Thread: Mountain Lion in Oklahoma?

Did it try and come after you or something? Just wondering why you felt the need to try and shoot it.

I used to teach at Woodland School in Osage County, (Fairfax-Ralston), several of my students lived on ranches in the big bend area and they told me that there had been 8 pair released by fish and game department in the big bend area. Many of these same students also coon hunted and had seen them after the release. A couple of rancher friends told me they had seen them while out checking cattle. Also a friend worked as a volunteer with the Dept. of Wildlife Conservation and he had investigated an attack on a lady north of Kaw City, Ok. a couple of years ago. It was a female protecting her cubs.

I saw one about 200 yards off the turner turnpike about 2 miles east of bristow about 7 or 8 years back. BIG CAT!!!!!

Originally Posted by Crappie Hog

I was fishing in shell lake last spring and saw a tan one on the bank sunning in the creek area. When it saw me coming toward it on my boat it took off. It probably weighed around 60 pounds or so. It definitely wasnt a dog or a regular house cat. I started to take a shot at it with my pistol, but it's sand springs city ordinance. They're definitely in osage county too.

And illegal to kill one in OK I think as well, but if I saw one I think I'd have to take a shot if I had a gun handy.

Originally Posted by Fiver000

I saw one about 200 yards off the turner turnpike about 2 miles east of bristow about 7 or 8 years back. BIG CAT!!!!!

Not too far from my friend's duck lake, and in the same time frame.

Originally Posted by Crappie Hog

I was fishing in shell lake last spring and saw a tan one on the bank sunning in the creek area. When it saw me coming toward it on my boat it took off. It probably weighed around 60 pounds or so. It definitely wasnt a dog or a regular house cat. I started to take a shot at it with my pistol, but it's sand springs city ordinance. They're definitely in osage county too.

Why would you take a shot at one? What if you hit it and killed it? Would you feel better about yourself? They may or may not be on the endangered species list idk. but they are definitely rare around here. Sounds like you would rather live in a world without them.

Over the years I have seen mountain lions in LeFlore County, Pottawatomie County, Cherokee County, McCurtain County, Pittsburg County and Johnston County. I have also seen many in Colorado when living there and doing extensive backpacking for fishing and archery hunting elk. They have been in Oklahoma for many years. They are secretive and nocturnal so not readily seen. BTW, the one I saw in Pittsburg County in 2007 was about thirty yards from the shore of Lake Eufaula, less than 1/2 mile from a populated housing development. It was carrying a dead domestic cat in it's mouth.

Actually, they are prevalent enough that the wildlife department has had this in their hunting regulations for a couple of years...

"MOUNTAIN LION

License Requirements

Residents & Nonresidents: A hunting license or proof of exemption.

Dates & Open Areas

Mountain lions can be taken year-round when committing or about to commit depredation or when deemed a nuisance, safety or health hazard.

You must immediately call a game warden or other Department employee if you kill a mountain lion.

The carcass (including hide) will be examined by a Department employee within 24 hours for biological data collection, which may include the removal of a tooth."

That one looks like it's been eating real good.