Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Mt Lion in Ky?

Got a call from a friend in North Central Ky saying he is sure he seen one while putting up his stand Sat morning.

Wouldn't surprise me. They are documented in IN in central/south-central part of the state (ie. the hilly, wooded part). I'm guessing the Ohio River wouldn't be much of barrier if one wanted to cross it.

I saw track in McCreary County back in 1997, and then later I saw one in the BGSF. I called the Cincinnati Zoo, and talked to the cat expert. He said I was nuts.
What's the Strangest Animal . . .

There has been some seen around SW IN and SE IL There was one killed on the new I 69 close to pigeon creek also one spotted close to Henryville.

Not sure why they couldn't be there. They don't read the "do not enter" signs. Home range of a Puma concolor is at least 50 square miles and as solitary as they are, one could be nearby and could remain undetected for years.

My Dad was born in KY, even back when he was a kid in the 60's it was commonly accepted there were a few lions around. Family members still there now swear there are lions. I've been in the area (SE KY) and can easily believe it.

I saw one in western KY in the LBL area in '87 or '88.

I stopped in one of the check stations and they put a mark on a map. There were several other marks on that map. But, no there were no official sightings.

They're sneaky bastards...as thick as they are here, I've only seen fleeting glimpses of two as they were running away.

we have lots of them here but i've only seen 3 in my life while i've been out hunting.

If 1 is seen could this mean several could be around?

I'd say that's a pretty fair assumption...

Coyotes have made it back in a major way. Reasonable to assume Mt. Lions very likely could too. Both are predators and there's lots of deer, small game, pets, domestic livestock, as well as Elk in parts of KY now.

Would the elk herds in Ky be a dinner bell for these big cats?

Fish and Game will tell you that it's probably an exotic pet that was let loose once it got too big. That's actually fairly common. In Arkansas there was a big problem with people releasing exotic pets. Tigers have been released (one not more than 5 miles from my house), lots of mountain lions, and I lady my uncle worked with brought a game camera photo of a hyena(who would have a freaking hyena for a pet? they're hideous!).