Mountain Lion populations in East TN

FordTruckGuySTX

FordTruckGuySTX

New member
Just wondering if anyone has any idea on this, I doubt the dnr would make mention of this and several officers i've talked to said there were no lions anywhere around TN. Any of you had any good encounters with them around here? I personally have two lions located within about 15 miles from my home that seem to keep within a range. If I could get the picture from my phone on here it'd be nice to show the tracks from the big cat on one of the WMAs but dang that thing is one big ol kitty cat. I've been tempted to try to call one of them in. I've noticed also in these locations coyotes are few and far between. I've been waiting to catch one of the TWRA guys out and talk to him some about it and see some other thoughts or stories. My cousin claims to have saw the smaller of the two I know of while deer hunting a couple times.
 
If you've seen it, then I can't argue. But I have hunted all over east Tn for most of my 52 years, and I have ONLY ONCE seen a "cougar" or whatever you want to call it. Outside of that one time, I have never seen tracks. I find it very, very hard to believe that they are actually here in any "numbers". An occassional one, once every 10 or so years, maybe. But that would be it.

The one that I saw (Yes, I saw it for about 5 minutes) was on the west side of Monteagle mountain on the old Clyde Carter property near Cowan, TN. (several thousand acres of wilderness) I watched it from a tree stand for 5 or so minutes. That night when we left the area and stopped at the TWRA checking station, I meekly mentioned it to the warden. He laughed and told me that several people had reported it also. He looked at me and said, "You were hunting in the Sinking Cove area, huh?". And I was. So it was a "confirmed" sighting by more than one person.

What part of east TN are you in?
 
Get us some pics man! I would be MOST excited to know those things are here. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

You are right in the middle of some good WMAs....Chuck Swan, Catoosa........I'm guessing Catoosa was the region you saw this?
 
That's really a surprise with all the motorcycle and ATV traffic in there. I understand that they ride that area pretty heavily. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif

Well, if you get to see it, I can guarantee you that it will be something that you will never forget. I had my encounter in 1980, and I remember it as vividly as the day it happened. Something about being alone in the woods with something that could see you as dinner......... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Be SURE to let us know if you see anything. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
well yes that area around peabody sees alot of traffic but the other lion is in a very high traffic area. however he seems to stay back in some very very thick pine cover a good ways above the road. but i think in a week or two I may see if i can do some calling. worst case i might pick up a bob kitty or yote.
 
they had a sighting here in vt around avrill lake
a few years back.A person thought he saw 3 cougars .
They tracked the cats(snow) and found some scat .After sending it
off to utah for dna analysis they determined that it was indeed Felis Concolor. Most dnr depts will pass these sightings off as released pets ..although i would like to believe there are native populations here in the east other than the florida panther(subspecies).
 
The DNR knows they are here. It will just cost them money to acknowledge it. Then they would have to start another endangered speices program and they don't want to spend the buck$. It's all about the money.
 
Weedwalker.
That is probably the best explaination I have heard on the subject.Probably the same thing with wolf sightings.
I know in vt the mt lion has the status of endangered.
You can not shoot them. Why would they bother to include them
in the State game laws if they were not here.
Vermont lists them as catagory s1 which means
according to the website that there are fewer than 3 or four sightings a year.. In danger of being extirpated.
Maybe some day i will be fortunate enough to see one in the wild.
 
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back in 2000, there was a cougar killed right over the state line in GA, south of Benton TN.
They had that all over the news and in the papers.



Naw, it wasn't a cougar......it was the escaped Clemson mascot that made it's way across the mountain.....

61752.jpg


Just kidding, Mark. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif You're correct, I remember that happening. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif



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