cat tracks in Oklahoma

A

ArcticT

New member
Well after all the reading I've done about cats in Oklahoma, it seems that I've stumbled across some tracks. I found them while surveying a pipeline in a somewhat remote area near Cogar, OK. I'll be the first to admit I'm no tracker...but these sure look like lion tracks to me. From what I've read, these look small. I think there are three different sets. I found one set last thursday but I didn't have my camera. I measured that one at 4in by about 3.5in. I brought my camera this week and found another set by the first set that I estimated just a hair under 3inx3in. That's the one by my phone. Then I found the last set (with the tape by it) that measured roughly 3.5inx3.5in. These were about a 1/4 mile from the first two sets. I did notice some claws on the last one....is that normal? There were none showing on the other two sets. Anyway, it was exciting to see some actual sign...maybe I'll see a cat one of these days!

DSC_5653.jpg

DSC_5664.jpg
 
If you know of an area where I'd be welcome to hunt there please give me some coordinates/directions it you can. I work sometimes @ Stabl Drill out @ Council Road and I-40 which is on the way to Cogar from where I live so I could get out there often.

For sure the Canadian River could support the travels and feeding habits of mountain lions. Have you talked to the local Game Rangers. I wonder if there is any Predation there?

Sam III
 
I'm seated at my home desk, reading a copy of the new Hunting Regulations for Oklahoma and I quote, off PAGE25, "MOUNTAIN LION" Mountain lions can be taken year-round when committing or about to commit depredation or when deemed a nuisance, safety, or health hazard.

You must inform a Game Ranger in 24 hours and they will usually take a tooth for evidence of the kill

Show me a moutain lion who is not in some stage of about to commit a depredation and I'll show you a very rare predator!

Call (405) 521-3719 at your convenience.

There is likely to be some variation on the interpretation of the meaning of the word "depredation" but tie goes to the runner.
 
I think that mostly lions only let their claws out when using them on prey but likely there in that soft sand they probably sink in deeper and therefore pick up the trace of those claws. Good additional ID tool!

I tracked a man through the eastern part of the Superstition Mountains once who'd become lost in the area around Lost Dutchman Trail and Boulder Canyon Trail. It has just rained so the dust in the narrow trail made his prints show up like a neon light and he had a size 14 or so boot so there was no losing him.

I started out right after midnight and finally came up on him as he had started shooting three shot SOS volleys where he had hunkered down for the night under some bushes near a Spring where Second Water Trail runs into Boulder Canyon.

He had just run out of energy and water and did'nt know the actual Second Water Spring was just a few feet from the trail where he had laid down. His son and daughter were sure glad to see him and he snagged a ride on Sheriff JOES chopper back to Maricopa County! All's well that ends well!

Sam III
 
I heard from a Game employee who is very skeptical about any mountain lions being taken in Oklahoma that he thinks it's an effort by the Senator who introduced this new game law to learn if there really are populations in Oklahoma.

Sounds like you have answered his question, in part.

The Game people just want to examine the entire carcass and maybe take a tooth.

Sounds fair to me!
 
I've also talked to a game ranger in the NW part of the state who was skeptical about there being a population of cats here. I heard from some Minco, OK locals that the Department of Wildlife tagged and released something like 32 cats in this area a few years back but won't admit it. Of course thats total hear-say. Either way, there have been plenty sightings and I've seen one trailcam pic from an area near my hunting lease around Rattan, OK with a cat in it. After seeing these tracks, it erased any doubt in my own mind about whether or not they are here. I know one thing...I was watching over my shoulder as I was staking a pipeline through the trees!
 
Rattan! I used to drive by there when I took my old canoe down to the Glover River for float trips! My favorite spot now there is where the West Fork and the East Fork of the Glover convene @ a lot water bridge, so there are fine camping spots there and a large, lake-like pool upstream and white water below.

Nice place!

Thanks again for the information. I used to go to Red Rock Canyon, once to a Methodist camp there.

Sam III
 
Those pics of the tracks are CSI perfect! Need a PT job? It makes it a whole lot more fun to KNOW they are out there.

I double checked my field guide, and those prints/tracks a are textbook!

It'll be interesting to see how this year long season works out. I sure intend to obey the law/rules on it and have taken up the practice of keeping a copy of the law in my vehicle as one time before I had a local challenge me on the exact day the Turkey season ended (I was going to hunt the next, and last day!) and this guy was vehement about saying it ended Sunday and I knew I was right but did'nt have the copy of the REGS! Won't happen to me again!

Thanks again!

Sam III
 
That would be a dream job! It does make it more exciting knowing they are out there for myself. I've heard accounts from people I trust including my cousin, but now I've seen sign with my own eyes and had my camera to back it up! It's also nice to know that there are at least a couple cats but maybe three or more in that little area. Now to just find one of them buggers alive!
 
I can guarantee there are lions in Oklahoma! A buddy of mine called one in near Mangum several years ago and I personally saw tracks in a muddy wheat field while calling near Snyder a year after his sighting. My cousin and I were turkey hunting on the Cimarron river just south of RingWood 4 years ago and he had one walk out on the ranch road about 100 yards from him and sit down and watch him.......he was looking at it through 10X Leupold binos and he knows what a mt. lion looks like. There is a mounted lion in the museum at Cheyenne that was killed in that area

I don't believe for one second that the wildlife dept. released them, lions can travel amazing distances.....in 2004, a radio collared mt lion was found dead near Red Rock Oklahoma....it had traveled all the was from South Dakota...here is an article about it:

http://www.propertyrightsresearch.org/2004/articles6/mountain_lion_found_near_kansas.htm
 
The Wildlife Dept. of Oklahoma says not likely.

Lets reason this out.

It's a bold face fact that cougars are TREMENDOUS travelers.

It's a BOLD FACE FACT that cougars are in TEXAS!

The last time I was in that country ....... Oklahoma and Texas share a great amount of border.

........... what part of this picture do these Wildlife Officials not get?????????

I have said it over and over ..... all Gamies must go to the same school ........ The International School Of Denial!

Three 44s
 
There's absolutely no doubt that we have them here. And the fact is that they are becoming more and more prevalent judging by the sightings and sign. Either that or we have a serious mutant bobcat epedimic on our hands! As far as them being released here, I've heard more than a few civilians claim that. But when you look at the travel patterns of big cats and the fact that they tend to be concentrated around the canadian river areas, I think they are just naturally populating the state. I don't see how you can deny that they are here!
 
I saw a very large Bobcat inside the City limits of Norman, Oklahoma on the land just adjacent to the Saxon Publishing Company building donated by the Saxon family to the public. He had just perched on his haunches and was just eying me very directly. I stood there and just watched him til he got back on his way to the deeper cover. Not much doubt in my mind that in a place that will support bobcats in a metropolitan area not all that far from the gates of OU and Owen Field that would be lions.

And if you look at the map and see where the Canadian River rambles from, you have to think travel down a long drink of guaranteed would be a piece of case for a long range roaming meat eater looking for more space.

And if you look off the top of Mount Scott where you can see Bison and long horns walking around there would have to be mountain lions thinking that would be an ideal place to visit, if not to move into permanently.

The one road killed recently south of I-40 is a slam dunk for evidence.

I hope the open season this year results in a lot of proven takings and a legislator happy he pushed this through.
 
Quote:
The one road killed recently south of I-40 is a slam dunk for evidence.



I didn't hear about that. Was it in the news paper?
 
No, it was from a New Member who lives in that general area on land he owns and he reports his wife and a friend saw the road kill and stopped and looked up close to verify it. Sounds legit to me. Other reports include calves being killed but the remains dragged off and eaten as many as 6 at one time. Reports of a taxidermist in local town being asked to do mountain lions apparently by people who don't want to explain to game people about depredation but do want it mounted. Pretty sparse population out there.

I may be out there in the Salyers Lake area Monday @ the area where the photographed tracks were documented.

Sam III
 
I've personally seen 'em in the Black Kettle and Beaver areas.Both were called in.Buddy of mine has one on video that he called in in the same vicinity.The sightings were reported to DWC,to which they said it was probably a bobcat.Even upon seeing the video,a DWC offical told my friend that it was probably a bobcat.
Both my friend and I have spent a good deal of time in verified lion country,and I gurantee those were def. lions.
 
ArcticT,

I hope you don't think I am in doubt here.

We had a horse with claw marks on it in '05 and a WDFW gamie ....... say ..... definitely a COUGAR! and take pictures for his report and give me CART BLANCHE on killing it! .... only to have his Sargent say the next day ...... maybe it scratched itself in the BUSHES!!!!!! Before he even saw the horse .... as he walked from his truck to the horse ... this Sargent is telling me "How careful ..... we have to be about these matters" ............ yes, Ivory tower sitters in Olympia (state capital) say ...... PLAY IT DOWN!

.......We have been a victim of the School of Denial.

Regards

Three 44s
 
Last edited:
Back
Top