Cougars in WNY

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ninthinning

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A couple weeks ago my wife's girl friend's son gave us a picture of a mountain lion that had been hit and killed on Rt 39 near Arcade, NY. I saw the photo and still had my doubts, until last night. My son and his brother in law were calling coyotes when they saw a cougar. Now I am convinced they are living in western New York. Has anyone else heard of or seen any of these animals?
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Should be easy to find some tracks in the snow. That would be real proof. There are sightings all over the east,but hard evidence is always lacking. What happened to that roadkill ??
 
I got an Email from my boss of a cougar hit by a car in Buffalo last week too. Funny thing was it landed on the tail gate of a truck that had two hound boxes in the bed and the cat had this funny red stain on it's neck...

Like Masshunter said, hard evidence is always lacking, but based on the number of 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Aunt's brother's best friend's daughters accounts I've heard this year, it must have been a bumper crop for cougars in NYS this year. maybe next year I can draw a tag.
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I thought since Cougars are not in NY they cannot be considered a game species and therefor have no hunting regulations. I believe the same is true to Ferule Hogs in Western,PA and Southern Tier, NY so they can be killed without breaking the law. Because there isn't one!
 
I don't know about your particular state, however many game regulations tell you what you CAN do, instead of what you CANNOT do. That way in case it isn't spelled out specifically in the regulations it is illegal - period. It is called a permissive code. Might be worth checking before you shoot something that you maybe aren't supposed to.
 
Originally Posted By: MathewshooterI would think that if they were about to attack you then you could shoot them and claim self defense.

I know from personal experience growing up in the Northwest that Alaska and Northwestern game authorities are very, very good at forensically investigating claims of shooting a large game animal for self defense. Any false claims are harshly dealt with. Even is the shoot is legit they do not allow you to keep any part of the animal. I'd guess NY authorities also have that ability.

The game laws are there for a reason and should be obeyed 100%. If there are starting to be cougars repopulating NY, then the thing to do is to discuss this with Game Dept biologists and then work within the system to encourage a season when the population supports it.

 
Dont worry about the rules regarding if you can shoot a mountain lion in New York.....first reason to this would be, we DONT have any here..so you surely will never see one...people should just drop this subject entirely...
 
Originally Posted By: NY Yote28Dont worry about the rules regarding if you can shoot a mountain lion in New York.....first reason to this would be, we DONT have any here..so you surely will never see one...people should just drop this subject entirely...


very well put, i agree 100%.
 
One got hit on rt 42 near me this year. DEC came and took everything and claimed it was a no longer wanted pet. Call it fake, say it's staged, or what ever you might want but this is the second time in the last 6 years I've seen big cat tracks were I hunt deer. I took this pic during this deer season. In the cat track is a .270 case for size referance.
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NY Dec says they don't exist here so how can you get in trouble for shooting something that does'nt exist?lol oh I forgot this is NY.Have heard several reports over the years from good sources,[adks]Personally have seen tracks recently the size of my fist,[I have a big mit] in the fort anne area[washington co.Acouple yrs ago saw a trail cam photo of one not to far from the track,but the pic could have been from anywhere.PK
 
Originally Posted By: RazorsedgeOne got hit on rt 42 near me this year. DEC came and took everything and claimed it was a no longer wanted pet. Call it fake, say it's staged, or what ever you might want but this is the second time in the last 6 years I've seen big cat tracks were I hunt deer. I took this pic during this deer season. In the cat track is a .270 case for size referance.
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Razorsedge I'm not sure this is a cat track, not trying to stir the pot but I would'nt call this evidence just yet.
 
Just asked an ECO.They're considered an endangered species,thus they are protected.Still funny to me that they won't acknowledge them being in NY
 
Originally Posted By: NY Yote28Originally Posted By: RazorsedgeOne got hit on rt 42 near me this year. DEC came and took everything and claimed it was a no longer wanted pet. Call it fake, say it's staged, or what ever you might want but this is the second time in the last 6 years I've seen big cat tracks were I hunt deer. I took this pic during this deer season. In the cat track is a .270 case for size referance.
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Razorsedge I'm not sure this is a cat track, not trying to stir the pot but I would'nt call this evidence just yet.

I was wondering how you could tell that was a cat track also?
 
CG, NY Yote, You could see the detail better but it didn't come out that great in the pic. It was still early in the morning. I'm not saying it's a cougar as a few trappers over the years have gotten 50 lb bobcats around there which would make a track that big. The track I imagine would be kinda small for a cougar, but alot of people around here that don't even know each other are saying that they are seeing large cats.
 
Originally Posted By: ninthinning My son and his brother in law were calling coyotes when they saw a cougar. Thats why you shouldn't drink and hunt.
 
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