I'm still giving thought to a 2006 Mt. Lion hunt and have been thinking about going the archery route. I've got a Wes Wallace takedown recuve I bought a few years back and just haven't made the time to learn to shoot it, but I'd like to. So, I'm thinking a Mt. Lion hunt would be the perfect motivational tool to get me started. On the plus side, the bow is light and its a takedown so it'd be easy to fit in a small backpack. Also I think there would a huge cool factor in taking a Lion with a recurve. On the down side, even though I've taken a few deer and a black bear with a compound bow, I've never shot a recurve much. Then again I've got a whole year to practice and it gives me a goal to work towards. Any thoughts, tips or suggestions? Any idea what the shooting range could be? I'm guessing I should spend some time shooting up into a target in a tree. Anyone taken a Lion with a bow.

BTT

May I recommend using a revolver instead? With a good holster, it will be easier to climb and run, and you don't have as big a deflection issue.

George

I guided for an outfitter in northwestern Colorado for about 10 years. We had hunters use rifle, handgun, and bow for mountain lion. Some of the cleanest kills I saw were made by bowhunters, but the biggest mess we ever had with a wounded lion was also caused by a bowhunter. Your outfitter will not be happy if his dogs have to chase a wounded lion with the arrow still in it. I have also seen handgunners botch the shot and cause the lion to jump the tree and start the chase again. Use the tool you feel is appropriate, but really know how to use it.

Shots at a lion in a big ponderosa or spruce can be tricky due to branches in the way, and the lion can be quite a ways up the tree. Shots can be quite easy if you get the lion treed in a small pinyon. If you decide to use a bow, practice nearly vertical shots.

My personal preference is a Contender with a 2X scope. It is relatively easy to carry in a shoulder holster, and you can easily make a shot high into a tall tree.

Enjoy your hunt. Mountain lion hunting can be physically demanding due to the country you may walk into and the deep snow. The chase can be really exciting. Turning the dogs onto a track is also no guarantee you will ever see the lion. The shot at the end of the hunt is much less exciting than the chase.

Re> using a takedown recurve for mountain lion

mark65x55-
well I noticed that my posts to your question were deleted in the change-over ??

anyhow I will repeat the thread links

this is the link to my practice range at the house

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=518103&f=1021043&m=859108631

this is what's left of the thread that discussed/argued shooting up or down hill
this is the link to the old thread

http://www.accuratereloading.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=805350&an=0&page=1#805350

and this is from the new forum

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=518103&f=1021043&m=985105641
https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=518103&f=1021043&m=808101831

You commented that you liked the gap marks on the back of my practice/teaching bow
in the photos from my home practice range- you're going to love this next link

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=518103&f=1021043&m=827109161

Again, Jack, thanks for the link. I do have another question. While using this sight system do you cant your bow when shooting?

quote:

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Originally posted by mark65x55:
Again, Jack, thanks for the link. I do have another question. While using this sight system do you cant your bow when shooting?

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No- When I sight- my eye is just to the left of the string. I let the string run up and down the back of the riser window where the marks are and let them be in my peripheral vision. I focus down the shaft to make sure my left to right is correct and I just use the marks for elevation.

If you cant the bow left the arrow will hit left and the same if you cant to the right.
In freestyle target archery where we use scopes and levels we will cant the upper limb a little left or right to compensate for a crosswind. Learning how much to cant for how much wind on an open target range is a matter of experience.
I have never had to cant a hunting bow for a crosswind shot. 90%+ of my bow kills have been inside of 20 yards and a crosswind at that distance with a bow of hunting weight would have no effect.