cat tracks in Oklahoma
- Thread starter ArcticT
- Start date
bighornboy
New member
Here are a couple pics of lion tracks I took a couple days ago for more reference photos. These are some of the better lion tracks I have found. The first two are of the hind foot, slightly smaller in size. The last one is the larger front foot. These are probably the biggest tracks I have seen yet, so I'm assuming it's of a large male.
coyote_roede
New member
Artic T first no disputing you have lions in OK. I believe we had one of our SD lions killed by a train there, why do i think it was a SD lion? I believe it still had it's radio collar on. Was kind of a funny deal,lion stepped in front of a train, go figure. I think it was 1400 miles this lion had covered or something like that.
As for those tracks, I would lean toward dog. It looks like with the claw marks etc. and pad shape it is a dog. Just my opinion!
As for those tracks, I would lean toward dog. It looks like with the claw marks etc. and pad shape it is a dog. Just my opinion!
Hello Duane,
Here in socialist Washington we can not use hounds except for the five county pilot project in the northern end of the state (a drawing of a set number of cats) AND by special permit for predation.
And here's the rub ...... this State is obviously bent on BURYING any damage claims it can! Sweep them under the rug. And we are not talking claims as in pay outs .... just let us get the hounds on this thing type of claims.
We had a two year old angus bull with the tongue pulled out of it's head ..... SO FORCEFULLY that it took the muscle group off of the air pipe thus crushing it as well .... A mature cow with fang penetration from behind the skull towards it's brain AND a horse with claw marks on it's ribs all in the same melay!
We being the neophytes we were ..... stumbled around for a good bit. The day we autopsied .... the scratches on the horse were spotted too ..... and things GOT REAL CLEAR then.
I called in WDFW and our local game warden was there ASAP! He said to the horse ....... CAT ....... KILL THIS CAT! I was very satisfied at that point. The warden could not get his mind around the bull and cow .... and quite frankly, NEITHER could I!!! ...... but the proximity and timing were undeniable.
Next day his Sargent shows up and ALL WENT TO HELL!
AS he is getting out of his truck ..... he starts the distancing ....... "We have to be real carefull about these matters" ...... YEAH RIGHT!
Before the sargent left ...... he's trying to sell us on the notion that "maybe" the horse scratched itself in the bushes. ....... and that maybe coyotes did in the bull and cow.
I might of been born at night but it was NOT LAST NIGHT!
We had a 275# calf killed just days before on the Reservation .... confirmed by the tribe. ..... and we had cats a plenty ...... probably two females .... one with kittens then.
I appologize for this ranting and as much as it seems off your question ..... I needed to illustrate just HOW HARD it can be to merely get hounds going.
...... IF we stick YOUR head under the sand FAR ENOUGH .... you WON'T call and drag us into a cross fire with animal rights people! ..... SO when have a problem ....... "YOU" are "OUR" problem not the lost livestock. ..... "DEPREDATION? ...... WHAT DEPREDATION? ..... we have NO record of a DEPREDATION HERE! ..... and it varies by region of the State. Some WDFW officials are STILL standup people and others .... HIDE UNDER THE BED even in broad daylight!
As far as hunting cougars in Wa. ..... our season is very liberal ...... August 1st to March 15th. ..... spot, stalk or call.
I appologize profusely ArticT for highjacking your thread!
Three 44s
Here in socialist Washington we can not use hounds except for the five county pilot project in the northern end of the state (a drawing of a set number of cats) AND by special permit for predation.
And here's the rub ...... this State is obviously bent on BURYING any damage claims it can! Sweep them under the rug. And we are not talking claims as in pay outs .... just let us get the hounds on this thing type of claims.
We had a two year old angus bull with the tongue pulled out of it's head ..... SO FORCEFULLY that it took the muscle group off of the air pipe thus crushing it as well .... A mature cow with fang penetration from behind the skull towards it's brain AND a horse with claw marks on it's ribs all in the same melay!
We being the neophytes we were ..... stumbled around for a good bit. The day we autopsied .... the scratches on the horse were spotted too ..... and things GOT REAL CLEAR then.
I called in WDFW and our local game warden was there ASAP! He said to the horse ....... CAT ....... KILL THIS CAT! I was very satisfied at that point. The warden could not get his mind around the bull and cow .... and quite frankly, NEITHER could I!!! ...... but the proximity and timing were undeniable.
Next day his Sargent shows up and ALL WENT TO HELL!
AS he is getting out of his truck ..... he starts the distancing ....... "We have to be real carefull about these matters" ...... YEAH RIGHT!
Before the sargent left ...... he's trying to sell us on the notion that "maybe" the horse scratched itself in the bushes. ....... and that maybe coyotes did in the bull and cow.
I might of been born at night but it was NOT LAST NIGHT!
We had a 275# calf killed just days before on the Reservation .... confirmed by the tribe. ..... and we had cats a plenty ...... probably two females .... one with kittens then.
I appologize for this ranting and as much as it seems off your question ..... I needed to illustrate just HOW HARD it can be to merely get hounds going.
...... IF we stick YOUR head under the sand FAR ENOUGH .... you WON'T call and drag us into a cross fire with animal rights people! ..... SO when have a problem ....... "YOU" are "OUR" problem not the lost livestock. ..... "DEPREDATION? ...... WHAT DEPREDATION? ..... we have NO record of a DEPREDATION HERE! ..... and it varies by region of the State. Some WDFW officials are STILL standup people and others .... HIDE UNDER THE BED even in broad daylight!
As far as hunting cougars in Wa. ..... our season is very liberal ...... August 1st to March 15th. ..... spot, stalk or call.
I appologize profusely ArticT for highjacking your thread!
Three 44s
ArcticT,
Thanks.
Did you notice if the claw marks were in most/all/only a few of the rest of the tracks on the "clawed" track set?
Something looks out of place to call those claw marks canine. But it's really out of character for a cat to extend them ..... especially on dirt and under no pressure.
Three 44s
Thanks.
Did you notice if the claw marks were in most/all/only a few of the rest of the tracks on the "clawed" track set?
Something looks out of place to call those claw marks canine. But it's really out of character for a cat to extend them ..... especially on dirt and under no pressure.
Three 44s
GC
Well-known member
Mountain Lions are now well documented in Missouri. The fact we have lions in Missouri is not in question any longer. Funny thing is, one MDC official stated that our population was in part because of lions migrating north from west Texas and through Oklahoma and into the southern part of Missouri where they have expanded their population across the heavily forested rural southern tier. The Ozarks extend south into both Arkansas and a bit of Oklahoma, so why would the lions not roam there also?
bighornboy
New member
I noticed the claw marks in the second pic too. Also the first pic only has two lobes on the pad, characteristic of a canine
Yes on the claw marks ...... but I like to think of canine marks as toe nails and cats as claws.
Look closer at the marks in ArticT's second photo and then cross that with actual dog prints. Something is amiss to call those dog tracks right off the bat.
..... I am refering to location and distance from the toes and also the shape of the claw or toe nail marks. Those marks in picture #2 are sharp and extended.
And, though not practical to view a series of tracks rather than a single track with a picture there is no substitute "for being there" and looking at a good chunk of evidence to base a call on.
A big thank you is due to Yellowhammer of this board: Go to the Predator Biology section and click on the cougar info links that Yellowhammer has so dutifully posted there! About the middle of the Texas handbook are some great tracking sketches!
Best regards all
Three 44s
Look closer at the marks in ArticT's second photo and then cross that with actual dog prints. Something is amiss to call those dog tracks right off the bat.
..... I am refering to location and distance from the toes and also the shape of the claw or toe nail marks. Those marks in picture #2 are sharp and extended.
And, though not practical to view a series of tracks rather than a single track with a picture there is no substitute "for being there" and looking at a good chunk of evidence to base a call on.
A big thank you is due to Yellowhammer of this board: Go to the Predator Biology section and click on the cougar info links that Yellowhammer has so dutifully posted there! About the middle of the Texas handbook are some great tracking sketches!
Best regards all
Three 44s
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deputysam
New member
Have not made it out to that area but was re-routed by my youngest brother getting beat up and FINALLY deciding he needs help to get a gun for home defense and perhaps a good dog. But the biggest thing he needs to do is be careful about the company he keeps. Got him a 12 ga for the time being, but would like to make him a predator hunter to keep him occupied productively and use the time he now has since he retired. His face looks like somebody used it for a punching bag, which in fact they did. They could have killed him if they wanted to right in his living room. Talk about a long learning curve. I would have had him at least a good dog years ago if he'd heeded my recommendations. He'll have a reason to practice his basic shooting skills now!
deputysam
New member
Yesterday, I was out in the very area these tracks came from and also drove down through Red Rock Canyon State Park. This is classic terrain for mountain lions and those tracks are likely the real deal. High two/three story box canyons made out of sand stone/red rock and clear, clean water in the creeks and lakes. It looks like the place they keep the leopards in the OKC ZOO but without doors and high fences.
There are many deep caves in places up high in the walls of the box canyon areas. As I drove home, I saw a large bunch of sheep @ the fence just off I-40. Nearly every ranch and farm in the area has some livestock in it's inventory.
With as many different places well within range of a hunting mountain lion they should never lack for food and could hit many different places to avoid attracting negative attention, not that they would actually think like that but it could be that animals are a whole lot smarter/wiser than we have ever given them credit for.
Should be a very interesting year with a season on lions with only reasonable restrictions and requirements!
Sam III
There are many deep caves in places up high in the walls of the box canyon areas. As I drove home, I saw a large bunch of sheep @ the fence just off I-40. Nearly every ranch and farm in the area has some livestock in it's inventory.
With as many different places well within range of a hunting mountain lion they should never lack for food and could hit many different places to avoid attracting negative attention, not that they would actually think like that but it could be that animals are a whole lot smarter/wiser than we have ever given them credit for.
Should be a very interesting year with a season on lions with only reasonable restrictions and requirements!
Sam III
deputysam
New member
There are a goodly number of dogs out there @ the Caretakers house @ the entrance. Could be dogs but it still is a very close comparison. I'd hate to bet money I needed on it!
It's good to know there are a lot of other places not so far away that have more definitely seen mountain lions with better PROOF. By the way, did you know that the only way you can be sure you have a genuine Army Infantry Officer Sword is by two things: one, a six pointed star either etched or stamped on the blade near the handle, and two, the word PROVED in about the same place.
The number to call in Oklahoma if you take a mountain lion is 405-521-3719.
Good hunting!
Sam III
It's good to know there are a lot of other places not so far away that have more definitely seen mountain lions with better PROOF. By the way, did you know that the only way you can be sure you have a genuine Army Infantry Officer Sword is by two things: one, a six pointed star either etched or stamped on the blade near the handle, and two, the word PROVED in about the same place.
The number to call in Oklahoma if you take a mountain lion is 405-521-3719.
Good hunting!
Sam III