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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[squiggy]

I hate to see that kind of thing..poor animal

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[johnnysau]

Hardly cornered, maybe tired though, the pups maybe stupider then I thought.
johnnysau

 

[NuggetN8]

I bet that cat could easily swipe those dogs right off that cliff and kill them both if it weren't so scared of them.

 

[DizzyDigger]

Tule elk - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I stand corrected! Thanks Oakview!

 

[TheGoldProspector]

I stand corrected! Thanks Oakview!

..thats rare!

 

[Oakview2]

I always tell my kids who think they know everthing, are making it hard on those of us who really do

 

[AzViper]

This big cat took out two dogs before the lion lost his life. The big cat was killing cattle east of Tucson...

 

[squiggy]

Very sad all the way around. .for dogs and cougar..unfortunately cattle are in cats territory!

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[DizzyDigger]

I stand corrected! Thanks Oakview!

..thats rare!

What's rare? If it's because I was wrong, apparently it's
not rare at all; according to my wife I'm always wrong....

Need to apologize to Fullpan, too, and hope he'll be forgiving and
still tell me where he found the Mother Lode..

 

[DizzyDigger]

This big cat took out two dogs before the lion lost his life.
The big cat was killing cattle east of Tucson...

Holy Schnitzel! Even though the pic was shot at "the magic angle",
just looking at the paws and shoulders of that beast and there's
little doubt that was one bad-assed lion.

Big cats gotta eat, and they like big meals, unfortunately.

Never liked using hounds when I had to deal with a problem
lion...always preferred just moving into his "front room" and
tracking them down from there. It was a whole lot more peaceful,
and I didn't have to run like a marathoner to keep up with
the mutts.

If you're down deep in southern Az. don't forget that more than
one Jaguar has journeyed unto that wild country.

 

[Oakview2]

I have heard of the jaguar before, I am assuming they migrate from South America?

 

[AzViper]

The big Jaguar is in southern Arizona. It fact he is in the area of the Santa Rita mountains that we have been gold mining. Photo from a trail camera.

 

[Oakview2]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[AzViper]

Holy Schnitzel! Even though the pic was shot at "the magic angle",
just looking at the paws and shoulders of that beast and there's
little doubt that was one bad-assed lion.

Mike as a photographer I have to say the person behind the camera nearly had the center of the camera's lens level with the subject. I know shooting upward will make the subject bigger than life but in this photo its damn near straight on, maybe slightly upward. It was reported if memory serve me correctly the lion was 225 pounds but Kuger said no way. The person that told me this I work with and he knows the rancher that was having issues with the lion. Like you said the lion most likely was one bad ass lion.

 

[DizzyDigger]

Mike as a photographer I have to say the person behind the camera
nearly had the center of the camera's lens level with the subject. I know shooting upward will make
the subject bigger than life but in this photo its damn near straight on, maybe slightly upward.
It was reported if memory serve me correctly the lion was 225 pounds but Kuger said no way. The
person that told me this I work with and he knows the rancher that was having issues with the lion.
Like you said the lion most likely was one bad ass lion.

Howdy Keith,

That is most definitely one bad ass looking lion, and as for the
weight I'd have guessed around 200. Kuger's had years more
experience than I have with Cougars, but no matter really. Losing
the dogs really stinks, and my condolences to the hound owner.

I think you misunderstood what I meant. By "magic angle" I'm
talking about the cats head and tail distance from the lens, and
in comparison with the two gentlemen in the background whose
shoulders are square with the camera.

For those not photographers, this might make more sense:



I shot as a pro for a couple years, and only quit cause I couldn't
look through the lens all day without winding up too dizzy to walk
down a flight of stairs. Mostly shot high end homes for real estate
agents, and would frequently use the same technique to enhance
the appearance of a room. It's a completely valid technique, and
in this case it's use makes the big cat "pop".

My lungs might have blown up from the chase, but I'd woulda loved
being along when they first saw that toad..

 

[AzViper]

Howdy Keith,

That is most definitely one bad ass looking lion, and as for the
weight I'd have guessed around 200. Kuger's had years more
experience than I have with Cougars, but no matter really. Losing
the dogs really stinks, and my condolences to the hound owner.

I think you misunderstood what I meant. By "magic angle" I'm
talking about the cats head and tail distance from the lens, and
in comparison with the two gentlemen in the background whose
shoulders are square with the camera.

For those not photographers, this might make more sense:

View attachment 1008757

I shot as a pro for a couple years, and only quit cause I couldn't
look through the lens all day without winding up too dizzy to walk
down a flight of stairs. Mostly shot high end homes for real estate
agents, and would frequently use the same technique to enhance
the appearance of a room. It's a completely valid technique, and
in this case it's use makes the big cat "pop".

My lungs might have blown up from the chase, but I'd woulda loved
being along when they first saw that toad..

Yep I follow you. Leading the viewers eyes into the photo from right to left.

 

[Fullpan]

Fullpan, there is a neo enviormental group calling for renintroduction of both the grizzly and the timber wolf

No timber wolf ? - no problem, just go ahead and list it for protection under calif endangered species list.

Capital Press | Commission votes to add wolf to endangered list

 

[rodoconnor]

Squiggy. when the lion starts paying overpriced graze fees and taxes , then maybe cattle are in his territory.

 

[AzViper]

This is why I hate posting pictures of dead animals as people get all upset. Problem is if you work or play in the areas of these animals it’s either you or the animal that’s going to die. I prefer it to be the animal, but those who are complaining maybe you need to do a reality check cause these lions would jump at the opportunity take out your dog, cat, child, and you. A single lion will take a deer down once a week to feed themselves. As others have said they are more frighten of you but if the situation is right they will take you down. Look at what happen in CA when the state banded all lion hunting. The population exploded and people lost their lives while out walking or jogging.

Watch as this lion takes down a mule deer. The lion is getting kicked a number of times but the lion is not going to let go as his instinct is to kill and survive.

​

 

[squiggy]

First of all, each of us are entitled to our own opinions. .I happen to live in an area of Ca that has more cougars than any other..they are around me and I've seen some..
As far as humans in ca being killed, its been rare..I do wildlife rehab and we are not going to agree, but please be respectful

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