Group urges Montana Officials to end cougar hunting

Mt Goat · Post by **Mt Goat** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 9:42 pm

“Big Wildlife” Group urges Montana Officials to end cougar hunting
By VINCE DEVLIN of the Missoulian

Does the hunting of mountain lions increase the number of conflicts the animals have with humans?

Citing a Washington State University study that says it may, Big Wildlife, an international wildlife protection organization, says it has formally petitioned Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the FWP Commission to ban the hunting and hounding of cougars in Montana.

While the agency has seen Big Wildlife’s press release, FWP spokesman Ron Aasheim said Wednesday it has not yet received a formal petition asking the commission to consider a ban on cougar hunting.

Any such request, Aasheim added, would be deferred to the season-setting process, which begins in the fall and is formalized in February.

“It’s a very public process,” Aasheim said, “that would include public input. The commission and department would take it under consideration, and the commission decides if it wants to enact any changes.”

Big Wildlife spokesman Brian Vincent said Wednesday the organization has made similar requests in Washington and Oregon.

“The reason we’re involved is because of a pretty critical report released recently by Washington State University that says cougar populations are struggling, due to liberalized hunting and aggressive lethal control,” Vincent said.

That study, by Robert Wielgus, director of WSU’s Large Carnivore Conservation Laboratory, found that killing large numbers of cougars creates social chaos among the species.

Hunters often target adult males, which act as a stabilizing force in cougar populations, Wielgus told the Seattle Times. The adults police large territories and drive out or kill young males.

With the adults gone, the “young hooligans” run wild, according to Wielgus.

Most cougar conflicts with humans turn out to be cats under the age of 2, who are just learning to live on their own.

Big Wildlife also called mountain lions a “keystone species” that helps sustain ecological integrity and preserve species diversity by contributing to the regulation of deer, elk and other animal populations.

For more information, read Thursday's Missoulian or go to Missoulian.com

http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008 ... s/br27.txt

Larry Lowell

trakntree · Post by **trakntree** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 9:38 pm

I had heard about this story that was also published in the Great Falls Tribune. I didn't personally read it but it is evidentally the same issue.

Funny, I believe there are probably more "hooligans" and resident females that fall victim to the top of the dog box as there are big toms that "police" an area. Mabey them enviormental experts should spend a little more time studying harvest data rather than picking on minority groups.

chancemarquette · Post by **chancemarquette** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 9:39 pm

WELL PUT

dsdogman · Post by **dsdogman** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 2:08 am

Thats a good point.

montananative · Post by **montananative** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 4:13 am

bs. ive not heard of one lion human conflict in my life here. im srue its happened, but these morons act like its a huge problem. wouldnt runnin a species with dogs barkin at them every breath discourage them from human contact. that makes more sense to me. do you hear of deer coming after human because they are hunted by humans. HELL NO. Its ass holes and elbows everytime you see em. same with yotes. these people are just flat ridiculous

Bookem · Post by **Bookem** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 4:33 am

i have heard that they wanted to get rid of cat hunting in montana well i live in wa and they are talking about bringing it back because there are to many females and young cats getting killed they want the hound hunters back because it is controlled and you see what your harvisting the avarege hunter just shoots trust me i am following this closely and most of the public that i talk to are not hound hunters or would do it just deer and elk hunters they want us back they say since we have been gone the deer and elk population has gone down so much they want us to help

whoflungdung · Post by **whoflungdung** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 4:38 pm

I live in Noxon Mt and here stories every year about people bumping into lions.

A guy that guides with my brother bumped into a big tom that was eating on a elk. The cat wouldn't leave. They tried throwing sticks and rocks at it but the cat just hissed at him and wouldn't leave. It was right on the trail going back to the truck.

A few years ago a kid in Heron, Mt got attacked while walking two dogs. Both dogs ran to the house.

The only thing that saved him was a third dog that was tied up slipped his collar and fought the lion. The attack occurred right outside of there house.

A friend of mine shot a lion at 15 feet 2 years ago while elk hunting.

Another friend of mine is an outfitter and he had a cat come up to within 50 feet of there lodge while they were outside BBQing with there guides and clients.

If they take away lion hunting with hounds in Montana there will be some issues in this area. I just hope they attack the tree huggers first.