un-hunted territory

[chancemarquette]

Im goin to a new area tommorow. It has never been lion hunted, and i have only elk hunted there once. I was looking for some tips and opinions on what to look for to cut some tracks before it gets to late in the day, by looking at terrain and so fourth.

[Mike Leonard]

Check all high rocky outcroppings that have a general higher elevation than surrounding terrain. Also Check any saddles(breaks or crossovers in ridges). Then check any conflueneces which would be where canyons run into the same drainage. Don't necessarily check the very bottom but check they areas that seem to run together as you picture them as they would have been before time and erosion took place. Then on the first step below the very crest of these ridges look where they would cross to come together for this will be the natural pathway of the lions. Also check for scrapes on any large solitary or stanout trees or dead snags that set near the saddle crossing or rim rocks just below for scrape run of tom lions.
And then after all this drivel just look out the side window of the pickup cuz they may decide to cross just about anywhere because they can. LOL!

[stacey robeson]

mike,

would bobcat be about the same to try an patern? not sure if you've hunted my area, but I also don't know if it makes a difference.

[Mike Leonard]

Sorry, I didn't see this post earlier. I have been out everyday trying to pattern somthing and all my expereince and logic hurts my head because the only thing I can find is big bull elk and soft eyed mule deer. LOL! Deep snow for this area and it has crusted bad and the cats don't like to walk much on this stuff.

Bobcats don't make the big country that a lion does but don't be fooled into thinking they won't make some pretty long hauls from time to time. When I am looking for cats I look for rabbits, that are close to rocky outcroppings with sage and cedar studded washes and streams if possible. Bobs follow frozen waterways a good deal just like they will a packed road. But they will cling to rocky areas but remember those that still might hold rodents especially rabbits, but pack rats and bushy tails are also on their diet. We occasioanly get a big cat that is a deer killer but that is a cat of a different shade if you will and they will be right in there with the lions on the wintering deer herds.

I ran a bob yesterday by accident. I was walking into some gated country that I usaully would go horseback but it was too slick and icey to try to pull a trailer in there. I was chained on all wheels. I had walked in checking crossing for several miles and one of my young dogs a female was missing. Well deer and elk were plentuful so I figured she couldn't stand the pressure and had to bust one. Well I had my other 3 dogs close and a nice young man came by in a truck as he was allowed to drive in this closure area because of his job. He stopped and with a pleasant southern drawl said. Mr. ya'll got a saddle backed walker bitch back down the road a ways on a bobcat track. I said well thanks I figured she was trashing. He said no I went and checked her and it's a cat. I use to run cat and coon in South Oklahoma with my yellow cur dogs and she was doing a pretty good job. Well I thanked him and went and found her and she had run the cat to a big boulder pile with some cracks in the sandstone and was barking her head off and trying to dig in the frozen ground. Well I had a bit of a time getting her and the others away from there, but that just goes to show. Don't judge them too fast and go to pushing buttons they may just be right.

[Roy Auwen]

Mike i am sure more than one hound has been ruined from pushing the button
at the wrong time!
I am also sure that i am guilty of the above.
They are a good training device, but need to be used with a lot of caution!

[liontracker]

Chassie Girl?

[Mike Leonard]

Yep Chassie. She is one busy hunting little dude.