Whats a good way to cook them? Id like to give it a try sometime. Be nice to say my rug tasted good!!

If you don't live in lion country, perhaps you could try the "rock cornish game hen" variant.