I would suggest that anytime the big cats are around they are endangering your livestock...but that is only based on seven years of experience (as a teen)...had a cat that would come through about every week to ten days, and take out some of our fowl. The cat had a really bad habit of walking across the roof (over my bedroom) and jumping off the house right at my window onto the well house roof, then onto the barn roof, into the pen area...FYI, I let that cat walk too, because I didn't have the nerve to face it down....

Having a need to kill something is different than having the opportunity to kill something...I doubt you will ever get the opportunity...

You know, I just LOVE how folks QUOTE the internet info as GOSPEL TRUTH....No offense meant, Harvey....just saying...

Don't forget to kill those coyotes, as well.

Mountain Lion-The other white meat

http://gocarnivore.com/2013/01/24/mountain-lion-recipes/

http://www.montanaoutdoor.com/2013/01/how-to-prepare-and-cook-mountain-lion-meat/

http://www.outdoorhub.com/news/south-dakota-cooking-class-offers-a-taste-of-mountain-lion/

Cats are legal, and my personal thoughts are that I have no problem with someone shooting one - but there are few things to consider. First, they roam so much that if you are lucky to see one, you prolly won't see it again. They RARELY stay in an area unless (a) mother with young, or (b) exceptional food source. But the ones that stay in an area can become problematic for the deer, hogs, and livestock. I do not consider them much of a threat to people.

If you do shoot one, be prepared to spend done serious cash to have it mounted. If aren't aren't prepared to spend the money, best to enjoy the viewing and let them be. Unless they are causing problems, by documented evidence, they should, IMHO, left alone.

I've seen enough that never get mounted or have a crappy mount done (hard to find a good cat taxi) and they folks end up regretting shooting it. They are edible, but I personally think deer would be better option for eating.

They aren't exact rare on Texas, but they are definitely not common and it's a rare treat to see one. If you're a rancher and have a problem animal I can see killing one just for the sake of killing, but just to shoot one because of a rare opportunity and then not follow up with getting it properly mounted is just wrong.

I don't think I would shoot one if I saw it. The are a neat animal and as pointed out, they roam very large areas. Now, if one had set up shop and killed some livestock, then he'd be public enemy number one.

Weather or not they are eating livestock to me is not the question. They are eating something, and that is on your property. They will eat your game animals, and a lot of them, quail, rabbit, hog, turkey, and deer. They are quite rare in our parts sure, but by allowing it to walk (albeit your decision, and I'm ok with that), you are saying that you are ok with it eating your animals, or your neighbors. I can't say what I would do, since I have never seen one and probably won't but in my mind I would think that I would treat it like any other predator....shoot it. I want my quail, dove and turkey numbers up, not cats or yotes...
Again, I do not have a problem with anyone else letting it walk, but to do so may be a mistake. just my opinion. Good conversation tho.

If I saw a mountain lion while hunting, I would shoot it for sure. Probably make a cool rug and maybe a euro on the skull. Then I would get on THF and post a really long story about how I stalked it and strangled it with my bare hands.

I have been lucky enough to see 2 in my lifetime. One in southern Callahan county on the pecan bayou about 15 years ago. We stopped to open a gate in the middle of the ranch in the river bottom at dark after our hunt and when I got back in the truck it was walking across the road about 20ft in front of the truck. My dad always made us empty our guns and put them up so no one had a gun loaded. By the time we got one it was gone. Never saw it again and lost the lease on the place the next year.

I saw another one in NW Callahan county about 5 years ago while hunting one afternoon. It was about 5pm and 80 degrees on opening weekend. I watched it for about 2 minutes at 300 yards cruising a game trail. It stopped to scratch its head on a cedar bush and I was gonna shoot it after it cleared it and it just vanished. We've seen tracks since then but never another cat.

I kinda thought of it as one would an albino deer. It was so rare and beautiful I just wanted to watch it and be thankful I had the chance to see it in the wild. Then I thought about the "fame" of shooting one and the trophy it would make. I couldn't make up my mind if it would be more satisfying to let it walk and know i witnessed one of natures rarities or shoot it strictly for sport and trophy. I was dead sure if I ever see one I would shoot without hesitation but that changed when I actually saw one. I know for sure now that if I get lucky enough to see one again I will shoot it. I'm hoping I got some good karma for letting 2 walk so maybe I'll be lucky enough to have a chance at another one.

^ great stories!

no such thing as a black panther, I've heard mountain lions taste really good, and they can eat 20-40 deer a year.

There are black panthers, I don't know where people get off on that they are not real. Now the only place you will see one is probably in the jungle, and it will be a jaguar, but it's basically the same difference.

I have seen a grown black cat late one evening, but wasn't sure at the time of identification. Long distance off as it ran angled across the lower end of field. Just knew it was something I didn't recognize by it's movements and characteristics. Then about two months later a friend and I were varmint calling the same property and positively ID,d a young kitten about the size of a grown bobcat. Memory from previous mystery sighting, I think could have been momma. Neighbors lose livestock at periodic times about twice a year. I understand they roam a great distance (60-70 miles). Here today, who knows where tomorrow!1

as I said, if a lion was killing livestock I'd be actively seeking to put him down. We run stock and every time a coyote hits us it pisses me off beyond belief.

But if a lion comes through our place 2-3 times per year and kills a deer, I'm okay with that. They're not 'my' deer, and they're not my neighbors deer either. Lions arent good to eat so what is the point in killing one?

Have you ever eaten a cougar? I've heard that they're good.

Tried and not true.

But some other cougars may be

1st part wrong.

2nd part truth.

I have seen two mountain lions in my life and both times were relatively very quick, once in the Ozarks of Arkansas and another time in Montague County, Texas. Considering that, it would certainly be amazing if you happened to have a rifle and enough time for a shot.

I understand about the only way to really hunt one is with dogs.

Thought this was a hunting forum. I'd love to see and shoot a mountain lion.

Yes they taste very good. I use to hunt them a lot. If cook right you do not need a knife to cut steak.

I live and ranch in Freer Texas and there are quite a few mountian lions in my area in 30 years i've seen 5-6 never had a shot at one. Most of the time you see them while driving and only for a moment. Once while hunting in mexico we went to fill feeders without a gun not sure how that happened but saw one 50 yds from the truck rolling in the sand got up and looked at the truck and just waked off. Rancher almost kicked us off thr ranch for that killed alot of his horses.As far as black cats they do happen i've owned 3 - 2 black jaguar and a black leporad would'nt be too far a strech for a black jagaur to wonder into south texas. most sighting of black cats in south texas are jararundi's i have seen a few of them along the nuces river.

It used to be.

Id love to catch one with my bare hands

I understand how someone would like to shoot one. Just not for me. I have no desire to have one mounted, or place to put a rug. If it were killing my horses, goats, calves etc. then it's on. But I don't have any of those.

fellow hog hunter went hunten lions, aint seen him since always thought they were protected, he said it was legal, he had talked ta GW.