It's legal to hunt Cougars with .22 cal PCPs in New Mexico. That's Nutz!

[Kim]

I've spent literally years of my life in the Cascade and Olympic mountains here in the PNW. I've woken up with LARGE cat tracks right outside of my tent the next morning, and seen evidence if them just about everywhere that I have been. I've never one seen one in the wild with my own eyes though, I'm positive that they've seen me.

They'll occasionally feast on yuppie mountain cyclists here, but they haven't given mr any problems and I can't really say that I'd ever want to try and hunt them (with any caliber). I consider myself an ethical hunter, but the type of people that would take a shot at them with a 22 cal airgun are likely not - and those types would stake that shot regardless of legality anyways

Agree completely.

I have also been outdoors in Ventura County, CA, for many years. Lots of sign - never face to face.

There was a cougar here feasting on some neighbor's goats. His name was P55. I run and bike on the local trails, and surely he saw me - but humans are almost never a food item.* Sad to hear he passed.

Kim

*researching this, since the mid 1980s about 4 people have been killed by cougars in California. During that same period, about 40,000 people were killed by other people. QED if you want to stay safe, move in with mountain lions

 

[Therealld]

 Knife maybe, but not a airgun of less power than a .357 revolver.

 

[Keyman62421]

I've always felt that the"great white hunter" attitude could easily be treated. Just give the animal a gun! 

I think that cougar hunting w/22 pcp will make a man out of you. If you survive!

Now too be more honest, the skill involved to enjoin such an action is far more honorable than sitting back at 500 yds with artillery and calling it hunting.

Pretty opinionated , I know. Don't want hear a bunch complaints. Just one man's opinion

 

[Queequeg]

In reality the most common method to hunt them is to hire an outfitter with lion dogs and put it up a tree. Then client can take their time and pick their shot. Even less honorable than a 500yd sniping I'd say. In a situation like that put a .22 in his lung and it's just a matter of time.

Ah the good old days when men were men. Saw a YT of a guy hunting black bears with a spear. That took some heuvos. Talk about getting the bunny hugger's undies in a pinch too.

 

[fe7565]

I don't think my wife would like if I go after cougars... Plus she keeps telling me to get a bigger gun...

 

[Queequeg]

Yes your wife is certainly the one who would know if you needed a Bigger Gun

 

[Makoda]

I know it’s legal to use a .22 pb to take them here and many do. Given what some .22 airguns are putting out it really would not be much different if at all. But I always error more on the side of letting the hunter pick the weapon that meets his abilities. Some people enjoy challenges, some people want the most effective, and personally it’s none of my business as to where you fall in that category. I will trust that most people will be humane with there decisions.

 

[Windzilla]

I think everyone here is nuts. We need more laws like this, simple, easy to understand, and not bothering to make dumb rules that only serve to benefit dumb people. Nobody is going to go .22 pellet hunting a cougar twice. The problem solves itself. 

 

[sonny]

he's looking right at the camera

 

[sonny]

type this in youtube ...talk about pooping yourself..(Florida panther suprises woman on nature walk)

 

[Bigragu]

My 23 year old son has cougars after him all of the time. One of them tipped him $50 for a coffee he made her, and later on between all the gifts she brought him at work he tallied it up to be around $3K, lol.



Where were these cougars when I was his age, lol. Chit!

 

[Queequeg]

My 23 year old son has cougars after him all of the time. One of them tipped him $50 for a coffee he made her, and later on between all the gifts she brought him at work he tallied it up to be around $3K, lol.



Where were these cougars when I was his age, lol. Chit!

Hilarious! Any women young enough to still be out on to loose chasing youngins is probably compared to me a Kitten not Cougar.

Oh well like my wife says: Everybody needs a hobby

 

[Emu]

Could be legal to hunt tiranosaurus, the quiz is to find them.

48 years hunting and I have not seen a cougar yet is a hunting.

 

[Queequeg]

I'd only kill one in defense. They probably don't taste very good.

If you've been at it for 48 years where they roam, You may not have seen any of them but they've seen you. They have great hearing and smell and can silently slink away before you ever know they were there. That's why mountain bikers get mauled so often. They roll up quietly on wheels and startle them. 

 

[Houli]

Actually they do taste good, had opportunity prior to being protected in my state. Has been referred to as a preference with the maintainman of yesteryears.

You're not likely going to surprise a M- lion while M- biking thus being a contributing factor for being mauled or killed as such but more likely provoke an attack for protecting his/her prior kill or young ones but more likely the movement of a passing cyclist triggering a cat's instinct as a predator. As a whole M-lions have a natural fear of man, lucky us.

I have been fortunate enough to live and know these animals, to date I have probably encountered 3 dozen cats. Maney people are fortunate to even see one in a life time. They are elusive and beautiful.

Cheers

 

[Queequeg]

They say an Owl is pretty good if you boil it long enough.

Somewhere there is someone who will eat just about anything made from protein. I draw the line at Cougars and Bats. That's of course dependent on how how long it's been since I last ate.