Need Lion Help

[Huntrgathr]

Long story short, I cut a mountain lion track this morning that was no more than 3-4 hours old. It was dragging something. When I followed the tracks down into a steep, rocky canyon I found a fawn kill that was almost untouched. I didn't want to investigate it at all to avoid leaving scent right around the kill. I sat nearby through midday but a storm chased me out of the hills by about 4 pm. So my question is, what's my best bet now ? How often will the cat revisit the kill ? Is it likely I will see it in dawn/dusk timeframe ? Any advice much appreciated. Going back out in a few hours to sit some more but I will have Internet..

Thanks.

[Huntrgathr]

Sat all day (9+ hrs) waiting for that cat but it was a no show. The kill looked like at hadn't been touched (from across the canyon through my spotter). Wondering if I didn't screw up by walking by the kill yesterday. That's at least 36 hours after making the kill that the lion hasn't returned...

[SD220]

I doubt your scent has anything to do with it. A few weeks ago a friend and I were scouting before our lion opener when we found a kill that looked to be almost picked clean. We hung around in the area for probably ten minutes checking out the different lions tracks and hanging a trail camera. I hadn't taken any scent control precautions prior to going out. When I checked the camera a week later I had about 300 videos of two different lions finishing up the kill. The first lion, a big tom, arrived about 4 hours after the camera was put up and stayed for three hours. A female came in at about noon the next day and stayed for three more hours. She returned that night for a few more hours. We replaced the SD card and left. I ended up calling in and shooting the female I had video of on the second day of the season. When I checked the camera again a collared tom had wandered through the night after we replaced the SD card. Potentially the lion was there when you came in and you spooked it off, but if there is still meat there I would sit for at least a few days on it. Good Luck!

[Huntrgathr]

Thanks SD220, that is encouraging. Had to work yesterday and today. Going to try again tomorrow. Has anyone tried using some howling calls near a kill to goad a cat into coming to protect his territory ?

[Huntrgathr]

SD220 - I sent you a PM.

I've been sitting since a little before 6 am today ( 12:45 now ). The kill has definitely been visited, although I'm not close enough to read the sign. The deer is definitely torn Up but it looks like there is still a decent portion left. Didn't see anything this morning. I tried some coyote serenades and howls just before first light. Then a while later, some fawn distress calls with no response other than distant coyote howls..

How likely is it that the cat will visit the kill in daylight ? I'm going to try to sit into the night if I can stay warm. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

[SD220]

Sorry Huntrgathr I haven't been back to this sight in a while. I didn't get a PM however. Any luck with the lion?

[Huntrgathr]

The last day I was out there I sat from 5:30 am until after 9 pm and never saw a thing. Sat for a total of 30 hours in 3 days and never saw any animals come into the kill. I've sat other kills before and usually have coyotes at least, visiting every couple hours. The PM I sent you was asking about the best calls to use. I know where 2 different lions live but I never see them in daylight and so far all strategies have failed...

[SD220]

Wow, cant say you didn't try. Did you ever get close to the kill to see what kind of tracks were around? I use a Primos Alpha Dogg electronic call. I start with bird sounds for about 10 minutes, switch to rabbit in distress for 10 minutes, then deer in distress for about 20 minutes. Once that is finished I'll make a few lion sounds. The lion I killed this year came running in to my call when I switched to an aggressive lion sounds. I try to sit for two call cycles which is about 1.5 hours. Lions are curious but just like house cats have short attention spans so it's best to call constantly to keep them interested.