Cougar shot in Missouri

[grizz1]

A male Mountain Lion was shot and killed yesterday 20 miles South of my home near LaPlata Missouri. The story as I've heard so far is that a group of Amish were trying to surround an area to kill coyotes when the cat was spotted and feeling threatened they shot it.

It is NOT legal to shoot Mountain Lions in my state unless you or property are in danger.

For some time I've heard stories of sightings, tracks, deer and cattle being killed, most of which is never proven but yesterday the Amish laid to rest the myth that cougars do exist in North Mo.

The Conservation Dept feels the big cats are males following the Missouri river drainage system in search of new territory. There have been about 14 co firmed sightings in the last 16 years.
The subject of Mountain Lions in my state brings out the best and worst in people, many accuse the Conservation Dept of turning them loose to control the deer population and the tales of these wild cats are out of control at times.
One thing I'm certain of is this: with weaned calves bringing $1.50 a pound and young cows worth 15 to 1700 dollars there will be no safe Mountain Lion in North Missouri, every farmer I know will be threatened if they see one of these big cats and they will shoot them.

SEE, www.heartlandconnection.com/ for the story and you can see for yourself a dead Mountain Lion and the ridiculous debate among people about the subject which most of us know nothing about.

[JerseyHunter]

Hey great info and read .

[4Pointer]

YEP,,,,,,,,,,,, THATS A DEAD CAT,
GREAT READ,,,

[LongSpur39]

Holy smokes!! Our state claims they aren't here. But there have been several sightings for years by folks. They are so elusive and mostly nocturnal hunters. So I really can't doubt some claims. But to see one shot that close to your home.OOFFF! I don't really care for them to be around.

[grizz1]

I have more information on the Missouri cat. He weighed 128 lbs, is believed to be about 18 months old, is under going testing to see if they can tell his origin, possibly North or South Dakota.
On Saturday A large group of Amish gathered for their annual predator hunt. They do this by having neighbors with trucks take them around a large section of land letting out groups of hunters that walk in to the center of the section. I was told it is a two stage process, about 50 begin the walk with another 50 following about 5 minutes later. Armed with shotguns it is often the last group that gets the shot at coyotes and foxes.

On this hunt there happened to be a Mountain Lion come out from under a Cedar tree, it was shot two times by two different hunters that were close together.
I have heard more than one account of the hunt, the lion part is the most accurate. They also shot 18 coyotes and 3 foxes but not sure if it was on this one drive or more than the one hunt. There were between 80 and 90 hunters on the predator hunt.
Sounds like it would work great but I can't organize more than 3 to 4 people at a time.