SO... What is the consensus out there. If you see a cougar while legally hunting, would you shoot it or not? Any reasoning to share upon your opinion?

I would in a second. I usually do not shoot anything I wouldnt eat. I wouldnt shoot a bobcat, dont shoot fox. I would possibly shoot a coyote, but never have so far. But, a big cat I would drop in a second. One of thee reasons is Im here on the farm, and we have all kinds of animals and small kids running around. Also, it would just be awesome to geet one, lol. Id defintly have it put on the wall.

Depends on the situation. Am I some place the cat is supposed to be and no danger to anyone? No, don't shoot.

Am I on someone's ranch with live stock and the cat is a threat, then I'd shoot.

The gentlemen who owns one of my leases said "shoot". So I will. Won't like it, but I will.

I have thought about this and come to the conclusion that if it's OK with the great state of TX then it's OK with me. I'm going to shoot.

Sure, what are some of ya'lls reasons not to?

Yes.

Shoot, if I get a chance.

My Favorite Quote on here is "Call em in close and shoot em in the FACE"
I'd Shoot!

I think I'd shoot.

I would shoot one to have it mounted but if another came along after that NO...I saw one about 15 yrs ago on a friends ranch outside Rio Grande City....Caught me off guard....watched him for 10 mins 200 yrds away on a sendero just sniffing and marking his territory like cats do...He disappeared in the brush...30 min later walked back across the sendero dragging a javalina....pretty cool...

I couldn't shoot it fast enough. There are certain animals that are top predators for game, live stock, and sometimes people (mainly children). A mountain lion (cougar) is one of these. I would hope every answer in this thread would be to drop it on the spot. I can not think of any reason why someone would not shoot such a predator.

I'd shoot it for the same reasons everyone has already said. They are a danger to livestock and people, especially little ones. Plus, who wouldn't want to be able to say they've killed a cougar? Pretty cool if you ask me.

I'd shoot it for none other than the fact i want to kill a mountain lion.

Aside from the fact that mountain lion can wreak havoc in a high fence place, I think it would be 100% awesome to have a chance at one.

def shoot

choot'em!!

X2

I honestly don't know if I would shoot or not. If I had to say one way or the other though, I'd say no, I'd let it walk and try to get a picture

I let one go about 10 years ago in Cross Plains area. It was after dark I was in the tower and he was walking down the trail by the fence in full moonlight. Still see that movement in his hips, the tail almost dragging the ground and the moon changing reflection on his back. He was slowly getting away from me and I knew that the percentages of a clean kill were not very good. When I was driving home next day I was really proud of myself for the restrain. I let many deer walk in my life, but this was not quite in the same class.
BTW, I realised, that the guy who sold me the spot on this small place, was not baiting me, when he was telling me about a cougar frequenting the area........

I would shoot if I could afford to Mount it. I do think They are a threat to livestock...But not a threat to people. Ya just don't here too many stories of people getting attacked by large cat's !

I think I would pass. If they ever get plentiful enough to become a threat, I might change my mind. Never heard of any livestock being killed by them in our area.

I would shoot him in a heart beat. He would be mounted.