Our weekend Lion hunt a great success!

Well here is an exceptional lion killed using a predator call this afternoon. We actaully took him home whole and weighed him at the fish Hatchery scale in town, he was 190 pounds. The Skull is 15-12/16 which makes him tied with 5 others skulls for 6th place over all.
 
 Shot with a 30/06 and 165 grain bullet one time!
 
 [Linked Image]

What a COLOSSAL Kitty! Great pictures.................

PLEASE,please,pleeeeeze tell me he is going to be mounted lifesized!.................

Must have been a heck of a mouser!

They don't get much bigger than that one!
 
 Blaine

BS, he will be done lifesize only at the insistance of me! The guy who shot him has no money to do it but I said I'm sure we can have ti done somehow. Even If I have to do it myself. I case skinned the hide so we will be able to decide later how to mount it.
 
 For the record I'm 5'10" tall and 175 pounds. The weight of that lion is no BS! We put him on a good scale. It was all I could do to hoist him for that photo. The stomach was empty as well. Had he been stuffed full of elk meat this lion would have been easily 210-220 pounds. He was very young and had perfect teeth as well.
 
 It's days like this that make you forget all the unsuccessful predator calling hunts you must go through before you really get the big pay off!

WOW! Guess that cat never got the word about the '06 being obsolete(grin)
 
 MM

JJ, THAT is an incredible cat!!!!!!!
 
 Thank you for sharing the pictures!
 
 And, I'm sure there must be more to the story!

Glad you made the man come to his senses! What a waste,not to lifesize something that magnificent.
 
 I don't know how a guy could look at that picture and not say, "THAT is one big ass cat". There are very few critters that lurk,that could begin to excite me as much. That is simply sensational.
 
 Only a very upper end Brownie or super elite Sitka Buck,would equal that magnitude,in my eye. What a splendid animal,congratulations all around!
 
 Heap big jealous here..................

I never thought I would see one like that! What a monster!
 
 HogWild

Beautiful animal, congratulations, I just hope the fellow that shot him appreciated what he has done.
 They are too magnificent not to take time to reflect on such a fine animal.
 Bill

JJ; That is a cat of a lifetime. You may find a bigger one but I wouldn't count on it. best

Oh My Fricken G-O-D!
 
 I haven't even read the details yet and had to respond. First thing I did when I saw the photo was yell at my wife to get in here and look at this thing. Her reply..."I want it!"
 
 Got to love it!

JJ
 
 I think you should send those pictures to several newspapers around the areas where a lot of Anti's live!! That will make the granola crowd think twice about walking the trails unarmed [Linked Image]

I hope you'll post pics once it is mounted as well!
 
 Mike

Oh Spike, I think that you might have missed the little womens subtle hint.
 I gather that she found it exciting enough and now wants to play hunter gatherer, so get off the computer and make her happy. [Linked Image]

Good grief what a cat! I wish you had not posted that photo JJ, you just ended my night time predator calling activities. What call were you using, Bull Moose in distress? Just please don't tell me it was a yellow hammer in distress.

Ohhhhhhhhhh, now I understand. Bye.

WOW!
 
 Just for perspective, a jogger was killed by a cat here in Ka. a few years ago. The "Guilty" animal was slain and estimated as I recall at 110 lbs.
 
 I tawt I taw a puddy t.................crunch!!
 
 JimF

JJ, superb, superb animal. Congratulations! I am climbing through a spate of unsuccessful predator call stands myself, and this IS inspiring. I hope you're posting the long story!
 
 Tell me about the call and the shot! And thanks for he pic.
 
 Jeff

Holy sh-t Batman, that is one serious pussy cat! I'd sure love to get his brother, my wife would love to have a lifesize mount in the house- and I ALWAYS try to make my wife happy! LOL- Bob

Bob,
 
 I'm still not able to sleep the phone is ringing and the Emails are endless. I'll post more details when I get some quite time. I used the special "jackal" call I used when you were with me in Africa.
 
 Big difference though it was over an hour from the first glimpse of him until we actually had him open for a shot. Almost all lions come so slow that I'm convinced folks are calling in way more then they actually see. Had we not seen him way across the meadow/clearcut area coming I'm not sure we would have stayed in that spot long enough to wait him out or see him there. It was very intense waiting and wondering where he would show up next. It reminded me of the movie "predator" where the thing could become invisible, or blend in. This lion would circle and pop up staring at the speaker. and then vanish and pop up again someplace else. Big fun now that it's over, but talk about a tight stomach while anxiously waiting all that time. To tell the truth we never even knew how big it was when he was stalking the call. I don't think we realized how big it was until we tried to move him.
 
 You know I almost forgot to mention. I also shot a coyote this morning and since the lion event I forgot all about him. My shot at the coyote is what blew my shot at the lion because my partner and I always take turns for what ever comes in. Just my luck eh, and it was not even a big coyote!

Geez!

Wow, congrats to you and your pard! [Linked Image]

MtnHtr

Jim,
 
 Sent you a PM- looking forward to getting some use out of your "jackal" tape. [Linked Image]

- Sheister

Now that is what I'd call an industrial strength pussycat. Makes the very few I've seen look positively scrawney in comparison. Congratulations on a fine cat. How much slower do lions come than bobcats?

BCR

Holy cats! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> That's a nice one. I'm sure the deer population thanks you.

JJ...
You must have been using your "John Wayne" tape on that brute ... "Hearrr Kiddyy-Kidddy!"

Inquiring minds want to know ... Were you specifically targeting lions or was he an incidental arrival to some coyote calling ? Were you in Snow ? Shot distance, bullet type, angle, exit, performance ? GPS coordinates ? (hey, thought I'd try and slip one in ....LOL).

New backyard 5 foot cedar fence - $1,800
Backyard swing-set (Xmas) - $ 470
Look on the face of momma "Anti" as this Beeeg-Kitty leaps
the fence with the Anti's 3 year old in its jaws - priceless

... Silver Bullet

The Great Spirit may have put the firewood here, ...
but every Man must gather and light it himself.
.......(from the Lone-Ranger Creed)

Wow! Not yer average pooty tat!

Regards, sse

WOW! I'm so impressed that words completely fail me.

Wow, that is simply stunning!

Very impressive and congrats to you and your hunting partner!!!

JJ ,we are all excited for you and your hunting partner. If I remember correctly the biggest one you had weighed in the past was either 187 or 188. That animal you took this weekend is a monster. Makes the 100# female that I took last February look puny (although I am very proud of her, being my first and she was called in). Anyway, well done and we look forward to hearing more. My buddy and I have been out a couple times recently, trying to call in a cougar but no luck yet. Do you think that the potential for that size cat is equally good in the Blue Mountains of SE WA state? Rufous.

I just got off the phone with my friend at the hatchery where the scale is. I asked him how accurate it was. He said it's perfect to 100 pounds but losses about 5 pounds per 50 after that. He has these big steel weights that are calibrated for setting the scale up. When he put 4, 50 pound weights on the scale it was reading 189 pounds. He only uses the scale to measure fish food and needs it to 100 pounds only so he never adjusted it for the heavier weights.

What this means is that lion was actually just over 200 pounds, not the 190 we saw on the scale. No big deal but it was important for me to know in my heart that the weight I was presenting to everyone here was accurate. It's why I called him to verify the accuracy.

I knew that bugger was heavy when I was lifting him for the photo! My friend could not get him up like that for a similiar picture, too bad it's a nice way to put the size into perspective with a person right next to it.

Funny to me, the famous leopard photo's from Africa all show the hunter with the leopard over his shoulders. Try it with this big dude, I don't think so!

What a beautiful animal!! Nothing less than a full body mount would do him justice. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> badger

JJ:

Out of curiosity, how does the size/weight of that rascal compare with the Leopards that you have seen? I have caught fleeting glimpses of mt. lions in my backyard wilderness area and they are WICKED fast. However, I'd guess less than 1/2 the size of that one.

If a cat that size can move anywhere near as fast as the ones I've seen..............well.............. that puts varmint hunting in a whole new light.

JimF

JJ

What part of which state did you get that monster in???

Rick

We found him in the central Cascade mountains or Washington state. There are plenty more where he came from. We see them and thier tracks quite often. We don't often get a chance to put the crosshairs on them though!

Jim, on average this lion is nearly twice the size or thereabouts of the average leopard. You know the famous pose with a leopard is with the dead cat over the shoulders of the hunter. I would like to see the moose of a man that could pull that off with this beast!

However lets put this into complete perspective. The Average Lion I'm getting over the last few years is about 150-160 pounds. That average just went up because of this cat!

The average leopards taken from the Transvaal are going to be 110-125 pounds. BUT.................. Lets look at the skull size now. Minimum for the B&C all time book is 15" and you can enter one for a certificate at 14.5" the world record is 16-4/16"

Leopards are common at 15" and even 16" and the world record is over 18" Their heads are so much bigger and their jaws so much stronger the two cannot be compared. Put it this way the minimum size for a Pope and Young bear is 18" and there are 150 pound leopards with skulls bigger then that!

Just for entertainment value, a 150 pound Hyena will have a 19" skull and I have one here in my shop that is almost 20" The teeth are much bigger, actually more then double the size of the #2 polar bear I also have in my shop.

Those African predators were built for death and destruction. Only the Wolverine skull can compare to those big predators in Africa for strength and size proportional the body.

wow he looks much bigger then 190 he looks like he is 250 what a monster. He would look great life size mount. Nice kitty.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />
Brian

Wow! That cat is truly amazing. I guess I'm the odd man out regarding the mount. That big Lion would be made into a rug if it were me. I've never been a big fan of full size mounts. I don't even have any deer heads mounted. I'd have the skull on my desk and the "rug" on the wall.
Congratulations'
Weagle

JJ, I was down at my mom and step-dad's over Christmas and told them of your big cougar. We got to talking about Jaguars and my pop said he understood them to be much bigger than cougars. I did not know that so when I got home I did some looking on the internet and found that he was right. A big jaguar goes 250-300# and they too have 18+" skulls. That would be an awesome cat to hunt. Have you ever taken or hunted the Jaguar. Rufous.

No Jaguars for me, I'm not that old. Jaguars have not been legal to hunt anyplace for a very long time. It's thue they are the third largest of the cats behind Tiger's and lions. They are not the agile and fast cats that leopards and cougars are. But hey a cat is a cat!

Holy smoke, JJ. I haven't heard of a 200 lb cat since Teddy Roosevelt killed his B&C cat. I know Dick Weaver weighed one drugged CA male that went 140 lbs., but only one, I think. Most of the adults went 80-110, maybe 120 lbs.
VERY IMPRESSIVE. Thanks for posting him. E

JJ, congats on a monster cat! I think you are right that a good number of cougars come to calls but almost no one sees them. Don't give away too much info :-)

JJ,

The cat of a lifetime? Could be. I don't know what you could do for an encore. Makes my Christmas cat look like a tabby. But mine is still out there. You think it might ever grow up to look like yours? LOL. Fat chance!

OK JJ, I've waited long enough. This thread is going back to the top -- WHEN or WHERE are you going to post the specifics on this hunt? The calling? The shot? Did you trail him to his honeyhole then coax him out? It's not like you to be a tease...

Oh yeah, just so you know, it's time to get rid of the '06. They won't work any more. Haven't you been listening?

Was it a Partition or an A-frame? Your gun or the customer's?

Talus, Sorry not trying to be a tease. It's finally getting to be good lion weather and I'm hunting much of the time now. I come home to recharge the batteries Visit my family and check My Africa news then I'm back out hunting again.

The brief version of this as that we went out hunting in the morning very early to a disgusting location where sombody dumped some elk parts off the side of a road. Guts and hide, bones and the head. I saw blood in the snow the previous day as I was driving by. We set up the speaker right at the edge of the road about 80-100 yards from the gut pile and covered it with grass and branches. Then we hid about 50 yards away. Visibility was good as we were up a hill from the speaker. I fired up the cassette and we sat back and watched to see if we could pull the coyotes off that old spoiled elk carcass.

My thoughts were the big main coyote would be on the carcass and the others would be near by waiting on him to leave. If they heard the deer fawn they would come looking for an easy meal. Quite possibly the big dog on the gut pile would leave to get the nice fresh killed fawn. He would certainly have figured the other coyotes had caught.

The plan worked like a charm, it was a very short sit when the first coyote showed up and trotted directly at the speaker looking for the "fawn". I saw him and motioned to my partner. He was not in as good a position so I shot him. We sat a while longer and although we saw movement from other coyotes now and then none were shot. I figured we over stayed our welcome and we decided to move. We set up on another location and nothing happened. So we moved again.

While driving down the road the higher we drove the more common was the snow. We were driving through a big patch and saw some tracks, big tracks. I said either that is one huge dog or we have a nice set of lion tracks. When I got out of the truck to look I could see instantly the straight line gait typical of a cat. We removed all our excess clothing and packed our needed gear into our day packs. Then we were off on foot following the tracks.

The details of things regarding our tracking experiences could go on for ever. I can't make that kind of a post just now. However I will tell you that the old saying "anything that can go wrong will go wrong" is usually the case when tracking lions. They tend to go down hill when your on the edge of the snow line so you lose the track, or up hill into waist deep snow so deep you sink to your knees on every step. Rare is the tracking job on flat level ground with consistant snow conditions. When that is the case we usually end up with the lion. That is how critical the snow conditions are to being successful!

On this morning we had old snow, slushy and only in patches. We followed the tracks for a long time but probably not a very long distance. When we realised the creek was too big to cross comfortably and the snow was getting thin we decided to call from that location. We were on the undercut edge of a bank and with a high ridge behind us where an old logging operation had left a big pile of branches and limbs. This was covered in snow and looked at the time to be a difficult bit of terrain for anything to get through.

After calling a while with the speaker pointed in the direction of the last good tracks we saw. There was movement across the clearcut probably 175-200 yards away. We were pretty excited so I left the volume and consistancy of calling alone. I still don't remember who saw the cat first, or if we both noticed him walking across the clearcut at the same time. I did not matter who saw the lion first. My policy is that we take turns shooting so this was my partners lion if a shot came up, because I had shot the coyote earlier this morning.

We had no idea of sex or size at this time and it really does not matter with lions as far as I'm concerned. They are so hard to get this way we just shoot them when the chance comes up. Their was no further sightings in the next 10 minutes or so. Then we, or I should say, I saw this big pumpkin sized head about 40-50 yards from the speaker staring right down at it. It was gone as quick as I saw it. There was something odd about this as well. I could swear I heard noise from this cat in the bush before I saw the head. Lions walking in soggy ground with wet brush don't snap twigs, and rustle the brush? I actually thought a bear was coming because they usually bust right in.

He was gone again but I could still hear an odd bush or twig now and again. Then from behind we could hear some lion sounds. Low growl, or purring mixed with heavy breathing. Or at least what sounded like heavy breathing. I slowly tilted my head back and could see the front half of the lion staring down at the speaker . He was about 30-40 yards behind and above us and looked to be figuring out the easiest way down that snow covered branch pile from the logging operation. The speaker was about 50-60 yards in front of us, so he was still close to 100 yards away from the speaker and had complely circled us. Maybe more then once?

With the lion standing and looking down towards the speaker my friend leaned back and shot him through the chest with his 30/06. The lion at the shot launched into the air like a high diver and landed in the middle of the huge brush pile. I had only my 44 mag revolver so my hands were free to climb up there. The blood trail was significant and visible from 30 yards in the snow. I got above the suspected location and saw he was stone dead and only then realised he looked pretty big. When I climbed down to the lion, I saw he was huge! I don't swear, or use foul or vulgar language ever. However if there was ever an appropriate time this may have been it to describe just how big he was!

He also had a damaged front left foot. It was deformed or possibly bitten in a fight. He could not use the claws and the dew claw was extended and could not be retracted. I think he would have struggled to climb a tree or pull down a big animal. Although we was fat and very big so he must have made it work good enough! I think this is why he made so much noise walking in with a partial stump instead of a normal foot.

It took a hella long time to untangle him and get him out of that tangled mess of brush. Once he was out My buddy drove the truck around the bottom of the canyon and I slid/ dragged. stumbled and fought to get him down the side of the hill to the road. It was why he looks so dirty in the picture. I did not have my digital camera with me for some stupid reason while I was hunting. It would have been nice to get a better photo to post then the one in my shop!

JJ
That is why you are listed as a Professional Hunter, and not a Photographer. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
Bill

Once again WOW!. I had no idea those critters got that big. I know one thing, I sure wouldn't set up a caller very close to where I was sitting. We occasionally get a story here in Georgia of a bobcat jumping on a hunter blowing a mouth call or calling turkeys, but that bad boy would be dragging you up a tree if he got a hold on you. Thanks for the great story. Weagle

Jim;

Do you think the cat could have been caught in a trap or snare for his foot to be deformed like that?

It looks like it was bitten to me. The thought also crossed my mind that he may have lept from a tree and caught the foot in a fork in the tree and hung from it twisting it around until it was badly damaged. Who knows? I know the breeding age males almost all have damaged skulls from fighting. Many have bites which penetrate the bone, countless big lions have broken zygomatic arches at least one side. Many are healed with a sloppy connection and lots of deformed bone growth. They are typically more damaged then big bears on average.

Actually there is no comparison to the frequency of damage between the bears and the lions. Lions are almost all damaged in some way from fighting. Or quite possibly from the animals they prey on. I see lots of them which have been kicked or maybe even stepped on by big animals like elk. I suppose there are so many stories involved with Lions and elk that you can only use your imagination on what might occur when a 150 pound cat trys to bring down a 750 to 1000 pound (or more) animal like an elk. Imagine the elk falling at speed on top of the lions head! I think it would crunch something important!

Whats amazing is that they continue to live and hunt with no medical attention and severe head injuries. In this case a severe foot injury. I have photos that would blow your mind from skulls I have processed with so much damage that it would seem impossible for the animal to live. The healed bones look like a chunk of sloppy plaster slaped onto the bone in a big nasty lump. Kinda like calliflower growth. I can post some I guess if there is enough interest in seeing them.

Count me in as one interested in seeing those skull pictures!

Me too!!

Mike

JJ, I am thinking I need to get an electronic caller for calling in cougars. It is often hard for me to find someone to go out with me and I do not feel overly comfortable blowing on a mouth call all by myself. What brand/model of electronic caller to you have? Would you recommend it or is there something even better out there? Thanks, Rufous.

R,
I'm not JJ but I know how you feel about uncomfortable. I've used an old Johnny Stewart tape player but it has a 50Ft speaker cord and is heavy to pack. Check this thread out. http://www.predatormastersforums.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=000617;p=

This one can be remotely controlled with the upgrade. Its suppose to be the cat's meow of callers. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />(pun intended) I'm definitely going to buy one. MtnHtr

Do they taste like chicken <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Mike

Muley;

Are you back home? My DVD player works GREAT. All I've got to say is you're amazning...how the heck did you do that? Pretty good job my friend.

Spike, got home last night. And, thanks! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

How'd you like Jill's hunt?

JJ - Is a lion hunt not the most exotic hunt there is in the lower 48??

Regards, sse

I suppose a definition of Exotic is different for different people. If we base this on price then Bighorn sheep win by quite a large margin followed by goats and elk. Hound hunting lions where legal is on the cheap side of the Guided hunt experience. Probably 2000 bucks or so I would guess.

I think in the lower 48 Lions are the only true and consistant threat to human beings so if that is what Exotic is to somebody then sure Lions would be.

In Texas there are an awful lot of "Exotics" to hunt from mutant inbred farm livestock with fancy names to African game. I like hunting lions because they offer me the level of dificulty with a realistic expectation of success. I might consider Alligators more of an exotic big game hunt because I don't have them here!

JJ,
I've had a few lions show up when I'm calling for bobcats but we can't shoot em here in Kalifornia - what a bummer! We also have a few attacks with two deaths as a result. I don't call at night by myself its way too nerve-wracking! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> Our latest attack can be read about here:
http://www.modbee.com/local/story/5318923p-6309629c.html

MtnHtr

nice cat!

Dandy lion! Mike Boyce in reno does a good mount.

"my wife would love to have a lifesize mount in the house"

I will not go there.......

I will not go there......

I will not go there.......

JJ- do you guys use the meat?

I had Cougar meat once, and it's darned good!

(There are certainly several vulgar comments available here!).

I can't tell you what has impressed me more, the Size of that cat or the fact that Big Stick himself was speechless when he saw the cat.

Once again, you have impressed us all.

BMT

Holy Crap JJ!!!!! That thing is huge. Well done...That is a trophy of a lifetime!!!

I have seen five mountain lions in the wild in Colorado and none of them would hold a candle to that pig. That is just incredible. Please post additional pics of the skull, etc.

Again, congrats on a fine animal!!!!

Ted

I've been Camping here only 2 years. Does everyone notice how understandable Stick's post from 4 years ago is? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Couple of years ago ( guess its been 5, dang) when this was first posted I saw the lion title and knowing that JJ was guiding in Africa I thought I was looking at a female African lion.
That thing is BIG.

But the legend is bigger.
check out what happened to poor Ole JJ next.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/mountainlion.asp

Did notice and chuckled!