BigGameHoundsmen.com

Anyone know who this was? I would love to see the video.

http://azgfd.net/artman/publish/NewsMed ... zona.shtml

Thats pretty cool. Would be a nice suprise to walk into a tree and see a jag.

Wow every houndsmens dream OOPS!!!

Its nice to see the animals and I'm sure most people appreciate them for the unique position they're in. But honestly I fear public opinion and interference anytime one of our "unusual" felines is reported in the press. None of the species has ever been documented or even reported as being truly numerous in the state. If some "Florida panther" group gets overly ambitious or even some of our fellow hunters take the preservation of the few individuals to a extreme the results would be anything but good. Of the four main mtn ranges they've been documented only one is not hunted on the same level as the rest but its restrictions are due to development and its also the least freaquented in that portion of the group by the cats so far as recent sightings. But I believe a restriction of hound hunting activities would reduce the number of sightings in several ways. The most obvious is All confirmed sightings have first been encountered by use of dogs. Subsequently some were tracked at the expense of large amounts of man hours and game and fish funds. That hasn't always turned out well either. The AZ department of game and fish hasn't handled each case in the same manner either. Its release of information policy has differed also. The second effect a restriction would have is the typical peak in predator numbers vrs prey. In Az this is much more pronounced due to the distribution of prey and its overall density. The Jaguars out rank lion in our estimation and from what verifiable information we have. However if there's a scarcity of prey obviously there's going to be a corresponding drop in jaguar visitations. The other cats are assumed prey or loosing competitors to lions so a large increase in lion numbers would have a similar outcome. I guess there's also the fact that so far No lion hunter has been shown to kill or harm a jaguar. Couple this with the amount of land that could foresee ably be lost to houndsmen its understandable that a overreaction in trying to establish a preserve type area for the jaguar would most likely result in the lessening or total loss in the visits. I really hope any action is only taken after real informed consideration not. Disney type misinformation or the purchase of public and wildlife personnels sentiment by the anti's. I honestly appreciate the jaguars potential presence and hope we see a natural balance. What ever that turns out to be. However I would be very disappointed if we lost our ability to use hounds in any of these areas due to misinformed concern over the jaguars welfare or as a poster child for the anti's.
Sorry to ramble but that's just my response. Look at the effect the introduction of wolves or the protected status of other species have had.

Yep I do but we will let him talk about it when and if he wishes.

Right on!

TOO COOL!!!!!!!!!!!

Care to share a little of the story?

Scott

Story pics video lets see them. Im sure they are very cool.

The University of Arizona is going to place trail cams in 120 locations to determine what the status of the jaguar is in Arizona and New Mexico. I don't see this working out for houndsmen or the general public who utilize these areas for various activities. I suspect a lot of the folks who will be involved in this deal are so broadminded their brains fell out somewhere down the line. By the way, where is the money for this project coming from? The dept. of homeland security. I was not aware that jaguars ranked right up there with illegals, terrorists, drug smugglers and such like. Warms the heart to know our tax money is being spent on such a worthwhile endeavor. May I suggest that the next time a houndsman trees a jag, take some pics and quietly keep it to yourself. No real benefit in making a media event out of it.

papa wrote: May I suggest that the next time a houndsman trees a jag, take some pics and quietly keep it to yourself. No real benefit in making a media event out of it.

As if you wouldn't have said anything to anyone that you just caught the only known Jaguar in the US?? YEAH RIGHT! Plans to monitor the Jaguar have been "in the works" since the "plans" for the recovery effort were announced... this is nothing new... it's only now being talked about because Donnie caught one.

I think it's pretty awesome that the day that Donnie was the subject of sh*t talking by guys that don't think he should be on the "list" because he's only been doing this for 5 years.... he's out hunting his dogs and catches a Jaguar. Oh by the way, he hunted the 3 days prior to that, and has hunted twice since then, including today, and that is a typical 7 day stretch... so before anyone says anything about Donnie being on the "list", he doesn't want anyone to put him on the list... he'll hunt his way onto it, and his daughter will continue the tradition when he's no longer able to keep up with the dogs and mules. Having known him for the last 15 years I can tell you that won't be for a LONG time...

Mr zipper. I was certainly not talking sh!t. Just stating a fact and my opinion. Catching a jag is awesome but has nothing to do with being on the list. Your right. He will hunt his way onto the list and with a fan club like you it surely won't take long.

I don't know the gentleman that treed the jag, but it sounds like he is doing it right. Hunting 3-5 days a week will certainly up your chance of remarkable accomplishments. I think anyone who is up to date on the situation in s.e. Arizona realizes there are some jags that frequent the area. I'm sure it is an awesome experience to see one up close and personal. My concern is that the media exposure will result in a lot of emotional reaction among people who operate on feeling rather than common sense. They will try to make some kind of folk-hero out of the jag. Limited access to the area will be the next thing, in order to protect this endangered darling. Seems like these things don't work in favor of ranchers, hunters, and outdoorsmen in general. That is why I think it is a bad idea to make this a media event. I'm not criticizing Donnie for his response in all of this; I'm simply saying that it may not work out real well for the future of hounding in the very area he seems to spend a lot of time in. Just 1 man's opinion.

Papa, I see your point but i dont think this will happen. They couldnt ever prove where the jag even is at any given point unless they collar it. I guess you never know but i doubt it.