When it is most likely the ONLY ONE around for miles and miles?

I really do need to know.

He's probably on his way up to Wisconsin to mate with the four or five thousand invisible mountain lions we have running around up here.

Huck I give you one bit of advice. Wear a loaded sidearm if you plan on messing with them.

They have a really large coverage range Huck and are where ever livestock is often most abundant here . The Florida panther, a cousin has a range of 350 square miles of natural habitat. Males kill for same territory as do many cars. Cars don't need side arms. We do!


But if he is a normal male I agree with Paul he is on his way to Wisconsin for some real LOVE.

and if you decide to go after him, make sure you have another person with you, both with long rifles, and side arms holstered... or contact someone that has the experience with dealing with them.
my $0.035

are you honestly after a lion in west central IL? If you so you might as well set some unicorn traps, maybe start snagging for norwhals too.

Yes I KNOW I am after a lion. I did another inspection for a exotic bird farm east of me. I have done several jobs for them over the past two years. Mostly raccoons and coyotes. Trapping the coons, shooting the yotes.

This time when he called he said he thought it was a really large Yote. I was there and seen the tracks. I wasn't sure what they were but thought lion right away. As I was checking out the creek area I seen the dang thing. Couldn't get a shot at it, but I KNOW what I saw. The owner told me "I thought that was what I seen a few times over the past weeks".

I have done some reading on them here in IL. The DOC has said they believe there are a some transient male lions from out west coming into the state. They don't think however they are staying. (I do) Others have been found to be escaped or ilegaly released lions. Several have been sighted and killed over the past few years too.

My brother in law had one killed two years ago on his farm by a deer hunter. That farm is close to if not over 100 miles north east of this farm I am working on.

I will be armed of course. A 357 side arm and most likely either a shotgun with #00 or a 220-250. I had my 22 hornet with me when I seen it. I would have tried it with that gun, if I could have gotten a better shot to take. Last thing I want is a wounded cat of that size running around.

It will be fun.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=172934

Who knows what is out there?

They go in cages,,,,,,,,,,,

Yo Bruce: Keep in mind they like to lay out on limbs and rocks so they can jump DOWN on their prey. Keep your head on a swivel and go slow.

good hunting..

Good luck. Be safe.

I'm betting it's an escapee. We had one less than a mile away that a guy kept in an old weathered garage. Every time I drove by I tried to see if he was still in there or if we had another loose mountain lion.

Better make sure your state allows you to take them. Won't matter what you're armed with if it's not legal, especially if the bunny-huggers catch wind. Best to do it by the book with a permit.

There is only one really reliable way to catch a lion and that is with hounds. I get about a half a dozen lion calls a month and 99.9% of those calls turn out to be dog kills. In fact the last true lion call I went out on was a year ago Aug.

Bob

Huck....my offer still stands with the stick

people in GA claim to see black panthers all the time....

A black panther is a non-existent animal. In Illinois we have had a few REAL cougars (puma, mountain lion, panther) sighted or killed, all juvenile males around 125 pounds or so. Absolutely no proof of any breeding population.... iltrapper KNOWS a cougar is tan.... not black.... and I think he would be a better judge than most at identifying one. I had a friend watch one for 10 minutes on his farm about 12 years ago.... I went out and took pictures of the footprints in an old hog shed.... definitely cougar tracks. I contacted our DNR and they called me back for directions to the site.... said they were interested in sending a guy to get photos. Regardless, they are not common here, and also not protected. Every time our local game wardens are approached about a possible sighting, they tell the person to "shoot it" and I'll believe you. Since Illinois doesn't recognize them as being present here, they have no laws protecting them. I would love to see one, but the only thing I would shoot it with is a camera.

In Missouri we have what's called a permisive wildlife code. You can only take the animals allowed and by approved methods. If it doesn't say you can, then you can't.

Biologists in georgia and florida have already detected strands of a new Large Cat breed. Black Panthers are real! they are cousin to the mountain lion only living in the most south east part of the U.S and florida keys.

are you smarter than a 9th grader? lol just kidding

black panthers do exist. have seen one down by are base in Mississippi...