I'm heading to Colorado Springs at the end of the month for a conference. I may extend my stay and hunt mountain lion. I just spoke with the outfitter last night and he said if conditions are favorable, we could do a 4 day hunt. He also stated that the way things have been going, he's confident his dogs could tree a cat in a couple days.

I've never lion hunted before. My first instinct is to take my bow but 3 friends stated that they couldn't get a shot on some big cats because of all the branches and wished they had brought a pistol or rifle.

This is a no brainer on distance, so I was thinking of taking the good old .06 with some 180's or one of my 270s with a 150.

Anyone kill a cat at close range or have any advice?

Personally, I'd take my 41 magnum. The '06 will obviously work fine. I killed one several years ago with the 41 and it was fine. I have a 2x4 scope on it.

If it's rough country it's much easier to pack a handgun since the dogs will tree the cat. Big bore does make a difference ,41 mag, 44 mag, 45 colt .

I agree with mete. Lion country is rough by nature and lugging a heavy rifle around is not going to be pleasant or convenient if you need both hands and balance to climb up to where the cat is treed. I carried a .45 cal Ruger Old Army revolver.

Best,

John

I took my old model 94 30-30 out of retirement for my cougar hunt.Damage to the hide was minimal and it was easier to carry than my other rifles while moving quickly through the trees.I rigged my saddle scabbard with shoulder straps to make it even easier to carry.

I think I'd take a bow and a pistol, then let the terrain dictate what you carry on the chase. I really want to shoot one with a bow too, so I'd probably carry it with the pistol strapped on just in case. That's extra weight, but it sure would be a hoot to take one with a bow!

Hey Doc, If you have a 357Mag or a 44Mag, either would do right well. No doubt the 41Mag will too, but I've not killed anything with one of them.

Be a good excuse to get a Revolver if you do not already have one.

Good luck on the hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by stubblejumper:
I took my old model 94 30-30 out of retirement for my cougar hunt.Damage to the hide was minimal and it was easier to carry than my other rifles while moving quickly through the trees.I rigged my saddle scabbard with shoulder straps to make it even easier to carry.

And this is good advice to the lion hunters.

Before the do-right-daddy communistnazis of Kalifornia banned mountain lion hunting in that State (1972), I had a friend who was a professional lion/bear guide there. He killed quite a few treed mountains lions with a Ruger Single Six in .22 Magnum.

He told me that when dudes... uh, I mean, "clients" asked what pistol to bring to use on lions, he advised a good .357 Magnum.

Both the .22 Mag. and the .357 Mag. worked quite well on those big kitties.

He said too, that one of the best rifles in the world for a treed mountain lion was the good ol' .30-30 with receiver sights.

FWIW. L.W.

Well I appreciate all the feedback. Unfortunately, I sold my 44 a few months ago. I'll talk to the outfitter tonight and see what kind of terrain we'll be in.

My .06 is quite a light rifle. It has a 22" fluted bbl. I'm leaning towards it.

Doc,

Your '06 is fine but somethig along the lines of a '94 Winchester would be just the ticket. I used a 1920's vintage '94 in 32 Special and it worked perfect. The factory 170 gr. entered the brisket and did not exit but wrecked the heart. A bow will work but as your friends suggested the cat may tree where there are so many branches that a shot is not possible.

Mark

I'd REALLY want to use my bow but I just cannot take it. I don't own a pistol, and I don't have anything other than the 270 or .06....but like previously mentioned, maybe I'll just have to get a pistol again. It's only money, right?

Doc-

You might want to try some of the reduced recoil/velocity loads if you bring your '06. If you can put the shot in lengthwise, it should help minimize the pelt damage.

Pete

Mountain Lion? Are they dangerous?

I've heard 357 works great, and, since I'm into over kill, 45/454 is for me.

22 lr may work, I suspect 30-06 and 375 H&H, with the right, soft, light bullets might work as well.


What would you shoot a house cat with?

gs

Lots of good suggestions, another good candidate would be a Marlin 336 in 35 remington. They beat me to the punch with the Mod '94 30-30.

.500 Nitro Double, Just agreeing with the others,Handgun-.41 mag. or the 30-30. I prefer the 30-30! But usually carry both just for the hell of it.

A spear........

IV

How about an atlatl?

Doc I hunted in south central BC with Darrel Schneider not quite 10 years ago and used a custom Sako in 7.62 X 39 with 150 grain Ballistic tips. Most any thing works when the range is short, and placement is spot on.

I spent about 10 years guiding for an outfitter in northwestern Colorado and saw quite a few mountain lions killed. They die quickly with a good shot, whether from a bow or bullet, but a lion can cover a lot of ground after a poor shot. I think a T/C Contender or Encore with a low-powered scope is about ideal. It is easy to carry, and the scope makes it easier to get a bullet in through branches if the cat is up high in a big tree. Penetration is often a lot less than you would expect from a deer of the same weight. Their muscle tissue seems to slow a bullet down quick. The only lion I took myself was with a Contender in 7-30 Waters with a 140 gr. Nosler Partition. It was in the crotch of a big pinyon pine, and I put the bullet into it from the front inside the shoulder. I don't know how far it went lengthwise into the lion - we could not find the bullet. He died instantly.

That is some of the most physically demanding hunting I have done. If you are in good shape you will enjoy the hunt more.

NULA 7mm08/160gn all up weight 6lb, and a 6" mildly loaded 454 Casull Model 83, or Model 97 small frame .41 magnum FreedomArms for the fun of it. Just having such a nice revolver on you gives you pleasure, plus it gives you the option of trying something different if you choose. That small frame 41 is alittle gem.