Advice on Black Hills Lion Hunting

B

bjjensen06

New member
So here's the scoop. I'm new to hunting mountain lions, or any predator for that matter. But, in the Black Hills of South Dakota we have a lion season that allows up to 35 to be taken before the season closes so I figure why not give it a shot over Christmas Break. Dogs and baiting are not allowed, so I'm left to try to call in a lion.

I live outside the southwest side of Rapid City, and it's pretty well accepted that we have lions roaming around our house/neighborhood. In fact, one of our dogs was killed about 3 years ago and a neighbors just a couple weeks ago in presumed lion kills. So, they're around here. I live on a cliff overlooking Spring Canyon which must be 500+ feet of trees, water, etc...

I'm thinking I'll go sit on an "easy-out" of the canyon, which is what Game Fish and Parks recommended and is basically a gradual exit to an otherwise very steep canyon. I just bought an electronic call with the standard fawn, rabbit, pub, etc calls programmed in. I'll probably stick to the fawn distress unless you guys think otherwise. I've got a .270 WSM that is really my only option for shooting. I've also thrown together a little ground blind on a nice spot overlooking my "easy-out".

I guess what I'm looking for is any general advice you have to give me regarding hunting these lions. I'm thinking early morning and dusk are the only times really worth sitting there? And, what sort of volume do you call with? Loud that is projected everywhere or something closer to what the actual animal would make. I was reading also that breaking a stick or two isn't a bad idea to simulated the struggling animal?

Let me know your advice! Thanks everyone
 
BJ,

Welcome to Predator Masters. Glad you joined us.

Let me say right off the bat that I'm not a lion hunter and have never killed a lion. I do buy a lion tag every year hoping to call one in. Your logic seems good, I've heard other folks say keep the caller running continuously. Maybe someone with more experience will jump in with better advice.

Good luck.
 
Mike,you need to put "Bubba" on a lion track in the snow.
Have faith and give him a chance,I'll bet he can "seal the deal".
 
I've only killed 2 lions to date. Called a few others that didn't get killed. With this limited success I don't really have any business handing out advice but I'll just say it sounds like you are off to a good start. Setting up on the "easy outs", saddles, and such sounds like a good plan. Finding some hot sign certainly is a good thing. Although every one I've called, whether it got killed or not, I did not find fresh sign till after the fact. All I really knew was lions frequented the area. It was good lion country but I was basically blind calling.

Time of day? I used to get up early and freeze my butt off for coyotes and cougars. Not any more. All week long I get up at 4 AM so on the weekend I catch some extra ZZZs. Coyotes are waiting when I get there. lol! Cougars can be out any time too.

Both cougars I got were killed within 20 minutes of the same time of day. Sometime between 2 and 3 PM if I remember right. One time it was the 2nd stand of the day. The other was the 1st stand of the day. Morning and dusk may be better though. Main thing is getting out and doing it. It's tough to stay interested after a few 1 hour dry stands when you are used to the fast and easy coyote calling. A guy can get bored quick. All I can say is that all disappears when and if you do connect. Then coyotes seem boring. lol!

.270 WSM is a good pick. Fawn distress should do the job too. Plan on calling for 45 minutes to an hour. I let the sound run continuous for lions.

Good luck
 


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