Mountain Lion Hunts

Hunting Mountain Lion

Mountain lion, also known as puma, cougar, and other names, live in various habitats throughout western Canada, the western United States, and parts of Mexico, Central America, and South America. Mountain lion hunting seasons are open in Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, South Dakota, North Dakota, Texas, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. There’s also some mountain lion hunting in Mexico and Argentina.

There are a few options available for a mountain lion hunter. Baiting is non-productive as lions prefer eating animals they kill themselves. The animal is too secretive and nocturnal to allow spot-and-stalk hunting. Calling is possible but very rare, and even if a cat is enticed to come in, determining the size will be difficult. The most efficient and exciting way of hunting the cats is with a pack of hounds. Hunters search until a fresh track is found, and then a pack of dogs is released. The hounds will chase the cat until it trees, holding it at bay until the hunters arrive. The hunt is not a sure thing as the terrain is often extremely rough, and it is not always possible to get to the treed cat, and sometimes the lion escapes the dogs.

The mountain lion is the fourth largest cat in the world, much larger than a leopard. And yet, for its size, ability, and distribution, the shy and elusive cougar kills or maims only a small number of people. This is probably because the cats usually come in contact with well-armed hunters. To maintain the perception of people as unacceptable food, some degree of hunting pressure must be maintained. But this very fact ensures that hunting mountain lions, a time-honored tradition in the west, is also an extremely exciting, and demanding pursuit. Working with hounds and following a mountain lion through rugged terrain is an exciting experience.

Mountain Lion Hunts in the USA

Most North American big game species, like bears, whitetail, or mule deer, have similar hunting seasons from state to state. This makes hunting mountain lion seem even more confusing because it's as if there is almost no logic as to when cat season is open. Some states, like Arizona and South Dakota, have an open season all year round. In Wyoming, the season runs from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31, but in Utah, the season runs from Nov. 9 to March 31. In many states, the season dates are often further limited depending on where you plan to hunt.

Some states have seasons that can end suddenly and unexpectedly if they reach their quotas. For example, they sometimes base quotas on sex. So, once hunters harvest a certain number of female or male lions, the season closes. Some states close individual hunt areas as their quotas are reached. So, before you hunt mountain lions in one of these states, be sure to double-check their regulations. When successful in your harvest, be aware that you will likely have to check the animal in with a state wildlife agency. Unlike many other big game animals, checking in a mountain lion is almost always mandatory. State biologists want to gather as much information as possible about these animals. They will want to look over your kill before you butcher the meat or take it to a taxidermist.

Find out where the check stations are for the state you are hunting. Most states require you to get your lion checked within 24 hours of the hunt. That means you may have to hurry if you're in a remote area. Some states also require you to have some proof of the animal's gender when you check in, so see what they want for proof before the animal is field dressed.

Mountain Lion Hunts in Canada

Vancouver Island has the highest concentration of mountain lion in the world. And while conflicts between cougars and humans are rare, being prepared for a cougar encounter will help minimize the chance of harm to either yourself or these cats.

Alberta is one of two provinces in Canada where a nonresident can hunt a lion. It also produces some of the largest cats each year. Mountain lion populations are estimated to be more than 2500 lions, most of which reside in the SW portion of Alberta. A big mature tom can weigh 160 lbs., with the biggest of lions tipping the scale at 180 lbs. When hunting with hounds in the vast foothills of Alberta, there is no telling what size lion a hunter might meet.

British Columbia also allows mountain lions to be hunted. They are primarily hunted using dog packs and snowmobiles. A big advantage of hunting your mountain lion in British Columbia is that British Columbia is the only place in North America that also allows the hunting of a Canadian Lynx. British Columbia also produces some of the largest mountain lions taken each year.

Mountain Lion Hunts in South America

Found throughout La Pampa Province, west of Buenos Aires in Argentina, the puma (felis concolor) is the only native cat that can be hunted legally in Argentina. A male puma can weigh up to 200 pounds, but the average weight is around 150 pounds. Even though pumas are very plentiful in La Pampa, they are so elusive and secretive that many hunters have never seen one in the wild. Pumas are not particularly tough to bring down, and any deer caliber rifle will work fine. Shot placement is crucial since a wounded puma is a very serious matter. Good optics are essential as well, even though shots will be under 50 yards. Pumas are not particularly tough to bring down, and any deer caliber will work fine. Shot placement is crucial since a wounded puma is a very serious matter. Good optics are essential as well, even though shots will be not more than 50 yds. Current Argentina regulations do not allow for the export of wild native pumas.

Patagonian pumas, one of the largest subspecies, can be found from Arica to Magallanes near the tip of Chile. They dwell in shrubby steppes, dense woodlands, and mountains and are easily spotted in Torres del Paine National Park, where there is an exceptionally high density. In Torres del Paine, males and females have overlapping home ranges of up to 40 square miles. 

Prowling the rocky crags and forests, these sharp-eyed cats are proficient night hunters with a highly developed sense of smell and hearing. These carnivores hunt large and small animals, including birds such as lesser rheas and upland geese, small mammals such as rodents and hares, deer, and occasionally domestic livestock. The puma's favorite prey is guanacos, and being ambush predators, they stalk their victims before springing, securing their meal with a fatal bite to the neck. Though pumas hunt alone, they have been recorded sharing kills.

Mountain Lion Hunts in Mexico

Mountain lions in Mexico are also called forest Pumas. They have smaller heads than their northern relatives and are highly sought after. Traditionally they were hunted in the forests of the Campeche Province but current regulations do not allow hunting them.