Ya' never know what's up there.

[SnowCrow]

Mom and two young cubs taken from the front deck .
Folks not familiar with the outdoors often think there are no big cats around until they show up on their surveillance cameras
Out here the saying is “ if you see mule deer , you’ve got lions “

Forgot to include the pic

 

[appalichian hunter]

There out there, some folks just deny the fact. Spend enough time in the woods and you will be amazed at what's there.

 

[bronko220002]

Meow!..
View attachment 192421

Nope I disagree. Definitely a dog/canine.
I don't care what the PGC says. There are too many reports of avid outdoorsmen that state they saw a cougar. I know a cougar from a bobcat or house cat.
Although I've never seen a cougar in PA I have seen bobcats. And I know there are many coyotes around. I see the tracks all the time in the snow but I've only seen 2 in my 55+ years of hunting. And I ain't a bad hunter. I kill a couple deer every year and I've taken 4 bear in PA.

 

[DCAN]

I used to have to handle the phone calls from folks who were sure they had seen a cougar in their yard. Sometimes they'd ask how to know for sure it was a cougar. I'd tell them to throw a tennis ball at it. If it brings it to you, it's your neighbors yellow lab. If not, well then maybe it was a cougar.

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

Nope I disagree. Definitely a dog/canine.
I don't care what the PGC says. There are too many reports of avid outdoorsmen that state they saw a cougar. I know a cougar from a bobcat or house cat.
Although I've never seen a cougar in PA I have seen bobcats. And I know there are many coyotes around. I see the tracks all the time in the snow but I've only seen 2 in my 55+ years of hunting. And I ain't a bad hunter. I kill a couple deer every year and I've taken 4 bear in PA.

There was always Bob Cat bouncing around in Sussex. Very private Animals though...

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

That was a great write up by the OP

 

[bronko220002]

That was a great write up by the OP

Well depending on the conditions I can see where a heavier animal can make some noise over ice crusted snow. But living in PA also, on fresh snow or wet snow on wet leaves you can't even hear a deer walking let alone a cougar with padded paws designed for stalking. Like I said I do believe there is a strong argument for cougars in PA as well as one against them being here. The OP's thread has enough doubt in it to be questionable.

 

[Freedom]

Nope I disagree. Definitely a dog/canine.

It doesn't matter if you "agree", it doesn't change the fact. That is a lion track in the picture. It was a lioness and two cubs. And there was a Tom following them, I'm dead nuts positive because the houndsman treed and killed the Tom.

I was a professional fur trapper and animal damage control specialist for over a decade. I have no idea how many lions I've seen.... but it's a lot!

Tracks can be deceiving that's for sure, but this one was a lion.

There was lion this morning less than 300 yards from my house. After the snow storm, last night a bobcat, a mountain lion, and two coyotes came through my front yard.... but I guess it's fair to say that my cabin is right in "their" front yard.

 

[Freedom]

I used to have to handle the phone calls from folks who were sure they had seen a cougar in their yard. Sometimes they'd ask how to know for sure it was a cougar. I'd tell them to throw a tennis ball at it. If it brings it to you, it's your neighbors yellow lab. If not, well then maybe it was a cougar.

That's funny!
When I fed winter elk on the Gros Ventre River, east of Jackson Hole Wyoming ,all the snowmobile tours got to see a mountain lion in real life and go home to tell about it! My feed ground manager got wind of it, and came up to see me on snowmobile and said "Have you been seeing a mountain lion?" I said, yeah he's laying right at your feet!... my golden lab.

 

[ColonialRifleSmith]

Meow!..
View attachment 192421

I like it!! Semper Fi.

 

[SOLANCO]

Hey Colonial just ask the Game Commission there are no cougars, mountain lions, or pumas in Pennsyltucky!

LOL PGC would not dream of admitting a species which would increase their work load.

 

[Steve Wagner]

Well, it's nice to be nice, but where I live, if a lion is stalking you and especially if it gets those 'happy feet' that cats get before pouncing, game wardens recommend immediate, violent action. When mountain lions lock on to a person they have usually made up their minds that you are on the menu and diplomacy is not what they recommend for changing that desire. Bears get curious, angry etc and may do bluff charges. Not cougars. This has happened to several people I know and it took physical contact to break off the encounter. In one case, dirt was blown all over the cat w a large pistol round and it kept coming. 2nd shot was a hit and the cat left. The person involved called FWP and they assured him that he took the necessary action. Even w black bears, if it is a boar that has not been startled but seems to be stalking, they no longer recommend diplomacy. Grizzlies ? Only 2 things God doesn't know-what's in a woman's purse and what's on a grizzlies mind. Personally, for purposes of self preservation, I consider 'bluff charges' by any critter that can eat me to be pure myth. I did tolerate them from a couple of different moose. Not sure I would again. 3 might be less than a charm. SW

 

[Steve Wagner]

BTW, I am not going to weigh in on the present track debate, but I see a lot of bear, wolf, coyote, cougar and bobcat [or lynx] tracks where I live. In good, fresh powdery snow, the cats will always leave a fur circle around their tracks while wolves, coyotes and dogs do not. Canine tracks will go deeper and be the size of just the paw. Chorizo's bobcat track is a good example of this. Also, if the powder has a bit of depth w an underlying base, the cats will tend to stay on top. If the snow is deep enough, a lion can leave a tail drag. Not so much for coyotes or wolves. Of course, never for bobcats. Finding the claws in canine tracks can sometimes be really tough-especially in degraded [old or melted] snow, or if the beasts have been running at a good clip. They fill in. My oldest brother is an expert cat hunter and can tell what he is seeing as he drives down the road in fresh snow. He looks for that circle 1st. Then some other signs as discussed. If a set of tracks takes off on top of skinny, snow covered blow downs it's not a wolf, coyote or a lion. Got bobcat written all over it. Be ready for a long day and some beat up dogs. Those suckers are endurance champs. SW

 

[TFoley]

OK. If that is what you saw.

Well, proof of the pudding would be to see the critter that was making the paw prints actually standing in 'em. I'll be truthful and say that seeing prints like those is about as near as I'd ever want to be to something that made 'em.

 

[BillyC]

1965 and I'm going to forestry college 13 miles north of Saranac Lake, NY. Many village people saw a Cougar or as they called it a Mountain Lion, going through the town. These folks knew what they were seeing and the DEC denied it was possible. I trapped Mink back then and only got $8 a pelt, old memories.

$8 was good money back then. Today you would be lucky to get $8 for a mink

 

[oldwood]

Any more , I go well armed into the back woods. You never know what two legged , or four legged predators , could cause you a problem. A local farmer was attacked by a bear , next to one of his fields. He survived , but had a lengthy recovery. I want no part of anything like that.

 

[SOLANCO]

Any more , I go well armed into the back woods. You never know what two legged , or four legged predators , could cause you a problem. A local farmer was attacked by a bear , next to one of his fields. He survived , but had a lengthy recovery. I want no part of anything like that.

Bear could be a problem. But I am a lot more leery of two legged, walking upright animals. Frankly, if I spot them first I go to ground and keep a handgun front sight on them til they are gone.

 

[SOLANCO]

I think we all have some healthy skepticism on the veracity of our respective Fish/Game/Natural Resources departments. They, as institutions go, are an insular lot, many thinking they "know what's best" while discounting the public and they all play "I've got a secret" at the championship levels.

I will provide another anecdotal story...in the late 70's in Eastern Idaho, "before" the grey wolf was officially recognized as introduced, one of our sheep herders killed three very large, very black and very hungry skinny wolves over a dead sheep wolf kill. My Dad dutifully called the Idaho F&G when he got to town and reported the 3 killed wolves and the repeated by several official's response was "those are coyotes or dogs. There are no wolves in Idaho" My Dad, frustrated, said wisely, "OK, well I have them in the back of my truck and I am heading over to the local newspaper and TV station. You can find me there." That they did and snatched up the three carcasses quickly, but not before the newspaper snapped a few pictures. Quite the stink for a while, with F&G finally admitting they were collaborating with the Feds on reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone, that had yet to be publicly announced.

It appears that these three were roaming juvenile wolves, not introduced. Yet if they hadn't been trying to play "I've got a secret" there would not have been the stink that came of it that there was.

I love it when bureaucrats step on their own *******.

 

[Bad Karma]

Tasted lion one time....kind of like rabbit. Didn't make a habit out of it, especially when I had thousands of lamb chops at my disposal.

Old Spanish saying: "Gato por liebre" (cat for rabbit) Means when somebody is trying to pull the old switcheroo deception on you.

A good friend of mine and his son were lion hunters. I never did hunt them though I’d kill them if they showed interest in calves. Anyway, Frank always had a freezer full of the stuff since very few of the ”sports” are interested in eating lion. I think it’s delicious, fair tender, mild flavor, the other, other white meat. It’s obviously leaner than pork but anyone who can produce decent pork chops would be able to manage some fine table fare with lion chops. (Hint, cut them thick!) slather with Mustard, salt, pepper, crushed garlic, and a bit of chipotle, marinade a minimum of 4 hours, 24 is better. Sear on a hot skillet or coals, flipping twice until the thermometer registers 130 degrees. Enjoy!

WRT lion attacks, I’ve lived most of my life in some of the best lion habitat in the lower 48. Folks used to run sheep in our local counties numbering a quarter million or more every summer so yeah, we had lions and lots of them. I don’t doubt I’ve been followed by lions hundreds of times, they’re extremely curious like any cat, but for the most part don’t seem interested in pursuing people and once they know you know they’re there will typically leave quietly. Two exceptions I am personally aware of. In both instances the humans were hunting elk and using cow calls. I’m certain the lions involved didn’t know they were attacking humans until they began to fight back. Also, both hunters were lucky enough to not be killed by the first bite. My brother killed a beautiful cinnamon phase sow that was stalking him as he was working on a nice bull. He shot her with his recurve at less than 7 yards and he was damn lucky to sense her as she closed on him.

 

[stikshooter]

Good story. I'm glad you gave him the opportunity to live.. IMPO many animals are killed needlessly in the name of self defense. I've had a long life, much of it spent in the woods and have had some scary encounters with brown bears in Alaska, back bears here in the east, gators, hogs and panthers in my home state, Florida, and have never felt the need to kill anything.
I took a visitor out to a swamp noted for its black bear population which was making him very nervous. I told him, "Don't worry, I've got my .45" His reply, "Yeah, but I know you won't shoot a bear." True.

Nope just the guy hiking with you ,in the leg cause the hopping distracts them !/Ed