TRUE OR FALSE

[Fridaythe13th]

Last year one member of our group left camp 10 min. before the rest of us. We got a half mile down the trail there was cat tracks on top of his boot tracks following him, we knew they were his boot tracks because it rained the night before and it was the only boot track on the trail. True or false cats are less likely to attack in state were they are hunted vs. the state that don't hunt them. Should we have been a little more worried.

[Swede]

There are a myriad of factors to consider, and I have read no studies on this, but I would say yes to your question. Cat populations are reduced to healthy sustainable levels where cats are effectively hunted. The cats are territorial and must spread out to forage. Younger cats and old ones are not as effective as hunters, and might be more tempted to have you for dinner where other food is scarce. That said: just go hunting and don't worry.

[JJ Overkill]

this happened to me a few years back. I made a big circle and when I got back to my starting point I noticed cat tracks on my tracks in the fresh snow. lets put it this way, I started looking behind me and must have looked like a bobble head. it made me a touch unnerved. im sure cats have seen me and I had no idea they where there. cats are just one reason I carry a side arm.

as far as your question, I don't know if there is a difference in attacks when comparing hunted and non hunted cats

[JGH]

I would suspect that the chance of running into an aggressive lion would have more to do with opportunities for the lion ...

If prey is limited, or if there is high competition for the prey, I'm sure both of those would convince a lion to try something more risky.

I would suspect that it'd take a very high hunting pressure to convince them to run away.

[Indian Summer]

I've had cat tracks in my boot tracks several times. My brother heard a twig snap behind him several times one night and about died when he turned around after a loud one only to see the cat about 15 feet away and coming kinda quick. it was pitch black out and he had a headlamp on and already had his pistol out because he said he knew he had heard something. He says he didn't even aim but fired about 4 or 6 rounds "that way" and ran as fast as he could. He's paranoid of lions. Oh yeah... he had an elk quarter on his back. I guess that's a pertinent piece of info to the story. but in the Bitterroot as I'm sure in most places... they usually run the other way as fast as they can.

To answer the question though: I don't think I've heard more stories of lion attacks from California than anywhere hands down so I'd say yes.

[JohnFitzgerald]

In Oregon we can hunt lions. I've had encounters where the cats show no fear of humans. Be careful but not concerned and do not let the young-ens venture off too far.

[WapitiTalk1]

Like I've said before, if you see a big cat while in the back country, scratch your finger on a log and call 'kitty, kitty, kitty'. When he comes in bonk him on the head. For wolves? Whistle, throw a stick and say 'go get it boy'! When he brings it back , bonk him on the head . Seriously, I think big cats, particularly young ones can be very curious. ML's (IMHO) deserve a wide berth if seen (regardless of state). That's a nasty big, lightning fast, clawed critter to have a confrontation with. If seen before they see me, I make sure they know I'm there. I've had them on my snow tracks also. I guess I should carry some pouched kitty treats

[bnsafe]

I read an article a few years ago that cat attacks went way up a couple years after California stopped hunting. so yes I think if they arnt hunted they lose there fear. jmo with no science behind it

[Ghost]

" but in the Bitterroot as I'm sure in most places... they usually run the other way as fast as they can." I for one approve of this message lol

[jmez]

I don't think that they are more likely to attack in places where they aren't hunted. They are just like a house cat, very curios and inquisitive. They don't attack people very often.

In SD we have seen it first hand. Our population was very high a few years ago and no hunting allowed. There were numerous sightings and no attacks. We now have a season and have gotten the population in check, far less sightings and still no attacks.

If there are cat tracks over yours, the cat had no intention of attacking you.

[Deafirishman]

I am a member of Fridaythe13th's hunting group and I must add this is very useful information here. I, on the other hand, am deaf so I usually don't carry the fear of being attacked by a cat or bear simply because if they are stalking behind me and decide to attack me, it'll be too late to draw a pistol on them. Putting a little humor into the situation With that being said, the last thing I worry about is being attacked by a cat or bear, it helps me enjoy the hunt more !!

[JGH]

If there are more attacks in California (and I think that's true, but I have no data) ... my guess that it would be because there are more lions and more people there.

The number of lion/human interactions in WY might be real low, but that's because there aren't very many people to attack here! Heck, if lions around here had to eat people, they'd have a pretty hard time once the easier ones got eaten!

California's lion problems, I would guess, are due to a large number of lions (a result of no hunting) but I doubt it changed lion behavior. Just put a bunch of immature lions in an area with a lot of people who like suburban jogging trails and ... is anyone surprised?

[bowgy]

Approximately one person or fewer is killed in the US by a mountain lion each year and many of them are young ( small ) and they run from the cat. On the other hand over 20 people are killed by cattle and 22 by horses. Doing the math it's at least 22 times more dangerous riding a horse into camp than wandering around the woods where cougars live!

[JGH]

bowgy ... as a horseman, I have ... agree. They're at least as dangerous as ATVs.

Good thing they don't keep track of accidental firearm deaths, though! Put one of them on a horse or ATV and you've got real trouble!

[zpd307]

I carry a pistol also.... I don't know if my paranoia is warranted though. out in Utah I saw a dead mule deer doe at the base of the mountain. I hunted all day and when I came back down it was gone. I had also come across several eating sites of dead mulies. it was dark and I will admit that I was on edge... I have also cut cat tracks and clawing trees in Colorado. I have yet to see or hear one.

[Fridaythe13th]

Thank you for the reply, We did not worry and had fun hunting. One of the group make the comment the only attack was in states that cats were not hunted. Just wanted see what you thought.

[ishy]

I've been stalked and never saw the cat in Utah when I was 14 and covered in Deer scent and dropped into a deep canyon alone. My dad yelled at it when I was back up where he saw me and the cat...not sure if it would have progressed to anything more. Then in Idaho shot one at 20 yards while elk hunting. It was a seven yr old female in perfect health. Again not sure if it was going to take it farther, but I didn't wait to find out with a tag in my pocket. It didn't blink while I moved around, she was locked onto my brother. I think she knew he was the easier of us to catch and has more to eat on him.
Like above, doubt hunting makes much difference, you can always run into any predator when its having a bad day. Extremely unlikely but possible.