why exactly does the gov hire these trappers for? do they have access to private ranches w/o permission?

IF there's a black one I want it!

He was called in, there have been several reported sighting's over the last 6 month's on this ranch and the adjoining ranches, and of course half of the sightings swear it's black. The big ranch seems to be the best spot for one to take up permanent residence, plenty of water, mountains and critter's.

He the game biologist who's also involved and I had that discussion, we decided we're splitting it 3 ways and retiring. I personally think most the sightings are BS, I’m here everyday, I’m all over the ranch daily and the only evidence I’ve seen of a big cat is one set of questionable track’s and a coyote that I’d shot was picked up and carried for about 400 yard’s up the side of a hill before being completely consumed. Who knows, heck we just had a bear confirmed in Garden City not 2 month’s ago.

Hwyman how far are you from Sterling City?

The North end of the ranch is about 40 miles the South end about 28 miles from Sterling. It's the ranch that has Signal Peak on it, if you’re familiar with the area. If your traveling down I-20 look south about 10 miles east of Big Spring, can’t miss it. Helo has some better pic's of the mountain's.

Here you go Mike I got a bunch more.

Ill have to come over for lunch during deer season, I didn't realize you were that close to where I hunt.

Gods country.. Thank you for sharing HWYman and Helo

The pics really don't do the place justice. It is absolutely gorgeous out there.

I can only imagne!!!

I'm not familiar with signal peak, does it have historical significance or just a landmark? Always interested in history, and these big ranches seem to have plenty.

HWY, does this mean we could maybe turn the hunt for the THF beard comp. into a black cat hunt? LOL

Great looking place, Mike. I've always liked that country.

whats a ranch like that worth?

HWY MAN, that is a beautiful ranch, for sure, and you are correct about the posible den areas for cats, and other things. However, those are not mountains, but Mesa topped hills!

that is a purdy place

We have a big cat on our lease that is keeping the deer run out. I am not hunting the back side of the lease till rifle season opens up. Paw prints are 4-5 inches diammeter without the clawas and some small paw prints with it. Fresh tracks everytime it rains.

I bet you have a awesome arrowhead collection.

I know and love that area, my whole family is from Big Spring.

Man those pics are awesome. I'd love to have a good horse, a month with nothing to do, and free range of that place! Hwyman, I definately envy you!

Funny you mention horse's because that exactly what we did yesterday afternoon. We loaded up the horses and rode out about 4 mile's of rim's looking for cat sign. We found 2 area's that had fresh track's, both were in saddle's, we found a deep depression/cave on the south east side of the Sisters that had several pile's of old scat but no fresh track's. Sure looks like a den to me but it hasn't been used in several months. We jumped a covey of Aoudad Ram's on the west side of the Sisters; two of them were damn nice!

In my second picture you'll see a pump jack on the right, that saddle in the back ground is one of the area's we seen fresh cat track's and that steep bluff to the left is where we jumped the aoudad's.

I'd give up one of the boys to be there with ya, lol!

I don't know about that, my butt's reminding me just how long it's been since it's seen any saddle time. Old butt's don't have much cushion, that and I believe they're making horse's much taller now.

LOL, you do take a beating if it's been a while. And it's been a WHILE...