One in Richland County this summer and one giant black one wednesday trying to stalk some calves in Crawford County.
Both were right on trout streams I frequent.
I would expect some local farmers to use the same policy I heard indirectly from a lifelong rancher in Arizona combatting the wolf issue, “Shoot, shovel, shut up.” Calves are easier to catch than fawns, but probably have more protective owners.
As long as they aren’t stalking you (or YOUR calves), that’d be pretty cool to see!
The count for licensed kills is up to 23 and eight in the preditor area here in Wyoming. Have a pic of a track in my hunting area. Will put it here if I can. Reported a count of 20 to 25 in my area for hunting and some fishing.
California has had one off and on in Northern California for the past year or so. I would think that if there was one around, it would be great to have around. Sorry for the cattle ranchers, but killing such a beast would be a tragedy…
I guess its a cultural thing but starting out on a small farm and working with cattle off and on until I was about 40, I find letting a wild animal kill young calves to be more of a tragedy than killing the wolf. The calf will grow to produce food either as a source of food itself, or by producing milk or as a breeding animal. I remember woring around a few calves, cows and bulls who were gentle enough to pet although I never knew anyone who really considered them as such. A wolf may look majestic running across a plain or slipping through the woods, but really contributes little other than maybe herd control on deer or other wild animals and makes life for hard working ranchers harder.
I agree Uncle Jesse, my wife’s family raise cattle here in Wyoming and wolves are top of the predator chain. At least know we can control them, here. The moose, elk, and deer populations have been greatly devistated and now will, maybe, be able to grow back up in numbers.
South Dakota went through the same debate with mountain lions a few years back. The Game and Fish folks proposed a mountain lion season since there were getting to be more and more every year, particularly in the Black Hills. Caused quite a heated debate. Every year they increased the number of cats that could be harvested. That also caused an uproar among some people.
Once the mountain lions started showing up in more and more towns, killing pets, and killing livestock, etc. as well as spreading across more of the state we don’t hear much about it any more.
I remember reading cougar was a favorite food of the original mountain men of the west. Probably taste like chicken.
Lions and wolves in close proximity to people gets to be an issue quickly, they think kids taste like chicken.
In towns around the Black Hills it pet cats seem to be a favorite meal for the roaming mountain lions.
I think the thing that really opened people’s eyes as to how many mountain lions there were getting to be was when it was no longer unusual to hear of a mountain lion sighting in the eastern part of the state, several hundred miles from their traditional range.
Hope this isn’t opening a can of worms (can you say worms on a fly fishing site?) but if there ever was proof that well-managed hunting has no affect on game animal populations, the South Dakota Mountain Lion hunting season is it. Almost every year the number of mountain lions allowed to be harvested has gone up and, yet, the mountain lion population continues to increase.
As a guy who spent considerable time in my younger days jogging in the dark around industrial parks and other suburban areas, I am glad we do not have wolves or cougars in the area. Back 15 years or so ago, a black bear was killed on the interstate that had he made it across would have put him near my regular jogging route at the time. That could have resulted in a personal best run time.
We all know you meant San Juan Worms…
Ed
Not trying to hijack this thread but…God must be black, why else would he make so many things taste like chicken.
I don’t believe this is racist as I was told this joke by a black comedian.
I have tasted fried rattle snake, it does taste somewhat like chicken!