Using this same lion population density model, MLF estimates that New Mexico currently has approximately 2,550 mountain lions distributed accordingly: Apparently, officials at NMDGF felt that the population estimates derived from the 2008 model were too low. The biggest lion species known to mankind is the Barbary lion, however, it is known that they became extinct some time ago. My cougar research made memories of my first lion adventure even more vivid, and I decided to arrange for one additional, and final, hunt with Bill Wallace. Here's what he said. These statutes are searchable. P-104, a subadult male mountain lion, was killed by a car on PCH today. They are the most wide-ranging cat species in the world and are found as far north as Canada and as far south as Chile. 2010. He was the most recent cat to be captured as part of our puma study. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. It was truly an awesome animal, one I thought might make the top five of the Pope and Young trophy list. We later guessed his weight to be between 180 and 190 pounds. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Mountain lions may be hunted with center-fire rifles and handguns, 28 gauge or larger shotguns, muzzle-loading rifles, bows, and crossbows. (Photograph courtesy of the Boone and Crockett Club. Wallace moved out ahead as the chase warmed up, announcing, Im going to turn o Ranger loose. Ranger was having trouble untangling the maze of tracks around the sheep, so Bill took the dogs collar and led him in a wide circle away from the kill. About 15 minutes later, the sound of the baying hounds abruptly changed. See more about the Big Game Records Program. The Democratic Party has controlled both houses of the New Mexico Legislature since at least 1992. According to WildEarth Guardians, Since 2008, private trappers in New Mexico have killed nearly 150,000 native wildlife species such as bobcats, swift foxes, badgers, beavers, ermine, and coyotes. Eric M. Rominger, PhD, Bighorn Sheep Biologist is an official Boone and Crockett Club Measurer. Fifteen minutes later, the tempo of the hound chorus reached a peak with wild yelping and barking. When Craig offered to take him on a hunt, Bradley and his father, Bert, were in. Former Denver Broncos player and current Denver sports talk radio co-host Derek Wolfe not only legally killed a large mountain lion in Colorado, he did it in an unusual way with a bow. New Mexico also has two long-term programs which attempt to protect other species by lethally removing mountain lions from specific geographic locations. Size and weight of cougars vary. Following that experience, I did not plan to ever hunt another cougar, mainly because I already had an excellent trophy. He took about three quick bounds and slumped into the snow. JEMEZ SPRINGS (KRQE) - Police said a mountain lion was behind a string of attacks on dogs in a New Mexico village. New Mexico law allows any landowner, lessee, or employee of either to kill any mountain lion on their land that presents an immediate threat to human life. The killing must be reported to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish within 24 hours and before the carcass is removed in accordance with commission regulations. Legal Statement. Near the bottom of the canyon, the cat had bounded along a narrow rock ledge, then jumped into a cedar tree. The wildlife agency said the male mountain lion was estimated to weigh 170 pounds and measure 7 feet, 6 inches long without the tail, which can grow to 3 feet long. NORTH BEND, Wash. Emergency crews responded around 11:20 a.m. Saturday to a mountain lion attack in foothills near North Bend. Palestinian militants take part in a military parade during a memorial ceremony commemorating their late comrades Ezzeddin Hamamrah, 24 and Amjad Khleleyah, 23 . 2. In New Mexicos legal code, Puma concoloris generally referred to as cougar.. About the same time both the Boone and Crockett and Pope and Young Clubs declared that only lions coming from states that no longer paid the bounty fee were eligible to be entered in their biannual competitions and permanent records. We downed the coffee and headed out with haste. All of this action was the culmination of much research, planning, and practice, plus an exhausting chase over some of the roughest country in western Colorado. On April 4, 2021, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed intolaw Senate Bill 32, which bans bans traps, snares, and poisons on public lands across New Mexico. 1986. No, just how many sheep its been killing.. (Photograph courtesy of the Boone and Crockett Club), NM record nontypical Coues deer, taken in Hidalgo County by Peter M. Chase, 1941. Breathe deep, make your case, be valiant on the Heros Journey. We asked for safety advice from expert who captured 300 mountain lions. Wolfe wrote on his account that the lion had killed two dogs and was living under a porch belonging to a woman who was "nervous what he might do next." "That is one of the biggest lion tracks I've ever seen in all my years of guiding," Bill exclaimed. The most we could hope for was to keep within earshot. Even the guides looked a little puzzled, Bradley said. UPSET ALERT? The best insights from the ultimate insiders, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Why are people who say, Look at the big beautiful animal compelled to shoot them?, To which I ask, Why will anyone, compelled to comment with great energy on matters deemed worthy, by their cavalier composition, diminish the very nobility of what they infer to be defending?. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Here is a list of Official Measurers you may contact to have your trophy officially scored. Rocky Mountain Mule Deer - Typical. "New Mexico has a healthy population of mountain lions and people who live around them must learn to take precautions and avoid dangerous encounters.". You can submit comments through March 12, but we recommend submitting as soon as possible. In 1971, mountain lions became a protected species, under the management authority of the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. The wildlife agency estimates 3,000 to 7,000 lions live in Colorado. Then I had to crawl backwards down the mountain with him to get him to the truck I fell 10ft off a rock face on the way down lol. | Texas Game Wardens responded to the report of a dead mountain lion Saturday morning in the median just south of Sebastian in Willacy County near the floodway, state officials said. As we shook hands, he said, I was out to check on the sheep kill. Hahaha use hundos on fishing line too lure those cougars in for the kill. Although the scientific name, Puma concolor, means cat of one color, the dominant tan or light-cinnamon color of the cougar is contrasted by its white chest and underside. Mountain lion hunting season runs from April 1 to March 31 or until a units mortality limit or female sub-limit is met. Colorado Parks and Wildlife said 9% of the 360 mountain lions legally killed in the state since Nov. 28, 2022, have been taken with a bow. Bills been real busy, Bob told me. (Iowa DNR) A mountain lion was killed in Johnson County last weekend, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The hunters followed, scaling a steep hill coated with up to 18 inches of snow. Too easily overlooked are those who, because their tragedy is not sufficiently sudden and dynamic and violent enough to Make the News, that all is OK. The animal an adult female weighing 116 pounds was shot by two. Since 1917, (the first year records are available) at least 7,779 mountain lions have been reported killed by humans in New Mexico. He disappeared over a small ridge ahead, tail wagging with excitement. 3. Before offering my thoughts, regarding one of the above posts, I offer the following correction: It has been reported that the biggest wild lion of this species weighed 690 pounds. Since the lion characteristically eats only what it itself has killed, the animal cannot be baited like the black bear. Most of the commenters on Wolfes post were impressed with the hunting feat. Information on finding your state legislators can be foundhere. 54: May 12, 2015: Laclede: Adult, male mountain lion killed in a vehicle collision. However, it certainly could not have melted much in the below zero weather. The state Department of Game and Fish determined the lion attacked Nawojski just below the ledge, dragged his body a short distance and then ate and buried parts of it. They arrived at Craigs backcountry camp along the Lochsa River the next day. (Photograph courtesy of B. Neal Ainsworth, Jr.), New Mexico record typical elk, picked up in Catron County in 1997. Adult males are largeroften measuring up to eight feet in length and weighing 150-200 pounds. Record Mountain Lion By Henry Phillips 11 years ago New Mexico 19303 views 9 comments 5 ReDrop Report Tweet that's a big one. As the hounds tried to reach him, he spat and waved a claw-extended paw in defiance. In the Tapajs-Arapiuns Extractive Reserve in the Brazilian Amazon, 77% of reported mountain lion killings were due to chance encounters and 23% were hunted as retaliation for killing cattle. When was the last mountain lion killed in Maine? Harvest and depredation reports update frequently. 2023 www.coloradoan.com. In 1999 the Commission authorized NMDGF to preemptively kill up to 34 mountain lions each year from the following five mountain ranges: Peloncillo, Ladron, Hatchets, San Andres, and Fra Cristobal. However, on January 22, the Eastern cougar subspecies was officially declared extinct in the U.S. and removed from the endangered species list by the U.S. (Photo: Courtesy of Boone and Crockett Club), New Mexico record desert bighorn sheep. While trophy hunting threatens the future of lions in New Mexico, the recent authorization of trapping has exacerbated wildlife mortality and set the state back decades in terms of management attitudes and the publics trust in the agency. But its more than medals and plaques that makes a hunt unforgettable. I think he can pick up the scent now.. The footing was extremely unstable, and once three of us were down at the same time. Normally the cat will lay up and visit its kill for several days before leaving altogether. 5. Theregulations governing recreational hunting of mountain lionsspecify 19 Cougar Management Zones. I found that every so often I could shoot a perfect score on a Professional Archery Association target with the bow. It returns to feed from its kill for several days. In 1986, The Commission ordered NMDGF to preemptively kill mountain lions found on ranches that had more than 6 verified lion depredation occurrences in any 3-year period. The lower chamber, the House of Representatives, consists of 70 members who serve 2-year terms. P-22 stares at a remote camera positioned in the Santa Monica Mountains in 2015. A trail of DNA evidence collected over the years shows this particular mountain lion had traveled through New York, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. There was a huge lion killed up in White Mountains last week that should have a record book skull that was estimated to be close to 200 lbs, everyone was surprised a bit when it only weighed 150lbs. No, not good news for all. Boone and Crockett scores a cat based on the length and width of its skull. B&C trophy entry requirements: The lion killed three sheep in the pen, and dragged two of the dead sheep a total of 400 yards to the fence. Unknown, N/A, Animal Protection of New Mexico, Inc., New Mexico Cougars Under Fire! Without further delay, we loaded up Wallaces truck with all my gear and headed north for an hours ride to the ranch where the lion had been reported. ), B. Neal Ainsworth, Jr. with New Mexico record Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, taken on Taos Pueblo, in Taos County in 2005. His job is not an easy one, but he certainly enjoys it. The minimum score for a typical elk to be considered for the All-Time Awards Book is 375. The last reported human killing by a lion in New Mexico was in 1974 when an 8-year-old Arroyo Seco boy was killed by a 47-pound female mountain lion. (Photograph courtesy of the Boone and Crockett Club). With the help of many state residents and conservation organizations, including MLF, trapping was banned on all New Mexico public lands with the passage of Roxys Law in 2021. 9A young male mountain lion was killed crossing I-69E/U.S. The lion was unable to pull the sheep through the fence and left, reports said. The NMDGF is a department within the executive branch of the New Mexico government. If you prefer to donate via Pay Pal, please use this link: Pay Pal, Big Cat Rescue is accredited by the Global Federation of Sanctuaries, We are Certified by Independent Charities of America as a Best in America Charity, This website uses cookies. Click on the tabs below to learn more about mountain lion policy, laws, alerts, and more! The coat of the Mountain Lion is light brown in color, and the fur is short and coarse. . Larry Bamford On Thursday, Wolfe posted on Instagram that he had killed a mountain lion in Colorado earlier this week after it was "wreaking havoc in a rural neighborhood.". When the governor appoints commissioners, their terms are designated one-, two-, three-, or four-year terms so that no more than two commissioners terms expire during the same year. Even so, we could see the skull was over 15 inches. The annual fee to hunt a lion is $52.60. The morning was fruitless, but midday they crossed a fresh set of tracks. In need of Heroes, not to suppress the shooter, but Heroes to suppress the hurt. This marks the first time that a radio-collared mountain lion has been killed under a . I was intimidated.. Finally the long anticipated day of the lion hunt arrived, and with it came one of the worst snowstorms of the winter. In 1999, NMDGF implemented a mountain lion harvest quota system based on Game Management Unit (GMU). 5. A check for $40 to cover the non-refundable entry fee. I had to remind myself that the cat hadnt even been seen yet. In management zones in which the commission wishes to decrease the mountain lion population, the limit is set at less than or equal to 25% of the areas mountain lion population and no more than 50% of its female population. (Photograph courtesy of the Boone and Crockett Club), Chris Robb and guide with #2 New Mexico nontypical elk, taken in Catron County, 1998. The. With the aid of modern DNA analysis technology and the availability The brother said he had last been seen on June 17. Legal Statement. We've received your submission. Market data provided by Factset. April 20, 2015. 53 On March 29, a Canadian mother fought off a juvenile male mountain lion that was attacking her 7-year-old son outside her home, but that's not the only dangerous encounter humans have had with mountain lions, also known as cougars, in recent months. The law reads: A landowner or lessee, or employee of either, may take or kill an animal on private land, in which they have an ownership or leasehold interest, including game animals that presents an immediate threat to human life or an immediate threat of damage to property, including crops; provided, however, that the taking or killing is reported to the department of game and fish within twenty-four hours and before the removal of the carcass of the animal killed, in accordance with regulations adopted by the commission. There is agovernment-funded compensation programfor losses of domestic animals to mountain lions. The governor may call special sessions and the legislature may also call special sessions when three-fifths of each houses members petition the governor to request one. Genetic analysis revealed the propbable population of origin was Wyoming. Mar. , N/A, Cougar/bighorn interactions and sustainable ecosystem management in New Mexico, Menke 2008 REPORT Locating Potential Cougar Puma concolor Corridors in New Mexico Using a Least Cost Path Corridor GIS Analysis, Rominger et al 2004 The Influence of Mountain Lion Predation on Bighorn Sheep Tranlocations JWM, Rominger et al 2006 Bighorn Sheep Mountain Lions and Ethics of Conservation, Ruth 1998 Evaluating Cougar Translocation in New Mexico, Sawyer 2002 A Review of the Predation on Bighorn Sheep, Shultz Howard 1937 Fauna of Burnet Cave Guadalupe Mountains, Stiner et al 2012 Carcass Damage and Digested Bone from Mountain Lions, Sweanor et al 2000 Cougar Dispersal Patterns Metapopulations Dynamics and Conservation, Sweanor Logan Hornocker 2005 Puma Responses to Close Approaches by Researchers, Welch, Donaldson, 1975, Mountain lion management: A new game, Wheeler 1875 Report Upon the Ornithological Collection, Young 2010 Survival and Mortality of Cougars in the TransPecos Region, Bell, Robertson, 1988, Status of the Mountain Lion in New Mexico, Goldstein, Rominger, 2009, Fra Cristobal Mountains: Evaluation of an 8-year mountain lion removal management action on endangered desert bighorn sheep recovery, Menke, 2008, Locating Potential Cougar (Puma concolor) Corridors in New Mexico Using a Least-Cost Path Corridor GIS Analysis, Morrison, 1984, 2nd Mountain Lion Workshop: Status Report: New Mexico, New Mexico Game and Fish, N/A, Living with Large Predators in New Mexico, Rominger, Goldstein, 2007, Evaluation of an 8-year mountain lion removal management action on endangered desert bighorn sheep recovery, Rominger, Goldstein, 2004, Synopsis of a 5 year lion control management action on endangered desert bighorn sheep recovery, Wildlife Management Division, 2004, Draft: Long Range Plan for the Management of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep in New Mexico, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, 2012, Proposed Amendments to the Bear and Cougar and Habitat Protection Rules, Alba, 2007, Warm weather rouses more wildlife, Animal Protection of New Mexico, Inc., 2004, Animal Protection of New Mexico, Inc., ADCs Cougar Killing Violates Federal Law, Associated Press, 2004, Pet-killing cougar shot near Ramah, Associated Press, 2007, More cougars spotted in northern New Mexico; bad weather blamed, Associated Press, 2008, Animal attacks boy, 5, in New Mexico mountains, Associated Press, 2008, Authorities kill mountain lion that might have attacked Pinos Altos man, Associated Press, 2008, Boy attacked by large animal on Sandias, Associated Press, 2008, Mountain lion sought after mans body found, Associated Press, 2008, New Mexico Man Torn Apart by Mountain Lion, Associated Press, 2008, Officers kill mountain lion that might have attacked Pinos Altos man, Associated Press, 2008, Second mountain lion killed near Pinos Altos, Associated Press, 2007, Mountain lion tracks spotted near Winsor Trail, Baeza, 2008, The Independent, Mountain lion kills New Mexico man, Bailey, 2003, Animal Protection of New Mexico, Inc., Vanishing Wildlife of New Mexico- A Legacy of Neglect, Carter, 2007, New Mexico Daily Lobo, Human impact destroys vital ecosystems annually, Cooley, 2002, Animal Protection of New Mexico, Inc., State game commission approval of reckless and dangerous cougar regulations is illegal. Mountain lions are thriving in the state. Former NFL player Derek Wolfe had a busy week. It was his opinion that the lion had drifted into the area about a month before, possibly from Utah. As we topped a rocky cedar-covered bench, we saw the hound going around in circles with his head in the air. The largest Mountain Lion ever to be documented weighed 276 pounds, but a Lion of this size is extremely rare. (National Park Service) As Los Angeles prepares to celebrate the life of beloved mountain lion P-22 this weekend, mountain lion mortality maps from the University of California, Davis, show that many cougars suffer similar fates along California's roads and highways.