Exciting Day

[NuggetN8]

So today I went on a sniping trip to the middle fork American. I got down there pretty early around 7 or so. I started down river to find the spot I found last year and wanted to try sniping. I came to this big bar full of cobbles sand and gravels and notices a lion print. Looked pretty fresh to me but didn't think much of it. I figured it could have been from the night before. I continued along a wall of brush and trees between me and the river. I saw an opening where I could see the water so I decided to go check it out and see if there was any bedrock to snipe. I came around the corner and the mountain lion who's tracks I had seen was standing right there about 5 feet away from me. He wasn't a huge one just a little bigger than a large German shepherd. As soon as I saw him I let out a "HOLY S***!!!!!!!" And started pounding my walking stick against the cobbles and ran towards him a little ways. He was gone in a matter of seconds.. Lol. Despite how I reacted to seeing him that made my whole trip. It's amazing to see one of those animals up close in the wild. I know he could have torn me to shreds if he wanted to but he didn't want any trouble he was just getting a drink at the waters edge when a human came along and started yelling and slapping a stick around. Well anyways after that experience I decided to turn back and find another area to snipe away from Mr. Kitty. I found an area where the bedrock slopes down and had some little valleys in it. So I threw my wetsuit on and jumped in and sniped until about 10:30ish the water level started changing pretty drastically. I think it came up about 5 or more feet in an hour. So I ended up getting flooded out of my sniping hole because I couldn't reach the bottom anymore and the water was too swift and cold for me to want to dive down over and over. Here's some pictures. One of the kitty tracks, quartz/gold picker I found, and the total. Only got a gram but would have done much better if the water level didn't come up. Video on the way too but it will take a minute because I have to post from my computer. The video isn't that great but it's pretty difficult to snipe and film at the same time. I just did the recovery of one piece that I found today.

 

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[NuggetN8]

Here's the video link

 

[Oakview2]

I think you did well considering you only got two hands. Thanks for the tag along.

 

[KiddoTheMiner]

Nice stuff

 

[Oregon Viking]

Awww yeh!!

 

[Campngolf]

Good stuff.

 

[TheGoldProspector]

So today I went on a sniping trip to the middle fork American. I got down there pretty early around 7 or so. I started down river to find the spot I found last year and wanted to try sniping. I came to this big bar full of cobbles sand and gravels and notices a lion print. Looked pretty fresh to me but didn't think much of it. I figured it could have been from the night before. I continued along a wall of brush and trees between me and the river. I saw an opening where I could see the water so I decided to go check it out and see if there was any bedrock to snipe. I came around the corner and the mountain lion who's tracks I had seen was standing right there about 5 feet away from me. He wasn't a huge one just a little bigger than a large German shepherd. As soon as I saw him I let out a "HOLY S***!!!!!!!" And started pounding my walking stick against the cobbles and ran towards him a little ways. He was gone in a matter of seconds.. Lol. Despite how I reacted to seeing him that made my whole trip. It's amazing to see one of those animals up close in the wild. I know he could have torn me to shreds if he wanted to but he didn't want any trouble he was just getting a drink at the waters edge when a human came along and started yelling and slapping a stick around. Well anyways after that experience I decided to turn back and find another area to snipe away from Mr. Kitty. I found an area where the bedrock slopes down and had some little valleys in it. So I threw my wetsuit on and jumped in and sniped until about 10:30ish the water level started changing pretty drastically. I think it came up about 5 or more feet in an hour. So I ended up getting flooded out of my sniping hole because I couldn't reach the bottom anymore and the water was too swift and cold for me to want to dive down over and over. Here's some pictures. One of the kitty tracks, quartz/gold picker I found, and the total. Only got a gram but would have done much better if the water level didn't come up. Video on the way too but it will take a minute because I have to post from my computer. The video isn't that great but it's pretty difficult to snipe and film at the same time. I just did the recovery of one piece that I found today. <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1007721"/>

I saw a 'cougar' on the north fork a little while back...scared me sh--less, and it was aways away.. Loveing your videos and photos! We should meet up sometime; introduce me to sniping N8 Style.

 

[squiggy]

Magnificent animals..thanks for sharing. .

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[TAKODA]

that little quartz chip is damn nice . Good pic of it too . Thanks for taking and
showing us a pic of it .

 

[KevinInColorado]

Even my wife was impressed with your story and pic. A memory to keep for sure!

 

[Goldwasher]

Crazy what you can come across....now you know what a fresh lion print looks like.. probably the right move to be aggressive...lucky you had the chance, That catamount will never forget the day you two met either. In Alaska we yelled sang ..hooted hollered all because of the bears...where I live now is lion country and I am way too quiet when I'm out in the brush.....I wonder what a creek or riverside setting sounds like to an animal with such sensitive hearing??

 

[NuggetN8]

I wonder what a creek or riverside setting sounds like to an animal with such sensitive hearing??

I'm thinking that's why he wasn't aware I was there until I was right next to him. The river was making quite a bit of noise and he was right next to the water. Probably the only reason he ran is that lions aren't use to other things sneaking up on them lol. May have been a first for him.

 

[squiggy]

They are usually very elusive and shy..will run away..we have them right around our house, but it's rare to see one..I know however. when I'm outside. that they see me..

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[Oakview2]

It is the ones you don't see that are trouble. They are ambush predators, attack from behind, always bite their pray at the base of the skull, crushing the spinal chord, rendering their prey unable to move. They have no natural predators, and with no population control, they have decimated the deer herds in this California. Kuger is the man when it comes to lions. Are you out there Kuger

 

[squiggy]

Good info oakview. .

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[KevinInColorado]

It is the ones you don't see that are trouble. They are ambush predators, attack from behind, always bite their pray at the base of the skull, crushing the spinal chord, rendering their prey unable to move. They have no natural predators, and with no population control, they have decimated the deer herds in this California. Kuger is the man when it comes to lions. Are you out there Kuger

Decimated is a funny word to use here. What has happened is a return to the natural balance of predator and prey animals. To counter their "attack from the back" strategy, stick "eyes" on the back of a hat...this will fake them out and make you safer...really!

 

[Hoser John]

Don't feed the kitty cats,coulda ended up righteously ugly,don't count on that kinda luck again-John

 

[DizzyDigger]

Don't know my mountain lions as good as Kuger does, but
have had dealings with a bunch of them, as well as other large
cats such as Cheetah, African Lion, Sumatran Tigers, etc.

If I were to have come upon that track on a sandbar, I'd have
considered it very fresh, and my senses would have immediately
gone on "high alert". If the ridges between the pads are still that
sharp in that loose material, you can figure it's likely less than
an hour old, as the first stiff breeze to come along would flatten
them right out.

You did exactly the right thing, btw, as unless a cougar
is cornered he/she will most always back away from an aggressor,
and then bail out (aka: haul arse) as soon as possible.

If a cougar is too close for comfort, then picking up a stick, shovel
or other weapon and letting it know you are in offensive mode
will most always send it packing. By making yourself appear bigger,
meaner and nastier than the cougar you cause it to "fight or flee", and
so long as you haven't backed it into a corner, it'll be heading out for
parts unknown in a big hurry. JUST DON"T CORNER ONE, and you're usually
fine.

Also, if a cougar is stalking you...95% of the time you won't know it
until the last second. If it knocks you down, get up and fight with
everything you've got, and be loud about it.

This is also a good choice for Bobcat, but NOT for larger predatory
cats, as you're likely to just piss 'em off and they'll kill you out of spite.

 

[ALewis]

Good story....It is so easy to get tunnel vision when out hiking, prospecting, etc...I am going to pay a lot more attention ! Have seen a couple of Bears, (and a skunk !) but no lions....Would like to have the chance to see one, just from a Very Safe Distance ! Like my car.......

 

[TheGoldProspector]

Good story....It is so easy to get tunnel vision when out hiking, prospecting, etc...I am going to pay a lot more attention ! Have seen a couple of Bears, (and a skunk !) but no lions....Would like to have the chance to see one, just from a Very Safe Distance ! Like my car.......

..or your tv. !