This is topic Mountain Lion Call-in Stories... in forum Cat forum at The New Huntmastersbbs!.
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Posted by rainshadow1 (Member # 899) on January 31, 2010, 05:36 PM:
Turns out some of you guys may be holdin' out on me! I got two confirmed RS Cougar Sound call-in stories this weekend that had happened this season, and I didn't even know about them!
If anyone has had a confirmed Longtail call-in in any way incorporating my Mountain Lion Calling products, I'd sure like to hear about it! PLEASE! Quit holdin' out on me!
I'm going to be building a call-in story page off my rain-shadow.com website soon, and if you allow me, I'd like to post up a quick synopsis of your story, and calling sequence employed.
(Even if your story wasn't incorporating my products, I'd like to hear and post up the story in another catagory, as an educational database. The only qualifications are: 1.) You were calling specifically, and on purpose, for Mt Lion, and 2.) You confirmed in some way that a Cougar responded to the call.)
It'll be a super concentrated database of Mountain Lion call in stories. The techniques used, and the story surrounding when Cougars came in to the call.
(If you only want a synopsis of your story posted, or you want it posted anonymously, that's not a problem, I'd still like to hear them.)
I'll be clearly identifying each post as a Kill, a Miss, a Pass, No Shot, Otherwise confirmed, Probable, etc. etc. Full disclosure, and no truth stretching involved. All stories welcomed, even if the Cat never hit the ground, even if the shot was never fired. Just confirm that the Lion came in, and that's data I want on this page!
Help me out here, fellers!
Posted by rainshadow1 (Member # 899) on January 31, 2010, 09:23 PM:
Ok, I started the page, and posted 5. I have at least that many more myself, but I'm hoping to get YOURS!
I need to dress the page up and add more information, but it's a start. (I have a hectic week coming up, we'll see how fast this develops.)
Take a look and see what I'm talking about...
http://rain-shadow.com/cougar_callin_stories.htm
You can PM, or e-mail, or post, or whatever. It's a database of sucessful call-ins TARGETING Cougar/Mountain Lion. (Shot or no shot.)So it doesn't matter what tools or sounds you used, I want to get short little condensed stories to post on that page.
Posted by rainshadow1 (Member # 899) on February 01, 2010, 08:09 AM:
I've got several contributions, guys. I'll take a paragraph, a couple sentences, a copy paste from an old story, a link to an old story with permission to condense and post... ANYTHING!
Posted by rainshadow1 (Member # 899) on February 02, 2010, 08:58 AM:
Anything? Could I have a link and permission? Anything?
From my own stories, and stories I have recieved through these posts, and stories I'm going to solicit one at a time, I should have two dozen or more Targeted Mountain Lion Stories posted by the weekend if I get time.
I'm condensing to very short stories, they take less than a minute to read, and I can make them anonymous and make the hunting area vague, even to regions of the country if you want...
Any time, even if this post gets really old, feel free to contact me. This will be an ongoing thing...
Posted by Alaskan Yoter (Member # 169) on February 02, 2010, 10:39 AM:
Looks good to me Steve. Glad to hear your product is working well.
Posted by TundraWookie (Member # 1044) on February 02, 2010, 01:08 PM:
Great information and database Steve, I really enjoyed reading those stories. Makes me wish we had those big cats up here.
Posted by rainshadow1 (Member # 899) on February 02, 2010, 03:08 PM:
Thanks guys. There will be 3 times that many, I've already collected, I just haven't had time to condense them and post them...
I still want more though!
Posted by TundraWookie (Member # 1044) on February 02, 2010, 03:13 PM:
Hurry up, what's the wait? Just ribbin' ya. I've heard stories and talked with a friend up here who worked on a project for us who said he and another guy saw a lion one morning on the job-site. This was a project that carved out 800 acres of heavily wooded areas and built a mock town for military training. He's hunted all over the state and lower 48 and said he's 100% sure it was a lion and even went over and verified its tracks. Too bad he didn't have the camera on hand. One of these days a wolf trapper will get one if they're around.
Posted by rainshadow1 (Member # 899) on February 03, 2010, 11:02 AM:
11 Stories Posted...
I still have a several others to post, I should be building a sheath, a grip, polishing 4 blades, restocking my Detailing trailer, and building a 3 call set.... but this is too much fun!
If a stand TURNED INTO a Cougar stand, I'll take it too. If you were trying for the big cat, even only for the last few minutes before it came in, I'll take it! Information can be gleaned.
If you know of any others, please let me know, I'll chase them down!
If you HAVE any others, PLEASE, let me know!
Posted by Locohead (Member # 15) on February 03, 2010, 12:04 PM:
When will of these stories be posted to the sight Steve? Great stories to read. To call in a big cat...WOW!!!
I'm gonna forward this thread and your website to a friend that is targeting mountain lions as we speak in the hills surrounding Gunnison, CO.
Posted by rainshadow1 (Member # 899) on February 03, 2010, 01:04 PM:
Loco,
I'm up to 13 now. I have several more coming. I've solicited for a couple more permissions...
I'm deciding where to draw the line when a Coyote stand produced a Cougar, etc. I want to focus on INTENTIONAL cougar stands.
Check out the progress...
http://rain-shadow.com/cougar_callin_stories.htm
I'm gathering up photos and stuff too...
Posted by Locohead (Member # 15) on February 03, 2010, 03:04 PM:
Why draw the line Steve? Maybe include the stories in a differrent part of your site? You do sell open reed distress calls for coyotes. Those would be really exciting stories to the coyote hunter. How cool to call in a lion on a coyote stand. Think about keeping those stories too - maybe in a different section where you sell hand calls. I'd love to read all of those stories.
Posted by rainshadow1 (Member # 899) on February 03, 2010, 04:33 PM:
Definately something to think about...
I'm trying to preach the message that Cougars can be targeted. That's my reasoning for focusing on Lion specific stands.
It's a good idea though. I'm sure there's more of them than targeted Cougar stories.
I'll think about that, that's a good thought. Thanks.
Posted by rainshadow1 (Member # 899) on February 03, 2010, 08:32 PM:
Ok, 15 down! I've got a couple more of my own, and I'm waiting on at least 6 more, but I think they'll come through...
Any more? You got one to share?!?!
I'm considering (thanks Loco) also posting another catagory of call-ins where the big cats showed up on Coyote/Bear/Bobcat/Etc. stands. Surprise call-ins! Mostly for fun, but I suppose some information could be extrapolated, even though the event was a surprise to the caller! Post 'em up if you feel like it! I'll get to them!
Thanks tremendously for the stories that have already come in!
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on February 03, 2010, 10:34 PM:
At last, a category in which I can participate!
Posted by Krustyklimber (Member # 72) on February 03, 2010, 10:59 PM:
In general, I never planned or cared "what" the stand was for, so it's impossible to say a particular animal wasn't who I did or didn't want to show up.
I still am just as happy to see a deer or a raptor, as I would be to see a coyote, lion or bear. All of them mean "I'm doing it right".
I told the story of one of the cougars I called, on this site, and it was one of the biggest mistakes I ever made on these bulletin boards... I'm not about to repeat it in part or in whole.
And like many of the many mistakes I've made on the boards, over the years, I'd like to let sleeping dogs lay (so I'd rather it wasn't dredged back up, without my assistance).
The other story, of my own, isn't much to tell.
I was calling in the snow, without worrying who might show up, and found cougar tracks over my own, when I got up to leave, where I was "followed" to where I sat, and was "watched" from 10 yards or so away. ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
It terrifies me, the way these two cougars didn't cut and run (like a bear or coyote might), and how both came from behind on my wind and scent trail.
Krusty 
Posted by rainshadow1 (Member # 899) on February 04, 2010, 09:58 AM:
Post 'em up, Leonard. That'd be awesome to have one or some of your stories!
Krusty, to my knowledge, that's never happened to me, but you know how this country is, so it's possible. My observation of it, however, is; Isn't that just a "Catty" thing for them to do! Freaky beyond belief, no doubt! But thinking about their nature, it's just not too surprising.
Cool story!
Posted by DAA (Member # 11) on February 05, 2010, 06:32 AM:
This was one of those:
Never saw it. The tracks say it walked up behind us during the stand and sat about ten yards behind my partner Tim for awhile before walking away.
Just like with coyotes, I wish there was some way of knowing how many we have called in but will never know about.
Over the last several years, that one, and three others that were seen, all came to the Foxpro playing the same jackrabbit distress sound. Two sat on their haunches out in front of us at slam dunk range - would have been EASY kills. The third did not come any closer than about 400 yards and was fidgeting around quite a bit, I'm not sure I would have even taken that shot even if I had a tag. All were while trying to call coyotes. All in mixed P/J and sage terrain. And of course, because they came in on coyote stands, all came in within less than 10 minutes.
Talked to a guy this week that called one in Arizona, also using his Foxpro and jackrabbit distress. His story is one of the best ever though. He was using a shotgun. Apparently there are some legal restrictions regarding shotguns and lions in AZ. I don't recall exactly what he said they are, something with shot size I think. But, anyway, he's calling for coyotes and a lion comes in that he can't shoot. The lion takes his FX3 off a fence post and starts moving away with it. He gets up and goes after it. After awhile, he can hear his FX3 getting further and further away until he finally can't hear it anymore!
It's kind of a long history/story to explain all the reasons why, but, I absolutely believe the guy is telling the truth. I know for an absolute fact (because I placed the order for him), that he bought another FX3 yesterday, without a remote, since he still has that.
- DAA
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on February 05, 2010, 07:49 AM:
Good one, Dave. A lot of people (including me) received an education recently, regarding the use of shotguns in AZ on lion. No buckshot, has to be a slug. Bewildering law?
Snow comes in handy, once in a while....
Good hunting. LB
Posted by Okanagan (Member # 870) on February 05, 2010, 08:57 AM:
Krusty, I think it is pretty common to have a cougar sneak up on people and follow them, yet there are few attacks. It's unnerving to find out about it later, but it seems to be a cat thing to do, as Steve says, rather than always a prelude to attack. If the cat does carry though with attack, they are so sneaky we'd be toast.
I've had several follow me with no calling involved, plus at least one that followed me to my vehicle after a calling stand. I only know about those because I turned back and found their tracks on mine in snow or mud. Most of the time there is nothing to show tracks and I've no idea how many times lions have followed me that I don't know about.
I was deer hunting in snow and had one circle ahead of me and hide as I walked past. It was 21 feet uphill from me behind a small bush when my partner saw it and hurried a shot at it that missed. I was walking kind of sideways looking downhill for deer in a swale below and in another step or two would have passed my closest point to the cat, 18 feet. I have no idea what the cougar had in mind, but I was wearing smelly glands cut from a mule deer buck as an attractant experiment (it works on deer).
Krusty, your comments about the grief you got about posting a cougar call has me curious now and I'll have to look through the archives! ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Rainshadow Steve is getting a pile of great stories on his site.
Posted by Krustyklimber (Member # 72) on February 05, 2010, 11:10 AM:
Daa,
That's exactly what it looked like, only with heavier deeper snow, and I have little feet!
Okanogan,
I'm aware that not all "followings" lead to an attack, and it was the distance as anything that really scared me.
Had it decided to, it was a leap and a bound from pouncing on me.
So when and if I get mauled to death, I expect you and Steve to show up at my memorial, and explain to my family that it was a rare yet catty thing that happened. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Krusty
Posted by rainshadow1 (Member # 899) on February 05, 2010, 12:38 PM:
"...gee, we just sure didn't expect a Cougar to do that! Awful sorry..."
[ February 05, 2010, 12:40 PM: Message edited by: rainshadow1 ]
Posted by Okanagan (Member # 870) on February 05, 2010, 01:18 PM:
Sure, Krusty, we'll explain it to your family and make them feel better. Me & Steve are already preparing our remarks for your funeral after the cougar eats you.
" ...Yep, folks, you can puzzle more than grieve for 'ol Krusty. His death by cougar is a rare anomoly. Statistically that makes all of us safer in the woods. If cougars only kill one person out of a hundred they sneak up on, the next 99 of you are safe. I'm sure that comforted Krusty in his last moments.
"Actually, we could say he died doing what he enjoyed, at least up until the cat jumped him that is, and the part he didn't enjoy didn't last long... "
[ February 05, 2010, 01:43 PM: Message edited by: Okanagan ]
Posted by Okanagan (Member # 870) on February 05, 2010, 01:34 PM:
I'm gonna make a prediction here again, plumb serious about cougars and calling: One of these days a caller is going to get hurt by a called lion. With all of the newbie coyote callers throughout cougar country, there are way more human-cougar encounters. There are especially WAY more cougars sneaking up on people, tasty sounding, injured sounding people.
It is foolish not to be reasonably and rationally afraid of cougars. I love to call them but try to reduce my risk by protecting my back, etc. on stand. However, I suspect that walking away from a stand when we don't know a cougar has come in may be the riskiest thing we do.
I had one growl at me in the dusk, CLOSE, when I approached my e-caller and motion decoy to pick them up. I think he was angry that I was taking his prey away from him. Who knows.
[ February 05, 2010, 01:41 PM: Message edited by: Okanagan ]
Posted by rainshadow1 (Member # 899) on February 05, 2010, 02:00 PM:
Their potential is a little bit alarming. Non-California Lions are respectful of humans, so far... By sheer statistics, you're actually more likely to be killed by Cattle than by Cougars. But as you mentioned, Okanagan, the numbers of callers rise and the statistcal odds rise too.
Thanks DAA, that pic and synopsis really added something to the page!
If anybody who has a story posted on my page has a pic that I could add to it, I'd appreciate it! The ones with pictures really stand out!
Thanks again, to all who have contributed!
Posted by rainshadow1 (Member # 899) on February 06, 2010, 11:12 AM:
Ok, one last bump just to mention that this is a perpetually ongoing thing. . .
If you're reading this, I want your Cougar Story, and your pics!
Please contact me!
And thanks again to all who have contributed! It's a great pile of stories
Posted by rainshadow1 (Member # 899) on March 06, 2010, 07:16 PM:
I've gone back and edited the page, it's getting pretty long... Thanks to all of you who have contributed a story!
I numbered the stories. It's getting a bit long for a one sitting read, and some of you lost your stories in the mix, so I anchored myself to the order, and numbered them. You can go back and start where you left off, or you can send people over to read your story!
I also made an easier to read page color and format, and I changed the text color of my own comments.
I hope it's a lot more user friendly now...
Again, if you have a Cougar Call-In story, I want it!!!
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