These 2 lions were killed the later part of May on a ranch near Sanderson. They were killing a deer per day.

When T.P.& W. was trying to get the Desert Bighorns established down at Black Gap, the lions were killing them off faster than T.P. & W. could find places to get stock. They were finally able to get fences tall enough around their brood pens to keep the lions out. Thanks for posting the picture. Sorta confirms the idea that there are probably a lot more of those things out there than anybody realizes.

I don't think that most people are aware of just how much damage that lions can do and how many there are in the state.

Not to get off the subject, but I understand thru TP&W there is a limited population of black bear in east texas. I don't think there is a established season yet, but some of my family owns land out there, and you can bet if they ever opened it up I'm gone. If population continues to grow, then maybe a season established in the near future.I know they have stocked turkey out there, but have not heard of any reports. If someone has info., please let me know. Sorry to pull us off topic, great picture of the lions, would love to see one in my crosshairs. Are you going to mount them?

Spanky

That was not me that shot them, but, they will be mounted.

Goat

Not meaning to be the spoil sport here, but I really doubt that Texas will ever open up a bear season, no matter how big the population gets. At one time they might have, but because of the changes in the make-up of where the people in Texas have immigrated from, we are going to be lucky to keep deer hunting alive. as for lions, I know that folks on the forum, can give reasons as to why they would not shoot one if they saw it, but if they get listed as game animals, you will never have the chance again. Those two cats in the picture Goat posted, would collectively cost about 7 to 8 thousand dollars in Colorado or New Mexico or most of the other Western states to have been harvested counting licenses and guide fees.

The area north of San Antonio where I've been hunting for several years has had the deer population in the area impacted in a big way by the cats. The problem lies in the fact that the area has been subjected to an urban sprawl and now the cats have been driven back into a small area of ranches that are eventually going the same route of the others. In the meantime the cats have pretty much their way for now with the once abundant food supply. The strange thing about all of this is the close proximity to the human population that these cats are adapting to. There has been a couple instances that I've heard where people in this area have noticed pets turning up missing and I'm sure a lot of them would be shocked if they only knew how close these cats are to their homes. The cats will soon move on but its sad to witness the effects that urban sprawl is having on what once was a wild and untamed piece of the Texas hillcountry.

That is becoming an increasing problem all across the areas of Texas where there is a lot of new developement going on. Mountain Lions, Coyotes, Bobcats, and Great horned Owls, find pets a really good alternative food source. A lot of this would stop, if these new "Country-Livoing Pet Owners", would realize that their pet is a fairly easy target on the food chain.

The smaller lion weighed 85 lbs. and the big one weighed 138. They will stalk a human also.

goat

I was deer hunting last year around Quanah/Pease River breaks. It had came a good soaking rain on the ranch. We were driving down road and came upon fresh deer track followed by cougar track. Dont know how big the cougar was but it must have been a big one. We tape measured the track and they were 4 inch wide and 6 inchs long. It was still muddy but it is hard to believe the track were that big!! Good pictures goat Thanks

Probably more people have been stalked, and at fairly close range than would care to know about it. Modern, city bred and raised humans, just don't want to come to grips with the fact, that we are part of the food chain, and not always at the top.

We got a couple of younger ones running around our property outside of Breckenridge. My dad walked up on a full grown one years ago. Saw the tracks again recently so they are still hanging around. Spooky sound to hear one in the middle of the night.

Anybody seen any in Delta/Hopkins County? I have found tracks along the Sulfur River. A guy on a neighboring property was hunting along the river in his tree stand and saw one big mama cat and two young uns cruising the river bank. The guy left his stand and feeder and never came back it scared him so bad. This was around Charleston which is not far from Cooper Lake.

I have heard reports of them from just about everywhere but very seldom can anyone actually show you even a track. As for getting stalked down by one, I would say you have a better shot of getting hit by lightning from a clear blue sky. The landowner who's property I hunt on in Young county claims there is one around there but we have not found any sign yet. I guess nothing would really surprise me though!

That not being surprised, is a really good attitude to take. As I made reference to once before I grew up in the Newcastle / Olney area, and I can tell you first hand, that the country up there has changed a whole bunch. There have always been rumors of lions in Young county, and I think, and I will have to go back and look it up, but the last or only authenticated mountain lion being killed in Young county, was in the 1880's or 90's. A lot of people have moved out of Young county in the past 30 years and areas where some of you folks are setting up deer stands are setting in what used to be a wheat field.
As far as being stalked down, no that is rare except out further west. Being stalked, is different, in that the animal may never get closer than 50 or 60 yards, and you won't even know it is there. As far as tracks go, unless it is really sandy or fairly wet and muddy, a lion doesn't leave much of a track. JMO

GO TO THE TP&W HOME PAGE AND LOOK FOR THE NOV. 02' ISSUE. AN ARTICLE TITLED "THE BEARS ARE COMING" TELLS OF THE LAST LEGAL KILLING OF A BEAR DOWN AROUND NEWTON/JASPER COUNTIES IN 1962.

OK wheres the black one?????

Jimbo,

We know their in South Texas but I have herd around Wimberly they have been seeing one.??

Nice pics. We have them in Montague county. Guy across the road from me shot at one with his pistol last year during turkey season. It has been spotted by several others in about a 3 mile area.

I see the cats but I think I see Bigfoot in the middle... I guess a panther was out of the question? LOL

They should have painted one black!

Has anybody seen the picture at the feed store in Ranger, it is a picture of a large black CAT. I have not talked with the owner about the picture yet, but I am going to the next trip. I am not going to start anything yet.

Was the cat dead or alive? I have heard stories for years about black panthers but I have never heard of anyone killing one and have never even got a good answer to what kind of cat they are. When I asked the Coke county game warden about it he said he did not think they existed. Just wondering if you guys had any info? Thanks!

i have been told their are cats in north medina county near the lake. a rancher even said he saw a black cat last season. nayone heard of any cats in this area?

It was alive and on the move, picture wasn't that good.

Haven't there even been a few sightings in the River Legacy Park area of Arlington??