Mt Lion tracking me!!

SaffordHunter

SaffordHunter

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I was out calling this morning. About 3 minutes into my first set, it sounded promising. 3 seperate coyotes were challange barking back at me. Then it all abruptly stopped. I went on to do 3 more sets about a half mile between each and not a peep of anything! On my way back, I noticed this track following mine between my first and second sets (almost a half mile!) This cat was stalking me...

That is the right front paw. And no, I do not shoot slugs! I happened to have one in my coveralls so I grabbed it for a reference...
 
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I cant prove that ever happened to me but on one stand up in the mountains, I walked a mile out and on the way back I cut fresh lion tracks in the snow. I don't think the were there when I walk out to call, I think I would have seen them. I have had bobcat track on top of my tracks, Though I never saw the cat it came up to 25 yards in a blind spot.

Cool stuff. Makes you think!

It is too bad you did not see him, the coyotes saw the lion. I wonder how often this sort of thing happens. I a sure it it more than we think.

I called a coyote into 15 yards right in front of my buddy who was the shooter. He never saw the coyote even though it was not in thick cover, when it got down wind of him I shot it. He walk up to me and said, "you did not scare me" thinking the shot was a trick I was playing. I did not say anything, I just walk over and pick up the dead coyote not 25 yards from where he was sitting. The look on his face was priceless, especially when I showed him its tracks.

I know that I miss seeing them more than I would like.
 
Sorry about the double post not sure how that happened but each toe on a domestic dog track has a toe nail in the snow and in mud.
 
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Happens to a lot of people up here. the state record lion was killed while
trying to pounce on a bird hunter, shotgun won the day. Everyone say's it
stands the hair on their necks up when a lion's stalking them, How close
where the tracks to your last stand?
 
roughly 75 yards. Real thich brush on the foothills of a mountain...You can only see 40-50 yards through that brush...

I would not say it is a large cat, but I will be back that way again. I wish I knew someone who had trained dogs! lol
 
Had a cougar stalk me last month and attack my beagle. I think the dog baying was like a predator call.

I only hunt alone. I'm very worried about calling in cougars and bears or just running into them while rabbit and upland hunting. Should be getting a 10mm glock for my B-day in april to carry as a sidearm. If I have a shotgun or rifle i'd use that first but if you read about it most attacks happen so fast the animal is eating you before you know it is too close to use your long gun effectively. I suggest you pack a sidearm and go with a friend if you can.
 
Good point! I was/alway am over-prepared! I carry a Mossberg 12 gauge, a Reminton 700 in .243 (6-24 scope) slung across my back in case I am presented with a long range shot and a Springfield XD .45 on my waist...
 
Originally Posted By: cetWith cat tracks you can't draw an "X" across the track without touching the toe pads or the heel pad. It looks like in your pic you can... http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n26/cet15/2a.jpg[/img]]

Sorry for my poor Paint skills!

With that being said its sometimes difficult to tell just by looking at a picture, especially a track in loose soil. You definately had a better view!

Hey, I don't claim to be an expert. Only thing I fall back on is all dogs have visible claws. All the other track in that soil, you could see claws. Definetly retracted claws...If not lion, maybe a large bobcat???

[url=http://www.predatormastersforums.com/bobcat.shtml t=_blank]http://www.predatormastersforums.com/bobcat.shtml[/url]
 
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I'm still going with dog of some sort could be coyote, could be domestic.

Visual claw marks is generally not the best characteristic to make judgement from. Cat tracks can have claw marks visual in muddy soil and I've seen coyote tracks that didn't have claw marks. Domestic dogs that have had there claws trimmed or a dog that runs on streets or concrete alot will have worn there claws down and won't leave claw marks in their tracks.

Also, the outer toes of canines point outward, while the toes of cat tracks all point in the same direction (see pic). The top image is a cat track while the bottom is a coyote.

I don't mean to argue, I was just looking at track characteristics and giving my opinion (which isn't much!)

3a.jpg


4a.jpg
 
It does look a little bit canine, but it's hard to tell. Way too big to be an AZ coyote I think. I've seen Cougar tracks where the toes seem to radiate around the back pad a little, but usually they're stacked out in front a bit.

If you're in good tracking conditions (mud or snow or wet sand, etc.) lots of times you'll find an odd looking track right in amongst the "normal" looking tracks. different ground, or an odd step or something like that.

Without seeing other tracks in its trail there's no telling. It's hard to determine from that one track.

Cougars will follow your trail, often it's habit or curiosity, more than threat. But sometimes they're stalking. Anyone who's spent any time in Lion country has had it happen to them, but very few actually realize it... by finding the track or jumping the cat when they turn around.

Switch the e-call to RS Cougar CFPC at the end of your stand and find out!
 
I have one question. I can't tell if that is a cat track or not. It's been too long since I've been out west. But why is the image reversed? The name on the shell is backwards. That makes me think the image has been doctered. I'm not trying to start an argument, just pointing out something I see.
 
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