Large Cat

[Jughead]

A lot of people in my area have been talking about large cats in the woods. Im not talking about a bobcat but a cougar/mountain lion. At first I didnt believe them but one day I was watching the news and someone took a picture of a mountain lion out on a golf course in Hazard, KY. The cat in the picture looked like it weighed over a 100 pounds. Just wondering if anyone has seen one in the hills or any trail cam pics. Also, Ive heard that the sudden burst in large cat population has to do with the elk, think thats why?

[itallushrt]

They spotted my Garfield!!!!!!! Please let me know where they saw him. He has been missing for weeks.

[Snareman2]

Every year, the Orange Army says NO and no photos on the thousands of trailcams, or the thousands of vehicles that travel the roads. Get over it people. When you find it, it will probably be on a leash, held by Bigfoot.

[mudd]

What's even more a suprise is that there is a golf course in Hazzard:eek::eek::eek:
And there was evidently people on it too.

[25-06]

What's even more a suprise is that there is a golf course in Hazzard:eek::eek::eek:
And there was evidently people on it too.

That right there just aint right Mudd, us hillbilly's can play golf too! Exept me, I dont care too much for the sport , Why would you make such a statment ? Where u from Boy? LOL

[Dangermouse]

Well I never have saw a big cat there, but deer come through there all the time. And the Hazard City Police killed a black bear just down the railroad tracks from there a few months ago so, nothing would surprise me.

[mudd]

That right there just aint right Mudd, us hillbilly's can play golf too! Exept me, I dont care too much for the sport , Why would you make such a statment ? Where u from Boy? LOL

Just never figured Hazard to be a golfing meca...
Never figured dem hillbilly's down thare would keep it in bness either.
Golf ain't cheap...hillbilly's are, at less the one's I know are.

[buzzbaiter83]

I have saw both a brown Cougar and a black one here in Harlan County. Local barbershop at Tremont also had a picture of one from a trail-cam. Clear picture. I got to school at LMU on the KY,TN,VA line. One of my professors had a picture of a mounatin lion on his property on the VA-KY line. Lions are here. people deny it, but a close friend of mine who works for KDFWR was intructed to shoot one when he saw it. Also there was an old issue of Outdoor Life that showed big cat migrations and there were confirmed sightings in Eastern Kentucky, VA, and WV.

[buzzbaiter83]

3 Golf Courses here in Harlan Co.

[eagle.eye]

To MR mudd,you set there and talk about people in the hills,on your computer.You come and say something about a hillbilly in person,you just might get your A&& stomped. MR city slicker

[Broncorckcrwlr]

Heck there's a golf course in Booneville now. Not sure about cougars. I have seen a pic taken of a cougar at the Black Mtn ORV Park by a guy I know. They are here.

[buzzbaiter83]

Yeah I live at the foot of the RV park. People rent out the house next to us to 4-wheel. Yup there's big cats there. Black Mtn. has the perfect habitat for them as well as does Pine Mountain that faces it. There are elk and deer, rocky clifflines, and thick cover.

[killinmammals]

My grandpa was a park ranger at Pine Mountain State park years ago, he told me stories about how he had seen mtn lions and bears...he might have been playin with me when I was little, but you never know what is lurkin around after dark. Heck bigfoot doesn't come out much during the day, and nessie doesn't come to surface much either.:D

[GSPonGrouse]

Like it or not. If you don't think mt. lions can be and are in ky. You probably never thought elk would be again too. The KDFWR has several verified sightings every year. If they are willing to admit to that why not the rest of us. I don't think the number is large by any stretch. But there is still a number somewhere above 0.

[Snareman2]

Like it or not. If you don't think mt. lions can be and are in ky. You probably never thought elk would be again too. The KDFWR has several verified sightings every year. If they are willing to admit to that why not the rest of us. I don't think the number is large by any stretch. But there is still a number somewhere above 0.

Yeah, there used to be one at the Frankfort Headquarters and I'm sure Louisville Zoo probably has a few.

[barney]

Yeah, there used to be one at the Frankfort Headquarters and I'm sure Louisville Zoo probably has a few.
Fellers,I would say all you would have to do,to get proof is, OPEN SEASON ON THEM!!!!!I would say there are probably a few hides and skulls in some eastern ky. sheds and barn lofts right now!:eek:

[GSPonGrouse]

Fellers,I would say all you would have to do,to get proof is, OPEN SEASON ON THEM!!!!!I would say there are probably a few hides and skulls in some eastern ky. sheds and barn lofts right now!:eek:
Finally someone who knows what they are talking about on this issue!:eek:

[lonesomepine]

Yeah, there used to be one at the Frankfort Headquarters and I'm sure Louisville Zoo probably has a few.

Whether you want to believe or not,there are pictures around,and tracks/sign to be found.Everybody in Ky doesn't post on the internet,in fact some folks still tend to keep things to themselves.

When you've covered every inch of the state let me know.

Have a nice day:)!

[Jughead]

If you search mountain lion on this very website, you can find pics of mountain lions caught by peoples trail cam. Like I said, Its not even a question if they exist. Its a question if aliens exist. This post was suppose to be about trail cam pics and sightings.

[WildmanWilson]

If you search mountain lion on this very website, you can find pics of mountain lions caught by peoples trail cam. Like I said, Its not even a question if they exist. Its a question if aliens exist. This post was suppose to be about trail cam pics and sightings.


Can you find this for me....??

[barney]

I just dont think many people in this great state know just what kind of "country" lies in the eastern end of the state! I rode horses in there years ago. I remember one 4th of july ride, it was an awful hot ride that day,till the trail dropped off the ridge,through a cut in the cliff line.When we dropped over, we rode through a patch Mt.Laurel that covered probably 3 or 4 acres with huge limestone boulders every where.As we headed down the side of that mountain it became a "land of the lost" a rain forest type world,with all types of fungi and strange plants growing under the canopy above.(ya I know the names of 99% of them but it sounded better that way)As we got lower it got cooler,with fog and haze,(at midday) I reach back to grab my flannel shirt from the saddle bags,at that point I see my two buddies doing the same those flannel shirts felt good that 4th of July day.When we reached the bottom of that hollar there was a crystal clear and ice cold creek waiting,we got off the horses and watered them and our selves from that ice cold creek,it was the best water ive ever had to date! We sat there for an hour or more in total amazement,of this new world we discovered. One of the things I remember thinking is, GOD PLEASE LET US GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE DARK!!! So, some of you non believers just head up there and spend the night camping by yourself,I guarantee you will be a believer when you come out,IF YOU COME OUT!! SCRATCH, SCRATCH!:eek:

[Realtree man]

Can you find this for me....??I wasnt going to get involved in this conversation but i do have pictures of numerous mountain lions on my camera i did go to the biologist of the area and he told me specifically that it was. I have not put the pictures up on the internet yet but i will soon. So there you go WildmanWilson, come get you some of that!....bang bang

[carpenterguy]

i saw a cougar/lion here in burkesville last deer season!!! scary site!! people can be ignorant if they choose to be so and deny it but you can't say there isn't 1 in this whole state... get off of the computer and get into the woods and maybe you would see something for once;)

[slow-bow]

I wasnt going to get involved in this conversation but i do have pictures of numerous mountain lions on my camera i did go to the biologist of the area and he told me specifically that it was. I have not put the pictures up on the internet yet but i will soon. So there you go WildmanWilson, come get you some of that!....bang bang
We're waiting.......................

[offroadracer99]

Ive heard they drop snakes out of airplanes too...haha.....They also drop beetle bugs out to feed the turkeys to. :D. Just joking....have a laugh today.

[globemountain]

It seems to me that it wasn't too many years ago that we were having these same conversations about BLACK BEARS......... Some folks just couldn't believe that there could be black bears here. lol

[WildmanWilson]

I wasnt going to get involved in this conversation but i do have pictures of numerous mountain lions on my camera i did go to the biologist of the area and he told me specifically that it was. I have not put the pictures up on the internet yet but i will soon. So there you go WildmanWilson, come get you some of that!....bang bang

OK here are my cougar trail cam pictures too...and one big foot picture that showed up last Dec. Get you some of that......bang bang.
http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:Mlgy9yf81JjyyM:http://www.pa-conservation.org/mt_lion.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.pa-conservation.org/mt_lion.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.pa-conservation.org/hg.html&h=593&w=900&sz=57&hl=en&start=6&um=1&tbnid=Mlgy9yf81JjyyM:&tbnh=96&tbnw=146&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmt%2Blion%2B%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26 hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN)http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:FJV_aWSFY4Vt_M:http://www.ospreyphoto.com/images/mt-lion.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ospreyphoto.com/images/mt-lion.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ospreyphoto.com/schedule.html&h=421&w=600&sz=48&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=FJV_aWSFY4Vt_M:&tbnh=95&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmt%2Blion%2B%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26 hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN)http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:Y-Lo9W2gUGq33M:http://www.mnforsustain.org/images/mt_lion_fig3_treed.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mnforsustain.org/images/mt_lion_fig3_treed.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.mnforsustain.org/cats_cougar_living_with_wildlife_in_lion_country.h tm&h=205&w=209&sz=10&hl=en&start=15&um=1&tbnid=Y-Lo9W2gUGq33M:&tbnh=104&tbnw=106&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmt%2Blion%2B%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26 hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN)http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:f44yqslyhksDHM:http://www.austinschools.org/campus/small/images/wildcat-cougar.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.austinschools.org/campus/small/images/wildcat-cougar.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.austinschools.org/campus/small/info/cougar_facts.html&h=480&w=440&sz=60&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=f44yqslyhksDHM:&tbnh=129&tbnw=118&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcougar%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3De n%26safe%3Doff)http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:yxMsjEsjDLehCM:http://www.easterncougarnet.org/seast-desc/Cougar.png (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.easterncougarnet.org/seast-desc/Cougar.png&imgrefurl=http://easterncougarnet.org/southeast.html&h=331&w=500&sz=752&hl=en&start=37&um=1&tbnid=yxMsjEsjDLehCM:&tbnh=86&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcougar%26start%3D20%26ndsp%3D20%26svn um%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN)h ttp://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:5oxoXuy1b78M2M:https://webspace.utexas.edu/cokerwr/www/slides/bigfoot/bigfoot3.jpeg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://webspace.utexas.edu/cokerwr/www/slides/bigfoot/bigfoot3.jpeg&imgrefurl=https://webspace.utexas.edu/cokerwr/www/slides/bigfoot/bigfoot3.html&h=565&w=400&sz=65&hl=en&start=9&tbnid=5oxoXuy1b78M2M:&tbnh=134&tbnw=95&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbigfoot%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3 Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DX)

[slow-bow]

That ain't Bigfoot!!!! It's my next door neighbor......Sammy!

[newshooter05]

all i know is , where i live i am with in 20 miles of some hollows that few people have been up in my life time. i have no idea what is in them and would not be surprised if there were bears and big cats there.i remember in the late 60s when i first saw some beaver in a creek in logan county . scared me silly and no one would believe me.now they are common.this part on ky is far from remote but people still get surprises when they spend time in the woods.heck i had a snake expert at western university tell me there were no rattlesnake around here but the 2 i killed says different.
david

[Jughead]

:D the response to this post is gettin funny. what i want someone tell me is,.. why is it so hilarious to think mountain lions could be in KY. I've never seen one myself but I think its possible. Its not that far fetched. Do you think this ecosystem couldnt support a mountain lion?

[barney]

:D the response to this post is gettin funny. what i want someone tell me is,.. why is it so hilarious to think mountain lions could be in KY. I've never seen one myself but I think its possible. Its not that far fetched. Do you think this ecosystem couldnt support a mountain lion?
I remember the first time I saw a deer in this county,not that long ago!Now they are runnin over top of me,the very same for beaver,bobcat,bear, turkey, elk, bald eagles and coyote! We now have a thriving population of all these critters,and all in the last 30 or so years!I know without a dout they are lions here, we have all they need,food (deer and elk) country (eastern ky) I dont need to say more! All you nay sayers from the western end of the state just need to drive about 6 or 7 hours due east and spend a little time exploring in Gods country!It just might change your mind!;)

[SmokeyBear]

Well I KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT that I myself have seen three mountain lions here in KY with my own two eyes. Two in Southeastern KY and one in Northeastern KY. I watched all three with binoculars and there was no doubt what they were. I honestly could not care less if anyone believes me or not, I just don't care. I don't think there is some huge population of them here or anything but I know there are at least a few here in the eastern part of KY. I just can't understand why people are so blinded that they think this is just not possible. I mean there are mountain lion populations in states north, south and west of us, I guess KY must have some type of mountain lion proof fence around the state or something that prevents them from entering.;):rolleyes: I remember not so many years ago that no one ever saw coyotes in eastern KY and now they are as thick as fleas!!! And what about the bears??? I know I sure never heard of bears in KY when I was growing up in southeastern KY and now you can't leave your pets outside at night there because they will get eaten by a bear!!!

[newshooter05]

heck smokey , i never personally saw a bear so i suppose by some on heres logic there are none here. now being hard headed i will just refuse to admit there are any. do not laugh cause that makes as much sense as people saying there are no lions here.
david

[barney]

heck smokey , i never personally saw a bear so i suppose by some on heres logic there are none here. now being hard headed i will just refuse to admit there are any. do not laugh cause that makes as much sense as people saying there are no lions here.
david
Some of the guys on here have never seen a CO either, guess they are none!:eek:

[newshooter05]

i never hunted a co but i imagine u have to use a bright light and hunt em at nite. some places they are thick but else where u won't find any.the ones i saw was to tough to be good meat but a few east of here i hear are nice and fat.ain't sure what the limit is but id thick one would be enough.

i remember when i was a teen my brother would not take me and my friend up the river frog gigging so we told the game warden about them gigging and told him they was going up the creek. me and my friend then went down the creek and we had a tow sack full when the game warden stepped out. my butt still hunrts when i think about that from the whipping my daddy gave me after i paid the fine and then my brother busted my nose.the dumb game warden got my directions mixed up. some folks can't follow directions well .lol
david

[EKY.MTN.HUNTER]

Well I KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT that I myself have seen three mountain lions here in KY with my own two eyes. Two in Southeastern KY and one in Northeastern KY. I watched all three with binoculars and there was no doubt what they were. I honestly could not care less if anyone believes me or not, I just don't care. I don't think there is some huge population of them here or anything but I know there are at least a few here in the eastern part of KY. I just can't understand why people are so blinded that they think this is just not possible. I mean there are mountain lion populations in states north, south and west of us, I guess KY must have some type of mountain lion proof fence around the state or something that prevents them from entering.;):rolleyes: I remember not so many years ago that no one ever saw coyotes in eastern KY and now they are as thick as fleas!!! And what about the bears??? I know I sure never heard of bears in KY when I was growing up in southeastern KY and now you can't leave your pets outside at night there because they will get eaten by a bear!!!


Next time do us all a favor and instead of watching 3 lions through your binoculars, watch them with your scope and better yet, put the cross hair behind the shoulder and pull the trigger. That may help your cause a little more then just giving your account on an internet forum. Considering you've seen three cats, you seem to have a knack for the animal, maybe you should consider hunting them?

I do think there is a few mountain lions roaming the state ex (floyd county road kill), but I don't believe there is a wild breeding population. I think if anyone has seen a cat which possibly some have, the cats dna is exotic as was the Floyd county cub.

[Jughead]

thanks smokeybear and newshooter,.. thats what i was looking for with this post. a couple credible guys i know claim theyve seen one in knott county. these two guys hunt about 1 mile apart and have no idea about the other ones sighting.

[quackrstackr]

Fellers,I would say all you would have to do,to get proof is, OPEN SEASON ON THEM!!!!!I would say there are probably a few hides and skulls in some eastern ky. sheds and barn lofts right now!:eek:

Season is open on them. KDFWR wants somebody to shoot the things because they are considered an exotic species and want to do some testing on them.

Break out the guns boys or if some of you know folks that have a stash.. they have no reason to hide it.

[GSPonGrouse]

Next time do us all a favor and instead of watching 3 lions through your binoculars, watch them with your scope and better yet, put the cross hair behind the shoulder and pull the trigger. That may help your cause a little more then just giving your account on an internet forum. Considering you've seen three cats, you seem to have a knack for the animal, maybe you should consider hunting them?

I do think there is a few mountain lions roaming the state ex (floyd county road kill), but I don't believe there is a wild breeding population. I think if anyone has seen a cat which possibly some have, the cats dna is exotic as was the Floyd county cub.

First off if anyone thought killing one and bragging about it was a good idea the proof you are looking for would have already been posted.
second The floyd co road kill showed that a breeding population is possible the mother was likely to have been from the pet trade(south american) but the paternal dna was north american. The man who hit the kitten said that he seen the mother and another kitten. that is what makes this event so important.
Some experts on the subject say that the numbers in the western US are probably higher now than in any other time in history and these animals are very much loaners. Throw in the fact that habitat is shrinking only makes since that they are going to move east. With deer numbers at a all time high and growing. One can easily conclude that it is possible and if it possible in nature then it is probably so.

[quackrstackr]

First off if anyone thought killing one and bragging about it was a good idea the proof you are looking for would have already been posted.


We have a department biologist right here that said "kill them" they want to see them. Folks should bring them out if they have taken them and let's see what we've got.

[EKY.MTN.HUNTER]

Gspongrouse, good post and I agreet that in theory it sounds highly likely. I'll just hold out untill the orange army starts killing atleast a few yearly and they start turning up on trailcams weekly as they do in other states. The fact that neither of these two have happened tells me there isn't much of a reason to think these animals are producing wild cubs in the Bluegrass state.

[kytrapper]

If I am not mistaken, Mountain Lions are now forbidden by the dept. to kill in Kentucky. It used to be they wanted to see one. I still just can't believe a deer shooter has never turned on in if they're here. That being said, a local vet has an animal in the freezer he didn't know what it was. Since my wife raises cats she went by to look at it and it's a small South American cat called a Genet I think. Come to find out it escaped from a Corbin house and was promptly drug in by someones dog. I can see someone opening a truck door and dumping a large cat. Especially after they are no longer in the cute stage. I have been trapping for 30 years and have never seen any sign of a lion in Whitley County.

[quackrstackr]

If I am not mistaken, Mountain Lions are now forbidden by the dept. to kill in Kentucky.

Posted in October by a KDFWR biologist: http://www.kentuckyhunting.net/forums/showpost.php?p=473131&postcount=4

http://www.kentuckyhunting.net/forums/showthread.php?t=49506

but someone behind a desk evidently said differently. Joe's answer wasn't the first time that I had heard a dept. employee say the same, however.

[slow-bow]

I, personally, would be surprised if, at least, a few aren't here. Probably not many. This state does contain all the elements for a mountain lion to survive and thrive. I guess I'm like most on here, though. I've got to visually SEE it before I can completely believe it. Someone will eventually capture one on a trail-cam or whatever and the question will be answered, once and for all. Until then, I'll always be a little skeptical over the subject.

[quackrstackr]

I think unless the cat has a current issue of a Courier Journal in it's mouth and is standing next to a city limit sign, any trail cam pics will probably be dismissed as bogus by most too. :D

In my mind, I don't care if the things came from South America or the Bronx. A cougar in the wild is a cougar in the wild and their teeth grinding against your skull would probably be just as painful regardless.

[barney]

Season is open on them. KDFWR wants somebody to shoot the things because they are considered an exotic species and want to do some testing on them.

Break out the guns boys or if some of you know folks that have a stash.. they have no reason to hide it.
Who on this forum wants to bet a little of this, $$$$ that I cant have my grubby little hands on a deoxyribonucleic acid sample in less than 45 minutes, now put that hard earned, $$$$ where your nonbelieving pieholes have been!!!:rolleyes::eek:

[Realtree man]

Was on my way home from work today here in Knott county about 730 this evening was about home when all of a sudden 2 big cats i honestly dont know what they were jumped out in front of me!! I finally got the car stopped in a neighbors yard. One of the cats was black standing about half my height (im 6'4). The other was a little bigger than that with leopard spots all over it. This was very close to my house. Havent been outside yet. I have all the doors locked! True story. Believe it or not!

[WildmanWilson]

Was on my way home from work today here in Knott county about 730 this evening was about home when all of a sudden 2 big cats i honestly dont know what they were jumped out in front of me!! I finally got the car stopped in a neighbors yard. One of the cats was black standing about half my height (im 6'4). The other was a little bigger than that with leopard spots all over it. This was very close to my house. Havent been outside yet. I have all the doors locked! True story. Believe it or not!

Wow thats a first...a leopard and a black panther running together in Ky. No wonder the cougars cant get a good population here in Ky...dang panthers and leopards keep them killed out :eek:. Still waiting on those pictures buddy...if you don't know how to post them e mail them to me and we can get them on here.

Are you under a doctors care by the way ????

[Realtree man]

Wow thats a first...a leopard and a black panther running together in Ky. No wonder the cougars cant get a good population here in Ky...dang panthers and leopards keep them killed out :eek:. Still waiting on those pictures buddy...if you don't know how to post them e mail them to me and we can get them on here.

Are you under a doctors care by the way ???? Man believe it or not i know what i seen. Thats the reason i am buying me a stand tomorrow morning!! About the pictures, they will be up here pretty soon I dropped my camera in the creek while washing clothes the other day on accident im hoping to get it back up and flashing here pretty soon..You wouldnt believe how many times i have done that. But really these cats are getting populated!

[taximan]

This is the best damn thread I've read yet!

[lonesomepine]

Folks at KDF&W can say shoot them all you want,but I'm still leary about Federal Law superceding State authority,especially with the Endangered Species Act.Wonder if KDF&W will pay for my lawyer and post my bond?


Cougars are pretty secretive,folks in well established cougar country can go years without seeing one,but they do leave sign around such as tracks,deer kills,etc

I have found both of these.

[CSS archer]

KDFWR considers large long tailed cats exotics, and can be shot. Especially if you are threatened.

I want to see pics too..

[WildmanWilson]

Man believe it or not i know what i seen. Thats the reason i am buying me a stand tomorrow morning!! About the pictures, they will be up here pretty soon I dropped my camera in the creek while washing clothes the other day on accident im hoping to get it back up and flashing here pretty soon..You wouldnt believe how many times i have done that. But really these cats are getting populated!


You wash your clothes in a creek ? What do you want to be that your pictures will just happen to be distroyed now. Too bad for us cause I bet they were some good ones.

A guy I work with told me a story about this guy he knows. He said this guy comes to his house one morning scared to death. He said, "man you got to come with me." My friend says why.... "you got to see this." See what....he ask. "Just come on." After more proding he told him what he saw...."he said man you aint going to believe this but I saw some deer and they were half deer and half babies. The bottom is like a deer but they got human baby heads."

Now, to this guy this was as real as real gets....but lets just say that his judgment may have been impaired somewhat.

You ever see any of this deer/babies realtreeman ???

[GSPonGrouse]

That is it make fun of something you don't understand. If that makes you feel smarter go for it.

[buckfever]

After more proding he told him what he saw...."he said man you aint going to believe this but I saw some deer and they were half deer and half babies. The bottom is like a deer but they got human baby heads."

Now, to this guy this was as real as real gets....but lets just say that his judgment may have been impaired somewhat.

You ever see any of this deer/babies realtreeman ???

I'm confused. Too deep for me. . . . To which guy was that "as real as real gets"? Was it your buddy or the guy that saw the centaur babies? :)

[WildmanWilson]

That is it make fun of something you don't understand. If that makes you feel smarter go for it.

Whats not to understand....??

[nwest]

Wack Em And Show Us The Pics!

[lonesomepine]

KDFWR considers large long tailed cats exotics, and can be shot. Especially if you are threatened.

I want to see pics too..

Still doesn't answer my question,Does Federal Law supercede state law?

If I shoot what turns out to be an Eastern Cougar listed on the Endangered Species Act,can i be be charged by the Feds for violating such act and will KDF&W back me up?

[quackrstackr]

I wasnt going to get involved in this conversation but i do have pictures of numerous mountain lions on my camera i did go to the biologist of the area and he told me specifically that it was. I have not put the pictures up on the internet yet but i will soon.

Was on my way home from work today here in Knott county about 730 this evening was about home when all of a sudden 2 big cats i honestly dont know what they were jumped out in front of me!! I finally got the car stopped in a neighbors yard. One of the cats was black standing about half my height (im 6'4). The other was a little bigger than that with leopard spots all over it. This was very close to my house. Havent been outside yet. I have all the doors locked! True story. Believe it or not!

KDFWR considers large long tailed cats exotics, and can be shot. Especially if you are threatened.

I want to see pics too..

I found it. :eek:

[Jughead]

so let me get this straight,... mountain lions are as unbelievable as deer with baby heads.

[quackrstackr]

so let me get this straight,... mountain lions are as unbelievable as deer with baby heads.

I think he's saying seeing two jaguars running together (one of them being of the famed "black panther" variety) would be about that believable.

[Jughead]

:D oh my bad,.. i got lost in this thread

[quackrstackr]

i got lost in this thread

surely not... :D

Westkybanded and I followed a semi loaded with several exotic big cats of different species from I-24, down the Purchase Parkway and then down hwy 641 towards Murray a couple of years ago. Seems like one of them was even a white tiger. Where it was headed was anybody's guess but I suppose it just goes to show that anything could be possible.

[buckfever]

surely not... :D

Westkybanded and I followed a semi loaded with several exotic big cats of different species from I-24, down the Purchase Parkway and then down hwy 641 towards Murray a couple of years ago. Seems like one of them was even a white tiger. Where it was headed was anybody's guess but I suppose it just goes to show that anything could be possible.

So I guess we can expect to see some pictures of a jaguar and blank panther to be followed shortly thereafter by some pictures of baby-headed fawn pictures?

[Realtree man]

Wilson is the one with the baby headed deer. I am the one that has just seen cheetahs and elephants running around here in eastern kentucky!!!

[quackrstackr]

Live nextdoor to the Eastern Kentucky zoo, do ya? :D

That or your family owns a circus. :D:D

[Realtree man]

No i have never seen an elephant just made that one up. The guy that made this forum should be brought from a spike to a 10 point for this. I think we all need to congratulate jughead for making one of the best threads to ever hit this website. So please lets all take this time to congratulate Jughead for this thread. Jughead you should not be a spike you are a 10 point in everyones eyes on this forum!!.....And by the way go cats beat the Tar Heels!!!!!:)

[barney]

KDFWR considers large long tailed cats exotics, and can be shot. Especially if you are threatened.

I want to see pics too..
http://www.kentuckyhunting.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=5603&d=1196260241

[Jughead]

there you go realtree man,.. there is your proof. you said you saw what could have been a black panther,.. its was just someones obeise housecat.

[Jughead]

also the guy who reads the gas meter above my house said he saw a mountain lion and it made a sound like a woman screaming.

[plowboy]

surely not... :D

Westkybanded and I followed a semi loaded with several exotic big cats of different species from I-24, down the Purchase Parkway and then down hwy 641 towards Murray a couple of years ago. Seems like one of them was even a white tiger. Where it was headed was anybody's guess but I suppose it just goes to show that anything could be possible.

Hey Quackr, you know that those cats were intended to be released in LBL to help control the deer population.

[quackrstackr]

There was a Yugo in front of them full of rattlesnakes for the turkey overpopulation too. ;)

[WBBP]

It may be a little blurry, but this is pic of a spotted panther chasing a whitetail fawn from my wildlife eye located in Butler County. This proves it. Pretty sure it was headed toward Ohio County.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v701/WBBP/3060med.jpg

[KYhunter79]

Was on my way home from work today here in Knott county about 730 this evening was about home when all of a sudden 2 big cats i honestly dont know what they were jumped out in front of me!! I finally got the car stopped in a neighbors yard. One of the cats was black standing about half my height (im 6'4). The other was a little bigger than that with leopard spots all over it. This was very close to my house. Havent been outside yet. I have all the doors locked! True story. Believe it or not!

Wrong thread. You need to post your story of a Black Lab chasing a Fawn here http://www.kentuckyhunting.net/forums/showthread.php?t=52036

:D

[WildmanWilson]

RealtreeMan...is that camera dry yet ??? I'm still waiting on those pictures.

[Jughead]

i got up with realtreeman yesterday and i just gotta say thanks. he showed me the pics from his trail cam. that camera is shot, man. thank goodness that memory card worked in my camera.:):confused::rolleyes:

[WildmanWilson]

i got up with realtreeman yesterday and i just gotta say thanks. he showed me the pics from his trail cam. that camera is shot, man. thank goodness that memory card worked in my camera.:):confused::rolleyes:

That goodness for that....now we will get to see the pictures at last. As soon as he gets time of coase. He's problably down at the creek washing clothes again. Too bad he didnt have his camera when the leopard and black panther jumped in front of him. Thats something you don't see more than a few times in your life time. I'm just starting to feel for his safety.....I mean how can you be covered up in big cats like that and not be in danger all the time.

I can see it now..the headlines will read....
Man Gets Mauled By Cougar, Leopard, and Black Panther....while washing closes at a local creek. The victom was still clutching his camera......

Please be careful out there guys.

[Realtree man]

My memory card is with jughead now he will post the pictures when he gets time.....Go cats beat the heels!!

[Jughead]

you know what realtreeman,... maybe i will and maybe i wont. the mystery is over for me and i might just be selfish with them. realtreeman, why do you wash your clothes in the creek. you know what kind of diseases are in the creek?! i always see smallmouth and baby diapers in the creek. thats not a good combo.
:cool::cool::cool::cool::p

[WildmanWilson]

you know what realtreeman,... maybe i will and maybe i wont. the mystery is over for me and i might just be selfish with them. realtreeman, why do you wash your clothes in the creek. you know what kind of diseases are in the creek?! i always see smallmouth and baby diapers in the creek. thats not a good combo.
:cool::cool::cool::cool::p


My money is on "maybe I won't". :D

[Realtree man]

My money is on "maybe I won't". :D
Yeah jughead is going to be selfish and not let anyone else see them. I believe he is going to make money on them..I want my pictures back you a$$! :):D

[Jughead]

alright,.. im gonna be honest. after careful review of realtreemans pics,.. it turns out that it wasnt a mountain lion after all but in fact a large soft shell turtle. sorry:D

[WildmanWilson]

alright,.. im gonna be honest. after careful review of realtreemans pics,.. it turns out that it wasnt a mountain lion after all but in fact a large soft shell turtle. sorry:D

I can see how that could happen....they move with such grace and stealth...sometimes its hard to tell the difference.

[Jughead]

haha couldnt be more true,... lol:D

[Realtree man]

I can see how that could happen....they move with such grace and stealth...sometimes its hard to tell the difference.
I think i owe you an apology mr wilson. Its just hard to tell the difference sometime.I hope we can put all of this behind us!!:).... Go cats beat heels!!

[buzzbaiter83]

"Body or body part:

"13. KY kitten. In June, 1997, a man driving a pickup truck hit and killed an eight pound spotted female cougar kitten on Highway 850 in western Floyd County, KY. He said he also noticed a larger and a smaller shape, most likely the kitten's mother and sibling, because the kitten was still too young to be out on her own. The driver took the body to the Kentucky Department of Game & Fish, which froze it. When the kitten was analyzed, she was found to have all her claws intact, with no tattoos, tags, collars or other indication of captivity. DNA analysis indicated that the kitten's maternal ancestry included genes from South America, pointing to the pet trade (South American cougars are popular in the cougar pet trade), but paternal ancestry was shown to be North American.

This kitten is important for several reasons: she was a highway fatality, and biologists claim that if cougars were present in any numbers some would get hit by cars; she indicates that reproduction is going on in the wild; and she exemplifies the mixing of cougars from various origins that is probably occurring in the eastern woods. An April 20, 2001 letter from Steve Thomas, Wildlife biologist, KY Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Resources to Chris Bolgiano, ECF vp, confirms the above information. " First link

http://www.easterncougar.org/pages/beyondsightings.htm



http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-11-30-mountain-lions_x.htm


http://pahuntfishshoot.com/?p=242

[buzzbaiter83]

Here too

http://www.rlep.org/livinggreen/mountainlion.html



Still don't believe in them???

I've seen them here in Harlan Co. Also saw a black panther too...on Slope Hollow.....I'm sure people will still be skeptical..lol

[CM12]

The rich man cried to Abraham, send Lazarus to warn his brothers. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them, And he said Nay, father Abraham buth if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. Abraham said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither wil they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. Not the exact quote but you can read it in Luke:16 19-31

People have been asking for pictures. What I get from this is that if you won't take a mans word for the truth then you wouldn't believe the pictures either. Esp. on the internet.

My view is that we all know the people in our own communities. We also know their reputations. Myself, when someone I know to be credible tells something as the truth, I believe it. I've been told some things by credible people, that are frequent topics on here and I believe them. As for forum members, we have no way of knowing credibilty, so I give the benefit of a doubt until proven otherwise. Surely people have better things to do than yank chains on a hunting forum.

[buzzbaiter83]

All I have to say is, Amen

[WildmanWilson]

Surely people have better things to do than yank chains on a hunting forum.

Maybe you should re-read some of the post and you may think different...;)

[GSPonGrouse]

One thing is for certain there are alot less "large cats" in Ky than uneducable people.

[buckfever]

Here too

http://www.rlep.org/livinggreen/mountainlion.html



Still don't believe in them???

I've seen them here in Harlan Co. Also saw a black panther too...on Slope Hollow.....I'm sure people will still be skeptical..lol

Whoa, whoa whoa there buzzbaiter. . . If Paul Farmer of the Rappahannock League for Environmental Protection says there are pumas in Ky, who are any of us to question that kind of evidence? :D:)

J/K, bb. there may be mtn lions in e ky for all i know. If there are, I'd bet they escaped from somewhere and aren't wild lineage.

[Jughead]

im glad you posted that link buzzbaiter,.. ive been wanting to see that mountain lion cub from floyd county for a while now. floyd county neighbors knott county. the people who claim to have seen them are in knott county. its not impossible.

[TheToons]

i believe cats are in ky...saw one myself this year, but even with a pic posted, there were still doubters (i admit to the poor quality, that's life)
i don't expect us to be inundated with them anytime soon, but i do believe they exist. are they wild or released? who knows, i sure don't know...but if someone I KNOW sees one and i know them to be of a reputable word and they don't overindulge in the good stuff (or the bad stuff, lol!) then i will believe them...do i still hunt and fish in the area i saw it? sure...i figure there is a better chance of getting stuck by lightning than that critter coming back to get me!

[Realtree man]

laying all jokes aside i honestly havent never seen one. But i do know trustworthy people that have seen big cats (dont know what they were) but they seen them. I hope i never run into anything like this but if i do my 30 alt's scope will be right on them!:)

[buzzbaiter83]

There's a pic of a mountain lion from a trail cam in Harlan Co at Neil's Barber Shop on US 119.

[Jughead]

there is a thread here that helps support my theory of lions in the area,..
http://www.kentuckyhunting.net/forums/showthread.php?t=52838

the evidence just keeps piling up.:cool:

[Bray]

there is a thread here that helps support my theory of lions in the area,..
http://www.kentuckyhunting.net/forums/showthread.php?t=52838

the evidence just keeps piling up.:cool:

Yes because native bobcats would never do a thing like that, neither would coyotes, bears, or poachers:rolleyes:

[HogBackRifleMan]

. I for myself have saw a large species of cat at around 75 yards while hunting deer. It did not resemble a cougar but that of a bobcat but a lot taller. It had a long bushy tail. Ihave saw it twice in the same area around the Dale Hollow lake area on the Corps of Engineers. Very close to Wisdom Dock.

[Jughead]

Yes because native bobcats would never do a thing like that, neither would coyotes, bears, or poachers:rolleyes:

i guess they could but i really dont think that a bobcat could drag a full grown deer. what is a bobcat like 15-25 pounds. its very common for a mountain lion to do this.

[EKY.MTN.HUNTER]

How come the large cat thread is always the favorite among sub 100 posters? Heck from the looks of things (amount of single digit posters giving accounts) people are joining kentuckyhunting.net just to tell us about their encounter. Thanks folks. Jughead Im sure every morning when you walk out on your poarch and see your cat sun bathing the first thing you think is :eek::eek: mountain lion!! "nope just the cat again. darn!" You seem like the type that would love to see a large cat and would be willing to miss-clasify any species, passing it off as a mountain lion. Just my opinion so don't get heated.

[Bray]

i guess they could but i really dont think that a bobcat could drag a full grown deer. what is a bobcat like 15-25 pounds. its very common for a mountain lion to do this.

Adult bobcats are known to kill adult deer and have been documented doing so. If a bobcat can kill a deer don't you think it would know what to do with it afterwards? People like you just want to believe in certain things no matter what evidence supports other oppinions. Call me skeptical but I don't put too much faith on what I read on public forums.

[Jughead]

Adult bobcats are known to kill adult deer and have been documented doing so. If a bobcat can kill a deer don't you think it would know what to do with it afterwards? People like you just want to believe in certain things no matter what evidence supports other oppinions. Call me skeptical but I don't put too much faith on what I read on public forums.

well I'll admit that I am a little bias toward the idea of mountain lions in eastern kentucky. I think they are here. But when you mention evidence, you make it sound like the lockness monster. the evidence shows that a mountain lion mix was found in Floyd county.

[Jughead]

just another tidbit of information

check out this link
http://www.14wfie.com/Global/story.asp?S=1944206

[Snareman2]

well I'll admit that I am a little bias toward the idea of mountain lions in eastern kentucky. I think they are here. But when you mention evidence, you make it sound like the lockness monster. the evidence shows that a mountain lion mix was found in Floyd county.

Here you go, all you big cat believers. Now is your chance, put out all kinds of cameras on the deer in question. If something covered it up, surely it will be back to get it. Looks like if someone was really serious about proving the cats are here, they would be all over this. But from what I see, it is just people wanting to talk about it. Document it, enough said. Put up or shut up!

[Grouse Pointer]

I'll be the 1st to admit that I am skeptical about big cats in KY. During opening weekend of gun season, I went to my family's farm in S. Eastern Ohio. It has been in the family for over 50 years. My dad, uncle, cousin and I were hunting on different spots on the farm. My cousin (35 yrs old) claimed to see a big Mt. Lion. I didn't think it was possible until a friend told me to search for this topic on here. It makes me wonder with all of these sightings if it could be possible. My cousin was the 1st person I had ever heard of claiming to have seen one that close to KY.

And no, he wasn't taking something nor is he under a doctor's supervision.

[Beehunter]

Everyone is always seeing a cougar, black panther or black bear in Indiana also. Must be something in ther water.:D

[swamper]

There are sightings in every county of every state, every year....black panthers, mt. lions, wolves, etc.....my cousin saw one, my mother saw one, my cousins' mother saw one......get real people.

These things seem to be seen more readily than just about anything, but yet know one can post a picture, or find one dead (other than a mixed strain cat obviously of pet origin), or provide a good track, etc...

People who are seeing these things are seeing a released pet, misidentifying what they see, lieing, or idiots. They are nothing more than campfire myths that are perpetuated by the human nature of finding interest in urban legend type of stories.

However, I do understand that I will not sway your belief in what you think you saw (or lied about seeing), but when I see a wolf pack stalking a black panther while trying to cross-breed with a Mt. lion, maybe I'll join the pack of the "delusional".;)

[Feedman]

. I for myself have saw a large species of cat at around 75 yards while hunting deer. It did not resemble a cougar but that of a bobcat but a lot taller. It had a long bushy tail. Ihave saw it twice in the same area around the Dale Hollow lake area on the Corps of Engineers. Very close to Wisdom Dock.

Could it have been a lynx!!! You are close to my home stomping grounds of Beech Bottom.

[weedwalker]

How come the large cat thread is always the favorite among sub 100 posters? Heck from the looks of things (amount of single digit posters giving accounts) people are joining kentuckyhunting.net just to tell us about their encounter. Thanks folks.

Probably because they're actually out in the woods instead of sitting in front of a puter. From the looks of your post count you should try getting out more yourself. You'll never see a large cat from here.:cool:

[Jim in Annville]

Yo Swamper if you truthfully believe that because you have not seen something that it doesn't exist then you are the delusional one. Not the ones of us who have saw one with our own two or four eyes in my case.!!!!:D

[KYDEERCHASR]

i personally have never seen one, but know 4 people that have. all 4 of these people are very credible people.
i believe they are here mainly because of these 4 people.
i plus about 10 more people including a state trooper saw a bear less than a mile from my house this past summer. if someone had of told me earlier there was a bear here i would have probably laughed at them.

anythings possible.

[buzzbaiter83]

Like I said Neil's Barbershop in Tremont on US HWY 119 N had a pic of a Mt. Lion from a trail cam in Harlan Co. Saw the pic with my own two eyes, as well as a few cats in the past couple years.


Of course if you've never seen one, you'll be skeptical.

In Floyd Co. 10 years ago. A man his a cougar cub.

[mudd]

To MR mudd,you set there and talk about people in the hills,on your computer.You come and say something about a hillbilly in person,you just might get your A&& stomped. MR city slicker

Grow up dude...it was a joke

[scrape]

My opinion, the cats were brought in to help control the elk herds. I know KDFWR would probably say that they did not, but there is also the chance that the cats left the west and came here due to all the wildfires in the past few years. The cub that was killed, I think in Knott County a year or two ago is proof that they are here and the fact that they are breeding shows that they are planning on staying around the area also. If someone get's lucky enough to see one, put it down. The cat is not a resident species of KY so it's free game.

[Bray]

My opinion, the cats were brought in to help control the elk herds. I know KDFWR would probably say that they did not, but there is also the chance that the cats left the west and came here due to all the wildfires in the past few years. The cub that was killed, I think in Knott County a year or two ago is proof that they are here and the fact that they are breeding shows that they are planning on staying around the area also. If someone get's lucky enough to see one, put it down. The cat is not a resident species of KY so it's free game.

Everyone knows they released sasquatch to control the elk. They never get seen and are endangered. Good luck shooting one the goverment will probally shave 'em and prosecute for murder.

[tritontr21]

I think that they stowed away on the trucks that brought the Elk here. Only thing else i can say is if i haven't seen it then theres no way it could be true. :) :)

[tritontr21]

Sorry forgot i should be one of those guys that saw the BIG CAT due to a low amount of posts on this site. :) :)

[GSPonGrouse]

I have been paying close attention to this thread for awhile now and see allot of joking and poking fun. Allot of comments that make no since at all. I see allot of "well I know someone who said this or seen that and they have no reason to lie". I see some people trying to put a large cat and big foot into the same category. Most of all people just want proof that they can put there hands on. Don't we all.

Lets look at some things that do make since that most will agree with.
1. Sightings are not proof. They may be the truth but many will dismiss them for any number of reasons.
2.Bigfoot and a large cat, no comparison. Not a single person on here can honestly say that cougars are not a living breathing animal that can be found in the US.
3.Mt. lions, cougars or what ever you want to call them at one time inhabited all of this country. As well as elk, bison, whitetail deer and turkey. All of which where hunted to near extinction here in the eastern half of the US, in some cases total extinction. Over the years the deer and turkey made a come back on there own(with help from state departments of fish and wildlife). Now there is a growing and flourishing elk herd here in Ky.(with allot of help) Many states have the highest deer and turkey numbers in history.
Many experts on mt. lions say that the numbers out west are probably higher than ever before in history. They are loosing habitat every day to urban sprawl, a growing agricultural presence as well as a growing number of people just wanting to get out in the country. These large cats are very solitary animals. As young just heading out on there own they look for home ranges, that they can claim for themselves without competition from other cougars. With individual cats setting out in search of a new home range, they look for home ranges that provide them ample food and water as well as cover and little human pressure.
We already know that food to east has already been reestablished and there is little or no competition to the east. It is safe to say that these animals are going to start moving eastward. This will eventually put them at the door steps of Ky. These cats have lived in Ky before. Ky has provided these animals with what they need to survive in the past and can provide what they need now.
Does this mean that there is a viable, reproducing population in Ky today? No, But it does mean that the possibility of cats being in Ky is not completely absurd. It does lead me to believe that it is possible and very probable that there are a few individuals out there. Only time will tell and give us the proof that we want.
Sorry so long!

[scrape]

Everyone knows they released sasquatch to control the elk. They never get seen and are endangered. Good luck shooting one the goverment will probally shave 'em and prosecute for murder.

I forgot about him being out there.

[tritontr21]

I have been paying close attention to this thread for awhile now and see allot of joking and poking fun. Allot of comments that make no since at all. I see allot of "well I know someone who said this or seen that and they have no reason to lie". I see some people trying to put a large cat and big foot into the same category. Most of all people just want proof that they can put there hands on. Don't we all.

Lets look at some things that do make since that most will agree with.
1. Sightings are not proof. They may be the truth but many will dismiss them for any number of reasons.
2.Bigfoot and a large cat, no comparison. Not a single person on here can honestly say that cougars are not a living breathing animal that can be found in the US.
3.Mt. lions, cougars or what ever you want to call them at one time inhabited all of this country. As well as elk, bison, whitetail deer and turkey. All of which where hunted to near extinction here in the eastern half of the US, in some cases total extinction. Over the years the deer and turkey made a come back on there own(with help from state departments of fish and wildlife). Now there is a growing and flourishing elk herd here in Ky.(with allot of help) Many states have the highest deer and turkey numbers in history.
Many experts on mt. lions say that the numbers out west are probably higher than ever before in history. They are loosing habitat every day to urban sprawl, a growing agricultural presence as well as a growing number of people just wanting to get out in the country. These large cats are very solitary animals. As young just heading out on there own they look for home ranges, that they can claim for themselves without competition from other cougars. With individual cats setting out in search of a new home range, they look for home ranges that provide them ample food and water as well as cover and little human pressure.
We already know that food to east has already been reestablished and there is little or no competition to the east. It is safe to say that these animals are going to start moving eastward. This will eventually put them at the door steps of Ky. These cats have lived in Ky before. Ky has provided these animals with what they need to survive in the past and can provide what they need now.
Does this mean that there is a viable, reproducing population in Ky today? No, But it does mean that the possibility of cats being in Ky is not completely absurd. It does lead me to believe that it is possible and very probable that there are a few individuals out there. Only time will tell and give us the proof that we want.
Sorry so long!
Long but a great point you make. If it matters i agree with you fully. Just because there are no pictures does not mean that it is not there. Solitary and low numbers will make it hard to get proof. To many reports of them in my county for me to write them off as not here. When bears first started here everyboby was in disbelief and saying that they were not here. Guess what the nay sayers were wrong. The number of complaints are riseing everyday with bears. So i say in the next few years the number of sighting for BIG CATS will keep going up. Just my humble opinion and a few facts to go with it.:D

[Jughead]

I have been paying close attention to this thread for awhile now and see allot of joking and poking fun. Allot of comments that make no since at all. I see allot of "well I know someone who said this or seen that and they have no reason to lie". I see some people trying to put a large cat and big foot into the same category. Most of all people just want proof that they can put there hands on. Don't we all.

Lets look at some things that do make since that most will agree with.
1. Sightings are not proof. They may be the truth but many will dismiss them for any number of reasons.
2.Bigfoot and a large cat, no comparison. Not a single person on here can honestly say that cougars are not a living breathing animal that can be found in the US.
3.Mt. lions, cougars or what ever you want to call them at one time inhabited all of this country. As well as elk, bison, whitetail deer and turkey. All of which where hunted to near extinction here in the eastern half of the US, in some cases total extinction. Over the years the deer and turkey made a come back on there own(with help from state departments of fish and wildlife). Now there is a growing and flourishing elk herd here in Ky.(with allot of help) Many states have the highest deer and turkey numbers in history.
Many experts on mt. lions say that the numbers out west are probably higher than ever before in history. They are loosing habitat every day to urban sprawl, a growing agricultural presence as well as a growing number of people just wanting to get out in the country. These large cats are very solitary animals. As young just heading out on there own they look for home ranges, that they can claim for themselves without competition from other cougars. With individual cats setting out in search of a new home range, they look for home ranges that provide them ample food and water as well as cover and little human pressure.
We already know that food to east has already been reestablished and there is little or no competition to the east. It is safe to say that these animals are going to start moving eastward. This will eventually put them at the door steps of Ky. These cats have lived in Ky before. Ky has provided these animals with what they need to survive in the past and can provide what they need now.
Does this mean that there is a viable, reproducing population in Ky today? No, But it does mean that the possibility of cats being in Ky is not completely absurd. It does lead me to believe that it is possible and very probable that there are a few individuals out there. Only time will tell and give us the proof that we want.
Sorry so long!

nicely put. i concur.

[jasunky1]

Well i have to say i have never seen a Mountain Lion. But just because i haven't seen them don't mean they are not there. I live in Pike County, the eastern most part of the state. We have all of what they need to survive. I did get some kind of cat on my trail camera. Not for sure what it is. Its solid black. Might just be a big house cat for all i know. If anyone wants to see a picture of it, Email me jasun1@webtv.net

[blackangus]

Did anyone decide if it would be legal to kill one. I can guarantee that if it is an Eastern ML the feds would have a field day with you- look at the case of the Seminole Chief killing one in line with State Law.

[autumn magic]

I live in a county adjoining Floyd county where the confirmed cub was killed.Due to the number of elk in the eastern Ky area,it wouldn't surprise most hunters if a small amount are present.Although I've never personally seen one,several legitimate sources have seen what they call a mountain lion in the same area.Is this a coincidence?One of those sources is a well known college instructor,hunter,and renowned trap skeet shooter.I personally don't see why he would make this up.However,I would like to see some type of evidence like most others.

[lonesomepine]

Did anyone decide if it would be legal to kill one. I can guarantee that if it is an Eastern ML the feds would have a field day with you- look at the case of the Seminole Chief killing one in line with State Law.

I asked a couple times if the KDF&W would bail me out and represent me when the Feds charge me for violating the Endangered Species Act for shooting one.Still haven't got a response.

People with closed minds that think they know all are the biggest fools on earth.

[newshooter05]

this big cat arguement reminds me of when someone said there were scorpions in ky. i told em i worked 15 years helping my bro in pest control and there were no scorpions in ky.i found out i was wrong and it only took 63 years to do it. because we never see big cats means very little i believe.if they are not here now they will be one day.
david

[nwest]

Did anyone decide if it would be legal to kill one. I can guarantee that if it is an Eastern ML the feds would have a field day with you- look at the case of the Seminole Chief killing one in line with State Law.


CSS Archer, the Res. voice of F&W here said shoot it and bring it to him. He is a wildlife Boilogist and would love to get his paws on one.

Whack em and stack em boys,,,,, then take a picture!!!!!!

[lonesomepine]

CSS Archer, the Res. voice of F&W here said shoot it and bring it to him. He is a wildlife Boilogist and would love to get his paws on one.

Whack em and stack em boys,,,,, then take a picture!!!!!!

Does state law supercede federal law? These state guys can tell you to whack'em all they want,but until I know I'm not violating the Federal Endangered Species Act and subject to Federal Prosecution then I'll pass.

[weedwalker]

CSS Archer, the Res. voice of F&W here said shoot it and bring it to him. He is a wildlife Boilogist and would love to get his paws on one.

Whack em and stack em boys,,,,, then take a picture!!!!!!

Seems like not all of the KDFW is on the same page. They told me in an e-mail from Frankfort that you CAN'T shoot them. And if I did, I sure wouldn't post a picture here.

[DW]

I believe that would be true. Shooting one would violate state law.

[born again]

I know that big cats do exist in ky. I live in harlan and have lived and hunted here all my life. I have had encounters and know of plenty other have also.

[kyfuzzyface]

There is a write up in this months Kentucky Afield about big cats in the East.
After all I have read here I'm not sure they are telling the truth
Did anytone check out Jascon's trail cam pictures??

[Ward]

I couldnt say one way or the other exept my brother saw one several years ago,And I beleive he did.He still talks about it from time to time.I would have never beleived there was a wild boar in Knott county untill this deer season.But there was!!!!

[CSS archer]

Last time I'll respond to this. Big cats are considered EXOTIC, not protected in KY. If you shoot one KDFWR wants to examine it and take samples from it.

Sure, people release stuff all the time, the Floyd County kitten run over a few years ago is a prime example, DNA testing showed it's ancestry to be of South American origin mixed with North American, pointing at the pet trade.

Is it possible that a couple of these pets have gotten together and had cubs? Maybe, more likely a pregant female escaped or was released and had cubs.

As for the black panther, there's never been a shred of evidence to support sightings, the only big cats that have been documented in a black phase are jaguars and leopards. They don't exist here unless someone turned them loose. I know folks that have seen them, I don't think they are lying, but the mind can lead you to think something is bigger than it really is, especially in low light.

Sorry I'm skeptical, I've been involved with a lot of black panther reports and none have ever panned out, is it a new species never discovered?

As for the FL panthers, they are declining in numbers, not expanding. They aren't going to be in Ky unless they have 2 legged assistance. Just because a cougar is east of the Mississippi, does not make it an endangered eastern cougar. Just as western states have cougar hunting, KY's policy is not in violation with the Feds.

I have an email where this was discussed by the Wildlife Division Director and Assistant Director after the question was brought up again a couple of years ago, the answer was to tell people to shoot them if they want to, they are considered exotic, but we want to see them.

[drakeshooter]

The show mentioned earlier where they examine sightings of large black cats -- MonsterQuest --is being shown again TONIGHT on The History Channel at 9:00 p.m. central and again at 1:00 a.m.

FYI, MonsterQuest "Bigfoot" is on at 11:00 tonight. :rolleyes:

[born again]

I think most people don't like to admit it because they are scared to go hunting if they think there are big cats out there.

[barney]

I think most people don't like to admit it because they are scared to go hunting if they think there are big cats out there.
Denile; not just a river in Egypt!

[AteUp]

The show mentioned earlier where they examine sightings of large black cats -- MonsterQuest --is being shown again TONIGHT on The History Channel at 9:00 p.m. central and again at 1:00 a.m.

FYI, MonsterQuest "Bigfoot" is on at 11:00 tonight. :rolleyes:

I'm watching it right now. They sure lined up some dandy eyewitnesses.,:rolleyes: Those first pics of the black cat in the pasture were so obviously a housecat, it wasn't even funny. It didn't even rise above the grass when walking.

[drakeshooter]

They sure lined up some dandy eyewitnesses.,:rolleyes:

It wouldn't have surprised me if the old boy had told the interviewer he had a "perty mouth.":D

[AteUp]

You have got to be kidding me. The WV fella said his dad was dragged off unharmed by a black cat and then covered up with leaves. He went and got his gun and shot the cat who was bringing her kittens in to where he was dragged to. This stuff is great.

[Snareman2]

Last time I'll respond to this. Big cats are considered EXOTIC, not protected in KY. If you shoot one KDFWR wants to examine it and take samples from it.

Sure, people release stuff all the time, the Floyd County kitten run over a few years ago is a prime example, DNA testing showed it's ancestry to be of South American origin mixed with North American, pointing at the pet trade.

Is it possible that a couple of these pets have gotten together and had cubs? Maybe, more likely a pregant female escaped or was released and had cubs.

As for the black panther, there's never been a shred of evidence to support sightings, the only big cats that have been documented in a black phase are jaguars and leopards. They don't exist here unless someone turned them loose. I know folks that have seen them, I don't think they are lying, but the mind can lead you to think something is bigger than it really is, especially in low light.

Sorry I'm skeptical, I've been involved with a lot of black panther reports and none have ever panned out, is it a new species never discovered?

As for the FL panthers, they are declining in numbers, not expanding. They aren't going to be in Ky unless they have 2 legged assistance. Just because a cougar is east of the Mississippi, does not make it an endangered eastern cougar. Just as western states have cougar hunting, KY's policy is not in violation with the Feds.

I have an email where this was discussed by the Wildlife Division Director and Assistant Director after the question was brought up again a couple of years ago, the answer was to tell people to shoot them if they want to, they are considered exotic, but we want to see them.

Read this Boys, this is from a Biologist. Why can't some understand this, or even read it. For the people that swear they saw one, or their buddy saw one, put the word out to shoot it or run over it the next time they get a chance. That goes for Bigfoot also, either catch it or kill it. Nobody ever can produce any evidence, it would be nice if you could prove me wrong.

[BunnyBuster]

Read this Boys, this is from a Biologist. Why can't some understand this, or even read it. For the people that swear they saw one, or their buddy saw one, put the word out to shoot it or run over it the next time they get a chance. That goes for Bigfoot also, either catch it or kill it. Nobody ever can produce any evidence, it would be nice if you could prove me wrong.


That's like saying go kill a world record buck in Saskatchewan. Just because someone don't post a picture doen't mean they haven't see some kind of large cat.

[Snareman2]

That's like saying go kill a world record buck in Saskatchewan. Just because someone don't post a picture doen't mean they haven't see some kind of large cat.

Or caught a glimse of a big black lab or other dog running away. It's easy for the mind to play tricks on an individual, making the eyes believe they saw something that they really didn't. Probably an honest mistaken identity of trying to justify something that they only saw for a moment, then it was gone. Honest mistake! No facts or evidence to show, just the memory of what the mind made out of a glimse. Easly done, even the most honest people can be mistaken.

The thousands of hunters across the state, the thousands of vehicle operators across the state, the thousands of farmers across the state, the thousands of hikers across the state, the thousands of bird watchers across the state, the thousands of people across the state, and ect.. Prove me wrong, please. Out of the thousands of opportunities, somebody could come up with some hard evidence. Not....It's not there!

[SmokeyBear]

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l53/SmokeyBear96/beatdeadhorse.gif
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l53/SmokeyBear96/beatdeadhorse.gif
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l53/SmokeyBear96/beatdeadhorse.gif

[PickSix]

I think what we need to remember is that these "Large Cats" usually cover up to 100 miles in a weeks time. If anyone has seen one, it is long gone the next day.

[Snareman2]

I think what we need to remember is that these "Large Cats" usually cover up to 100 miles in a weeks time. If anyone has seen one, it is long gone the next day.

Just that many more opportunities to get hard evidence. If they travel 100 miles a week, how about the thousands of cameras out across the state, thousands of roads to cross. Sooner or later, there would be some hard evidence. Not....It's not there!

[canemaker]

Ok, true story time, I am going to tell on myself here, so everyone listen up...lol
As most on here that have read my post, by know now that I am a retired gamewarden.

One day I got a call to go to the Cumberland-Adair county line about a bear. I thought humm, possible I know others have seen them but the sighting's are few and really far in between. So anyway, I get to this house and meet with the lady and about 3 of her neighbors, all are looking down the cow pasture at a small black 'thing' walking back and forth along the fence. Me being me, I just open the gap and drive on down... It was a black Chow...Had the people in alarm, almost to the panic stage, because they thought a beer was in there area...lol

NOW for the rest of the story

The very next day I get another call to go to a house in another county again, on another bear complaint. I thought great, another Chow dog... Seems this women was tired of the "bear" eating her dog's food off the back porch. I get there, knock on the front door no answer...So I mosey on around to the back porch and low an behold, there was a small black bear standing on her back porch. She didn't hear the me knocking because she was too busy talking to the bear...Trust me, you would have to have been there to see my face drop when I saw that the lady was correct.

I have hunted in Idaho most of my life and taken several bear, but this was the 1st bear that I have ever seen in the wilds of Kentucky..

I am so glad that the wildlife is returning, Kentucky is a great state and deserves great animals..

Never underestimate what others see...

[Jim in Annville]

No truer words have been spoken canemaker. I know what i saw. I dont know what species it was except cat. And I really dont believe that anyone has a house cat that big. If they do i aint never going to thier house. Lol.:D

[BunnyBuster]

Never underestimate what others see...


My thoughts exactly.

[redneck1377]

cougars will go where they can find food , I doubt if they need a week to travel 100 miles , they could cover that in one day if they are forced to

[redneck1377]

if jaguar & leopard can be all black, what about black bobcats

[Multidigits]

http://wildlife.state.co.us/NewsMedia/PressReleases/Press.asp?PressId=4694

[Coaldigger]

Well if I wasn't there then I would have found it hard to believe but I saw'em with my own eyes * cougar tracks * yesterday
my brother & me went coyote hunting on the old strip behind his house (Pike County) We were walking up the hill following some fresh coyote tracks when we came on these LARGE cat tracks as big as my hand minus the fingers.:eek: the hill was loose dirt & was still damp so the tracks looked like they were maybe a day old or less. Perfect tracks , no flaws in them.

[Snareman2]

The show mentioned earlier where they examine sightings of large black cats -- MonsterQuest --is being shown again TONIGHT on The History Channel at 9:00 p.m. central and again at 1:00 a.m.

FYI, MonsterQuest "Bigfoot" is on at 11:00 tonight. :rolleyes:

I taped and watched the MonsterQuest show, it's just like this thread. Crap!!!!!!!

[born again]

I witnessed something odd a couple weeks ago, my brother and I saw some glowing eye next to an atv trail, we got a wheat light to get a closer look at what it was. when we got closer we found four sets looking at us, I figured coyotes maybe, but then one jumped up a 12 ft high wall in one leap. whatever it was looked brown.

[swamper]

We have hunting seasons on species that aren't as common as these Mt. lions & black panthers....every single county has there own story.

Some other rarities in this state (B&C buck, piebald doe, smoke phase turkey, blonde squirrel, etc...) are seen far less commonly than these mythical Mt. lions/black panthers.....difference is, I can find pictures/carcasses/mounts/roadkills of each. Heck, I can even take you to shoot a swamp rabbit tomorrow, even though 75% of the hunters in this state have never seen one.

I truly believe that 90% of the reported cases of Mt. lions/panthers are honest misidentifications by people who fully believe they saw one. The other 9.9% are flat out lies, and the remaining 0.01% are released pets.

The burden of proof does not lie with those of us who know there are no population of these animals in the state...it lies with those of you who know they are here. Prove it.

[Jughead]

did anyone see the latest issue of kentucky affield? it has an article on large cats,... pumas, mountain lions, or cougars. a wildlife bioligist talks about the reality of cats in KY. this is all paraphrased from what i remember so dont flame me if its not perfect. the only cougars (in the eastern US) are in florida and there is very few of them there. there is no natural cougars in KY. however, like the cougar cub that was found in floyd county there is a possibility that people owning them illegally could release them in the wild.

[ptbrauch]

Reading this thread reminded me of something I once read in one of the Fox Fire books about panther (or "painter", as in the book) sightings in the mountains of Appalachia. If I remember correctly, these books were written in the early 70's. That tells me that either they've been around going on 40 years, or the rumor has been going on for that long and just keep perpetuating.

[Chief Huntum]

Well if I wasn't there then I would have found it hard to believe but I saw'em with my own eyes * cougar tracks * yesterday
my brother & me went coyote hunting on the old strip behind his house (Pike County) We were walking up the hill following some fresh coyote tracks when we came on these LARGE cat tracks as big as my hand minus the fingers.:eek: the hill was loose dirt & was still damp so the tracks looked like they were maybe a day old or less. Perfect tracks , no flaws in them.

GO HOME, GET CAMERA, BRING WITNESS, TAKE PICS? Didn't think so.

[Art]

Could one of the experts here please tell me what makes a "cat" track distinctive as opposed to say, a bear, dog, or coyote? No using Google either!:D I didn't know so many were so well versed in tracking species that are not common to the region.:D

[Chief Huntum]

Dogs, & bear do not have retractable claws, so rarely willl you see claw marks from a cat (exception is a cheeta). There are other features but if you see claw marks you can pretty much rule out cat.

[Coaldigger]

GO HOME, GET CAMERA, BRING WITNESS, TAKE PICS? Didn't think so.

No I didn't have a camera but YES I do have a witness ! My brother was coyote hunting with me at this time. We both have been hunters & outdoorsmen as long as I can remember. Unlike somepeople here I now my tracks & can tell the diff. between cats, dogs, bears, coyote, fox, coon, opossum (you probably didn't even know that opossum was spelled with an O) ;) cats have large pad prints & no claw prints , dogs & bear do ! These were very large Cat prints !!!!!:eek: I really don't care if you or anyone else believes me , I know what I saw . If you were a real outdoorsman then you might get out some & see some things :cool:
If you ever need a quick lesson on tracking, let me know & I'll give you a quick lesson on the basics ;)

[buzzbaiter83]

Hey you can tell the tracks apart because with a dog, you can draw an X between the toes and the X won't touch the palm. You can't draw through the palm on a cat track. I've helped a guy track bobcats to trap, that's what we look for.

[buzzbaiter83]

Thought I'd post these. Doesn't matter though. People are always skeptical til they see it for themselves. Doesn't matter if pictures were posted. It would have to have a copy of the local paper, with the date in the pic with the cat, as well as a DNA sample accredited by Jack Hannah..LOL..




http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-146853716.html


http://historicalnewportkyrealestate.info/

[weedwalker]

I think there are a few big cats in Ky. 89% of the people in the U.S.A. belive in God. Are they liars without a picture of him?:cool:

http://www.kentuckyhunting.net/forums/images/misc/progress.gif

[Feedman]

[quote=buzzbaiter83;522511]Thought I'd post these. Doesn't matter though. People are always skeptical til they see it for themselves. Doesn't matter if pictures were posted.

BB83,
We had our cub scout boys over at Mammoth Cave not long after this article. I spoke to one of the park rangers and he confirmed that there was a mountain lion loose in the park. They thought that it was a pet that had been turned loose.

[EKY.MTN.HUNTER]

BB83,
We had our cub scout boys over at Mammoth Cave not long after this article. I spoke to one of the park rangers and he confirmed that there was a mountain lion loose in the park. They thought that it was a pet that had been turned loose.

The trails cams placed all over the park however couldn't confirm anything. :cool:

[Ward]

Would it if they had a pic? Or would it be like the dead kitten from floyd county? The Bioligist didnt beleive us when we said we had bear.But low and behold,They discovered them in east ky!!!! Keep an open mind,it is possible a few may just be out there.

[Chief Huntum]

No I didn't have a camera but YES I do have a witness ! My brother was coyote hunting with me at this time. We both have been hunters & outdoorsmen as long as I can remember. Unlike somepeople here I now my tracks & can tell the diff. between cats, dogs, bears, coyote, fox, coon, opossum (you probably didn't even know that opossum was spelled with an O) ;) cats have large pad prints & no claw prints , dogs & bear do ! These were very large Cat prints !!!!!:eek: I really don't care if you or anyone else believes me , I know what I saw . If you were a real outdoorsman then you might get out some & see some things
If you ever need a quick lesson on tracking, let me know & I'll give you a quick lesson on the basics

My post was intended to educate you on how to proceed in obtaining evidence to back up what you are saying. Something as important as this, why did you not go back and take pics of the tracks if they were so clear?

What is a "real outdoorsman" anyhow? I have a degree in wildlife management, own an environmental firm, spend hours in the field delineating wetlands, hunted and fished all my life, grew up in the country, member of the Wild Turkey Federation. What else do I need to do to be a "real outdoorsman" beside learn to spell impossum.

[Jughead]

i was searching the website when i came across these pics. probably a bobcat but its still interesting cat pics.

http://www.kentuckyhunting.net/forums/showthread.php?t=45115&highlight=mountain+lion

[Jughead]

i was doing some more research when i found a link that etownhunter had posted nov.2006,..

http://www.naturealmanac.com/cougars/notes.html

this website shows a man that found a dead cougar in the woods of Mercer Couny, Illinois. there was a cub found in floyd couny,.. illinois aint that far away from KY. mountain lion evidence keeps piling higher.

[Jim in Annville]

Oh that was definitely a "HOUSECAT". lol:eek: According to most people on here there is nothing bigger than a bob cat in Ky.:D

[Bray]

i was doing some more research when i found a link that etownhunter had posted nov.2006,..

http://www.naturealmanac.com/cougars/notes.html

this website shows a man that found a dead cougar in the woods of Mercer Couny, Illinois. there was a cub found in floyd couny,.. illinois aint that far away from KY. mountain lion evidence keeps piling higher.

For the last time, the Mountain Lion Cub in Floyd Co. was half South American, meaning it was a pet. How could these two incidents possibly be related.

My problem with all of these cat stories is that there are 3 or four in each county in Kentucky. If each of these stories were true, or if half of these stories were true then there would be hundreds of cats and plenty of evidence. But the fact is that there is 0 hard copy evidence of WILD cougars. 0, some one show evidence of something besides a house cat and us "members" who don't believe this crap will eat crow. I would do so with a smile on my face.

[Cornpile]

Heres something,proof or not

This female cougar kitten was killed on the road in June 1997. It happened on KY highway 850 near the town of Hippo, KY in western Floyd County, which is in the eastern part of the state.
The skull is broken in several places. It is a female that weighed 8.8lbs. It had all its claws intact, and all were sharp. No visible human markings were on it (tattoos, tags, collars, etc.) The carcass is currently being held in a freezer at the Kentucky Department of Game & Fish.
The fellow that ran over this kitten, said that it was following a large cat and another small one. Which leads us to believe it was its mother and a littermate. The whereabouts of the other 2 are unknown, but sighting reports still come in from time to time. Melanie Culver (ECF board of director) did a DNA analysis on this kitten and the results showed that its mother had came from South American lineage. And its father was a North American cougar.
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc250/cornpile_2007/kykitten2.jpg
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc250/cornpile_2007/kykitten1.jpg

[etownhunter]

My problem with all of these cat stories is that there are 3 or four in each county in Kentucky. If each of these stories were true, or if half of these stories were true then there would be hundreds of cats and plenty of evidence. But the fact is that there is 0 hard copy evidence of WILD cougars. 0, some one show evidence of something besides a house cat and us "members" who don't believe this crap will eat crow. I would do so with a smile on my face.


Looks like to me you need to do some research on "Big Cats" and find out how far they travel, and how big ones home range is...

[Bray]

Looks like to me you need to do some research on "Big Cats" and find out how far they travel, and how big ones home range is...

Adult Cougars can travel up to 100 miles in 1 week. If Cougars were in Kentucky and moving up to 100 miles in a week don't you think there would be 1 trail camera or valid photograph, confirmed kill site, carcuss or anything. The floyd kitten is one thing. It was half South American. Meaning pet. Is it possible that someone relased a pet panther absolutely. Is it possible there are "wild" native panthers. I doubt it. There have been these kind of stories for as long as I have been alive with no substantive evidence to prove there are mountian lions in Kentucky. People will believe what they want no matter what evidence (or lack of evidence) presented. I just find it hard to believe "stories" from the internet or from local yahoos who are always seeing something extrodinary.

[lonesomepine]

Adult Cougars can travel up to 100 miles in 1 week. If Cougars were in Kentucky and moving up to 100 miles in a week don't you think there would be 1 trail camera or valid photograph, confirmed kill site, carcuss or anything. The floyd kitten is one thing. It was half South American. Meaning pet. Is it possible that someone relased a pet panther absolutely. Is it possible there are "wild" native panthers. I doubt it. There have been these kind of stories for as long as I have been alive with no substantive evidence to prove there are mountian lions in Kentucky. People will believe what they want no matter what evidence (or lack of evidence) presented. I just find it hard to believe "stories" from the internet or from local yahoos who are always seeing something extrodinary.
Funny ,but Colorado's Wildlife dept followed a collared female cougar that traveled over 1000 miles in a few weeks.through several cities (as in right through suburban neighborhoods) and the cat was never spotted,reported,or caught on a trail cam by anybody. It went through 3 states,I can get a link for this story if you don't believe,I just don't feel like looking it up this minute.

So if folks in Cougar territory don't catch a picture on the trail cam why sjhould everyone in Kentucky? Just to satisfy your closed mind?

[KYhunter79]

I think there is a small spotty population. But, thats besides the point. There is no definitive proof that they are here. But, why couldn't they be here? They are to our Southwest, our Northwest, Southeast and our Northeast. They are all around us. You can't tell me that is out of the question for them to be here. I don't get how everyone acts like there is no way that someone could see a Mtn. Lion in KY.

[lonesomepine]

I think there is a small spotty population. But, thats besides the point. There is no definitive proof that they are here. But, why couldn't they be here? They are to our Southwest, our Northwest, Southeast and our Northeast. They are all around us. You can't tell me that is out of the question for them to be here. I don't get how everyone acts like there is no way that someone could see a Mtn. Lion in KY.

Exactly,is there a large population in Kentucky? No,but there is 100% chance that one or more could pass through or even reside here.There is absolute proof they have been found or reside in Illinois,Missouri,Iowa,Arkansas,Texas,Michigan,Flo rida,Louisiana,and near parts of Canada,All within travel range of a real life wild cougar,the Florida subspecies has been steadily migrating north as evidenced by roadkills as far north as Daytona Beach,so much that the USF&W service is currently doing a feasibility study for re-introduction into other Southeastern States.

Nobody can deny the steady eastward migration of the cougar from western states into former territory that once again has a large deer population.Anybody that outright denies the possibility of a "WILD" cougar in Kentucky is a fool.

[revkev]

When I was a LE Officer our Chief and mayor said we don't have a gang problem, in fact we don't even have gangs. They were wrong and so are the nay sayers. We don't have a large thriving population, but I believe there are cougars here in KY. I saw one in Oklahoma and they use to say the same thing then too. But not anymore. Are there pets released, yes, but they mated with something to produce the cub that was hit on the road. They're here, not many, but they are here. JMHO though

[mudhole crossing]

For the last time, the Mountain Lion Cub in Floyd Co. was half South American, meaning it was a pet. How could these two incidents possibly be related.

My problem with all of these cat stories is that there are 3 or four in each county in Kentucky. If each of these stories were true, or if half of these stories were true then there would be hundreds of cats and plenty of evidence. But the fact is that there is 0 hard copy evidence of WILD cougars. 0, some one show evidence of something besides a house cat and us "members" who don't believe this crap will eat crow. I would do so with a smile on my face.
werent suppose to be many hogs in ky either,but seems like they are rooting all across the state---u probably dont believe in santa claus either do ya?:D

[canemaker]

Hate to keep bringing it up...but here is a trail cam pic from a friend of mine (KSP Trooper).

[barney]

Hate to keep bringing it up...but here is a trail cam pic from a friend of mine (KSP Trooper).
Is that "k"sp as Kansas or "k"sp as kentucky?

[canemaker]

Is that "k"sp as Kansas or "k"sp as kentucky?

Ummm....Is this the Kansas Hunting forum or the Kentucky Hunting forum?...lol. Kentucky.:)

[grouser68]

Hate to keep bringing it up...but here is a trail cam pic from a friend of mine (KSP Trooper).Now THAT.........looks like a couger!Thanks for posting!

[KYhunter79]

Hate to keep bringing it up...but here is a trail cam pic from a friend of mine (KSP Trooper).

That actually doesn't look like a Mnt. Lion to me. I've seen a bigger picture of that and you can see spots on the back hips and there is no big tail. Just my opinion though.

[Snareman2]

This topic is like my wedding ring, there is no begining and no end. Are we married?

[barney]

Hate to keep bringing it up...but here is a trail cam pic from a friend of mine (KSP Trooper).
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e290/nwest123/ICAM0011.jpg
Here is a better pic,different angle,same BOB CAT!:rolleyes:

[etownhunter]

Adult Cougars can travel up to 100 miles in 1 week. If Cougars were in Kentucky and moving up to 100 miles in a week don't you think there would be 1 trail camera or valid photograph, confirmed kill site, carcuss or anything. The floyd kitten is one thing. It was half South American. Meaning pet. Is it possible that someone relased a pet panther absolutely. Is it possible there are "wild" native panthers. I doubt it. There have been these kind of stories for as long as I have been alive with no substantive evidence to prove there are mountian lions in Kentucky. People will believe what they want no matter what evidence (or lack of evidence) presented. I just find it hard to believe "stories" from the internet or from local yahoos who are always seeing something extrodinary.

There are how many acre's of woods in Kentucky? Do you actually think that every hunter in ky puts out a trail camera? How many times have you heard "i got a picture of a buck i have never seen before", or "late season hunter kills a buck that he never saw on the farm."

[Scott7m]

I'm telling you whats the truth, you could kill one of them, and hang it in the rotunda at the capital and about half the people on here would still say the only wild cats that are in ky are bobcats....

that sure looks like a mountain lion to me in that pic...

[barney]

I'm telling you whats the truth, you could kill one of them, and hang it in the rotunda at the capital and about half the people on here would still say the only wild cats that are in ky are bobcats....

that sure looks like a mountain lion to me in that pic...
Scott,Im not sayin their not here, but that pic IS a bobcat, note the short tail and spots on the hind legs!;)

[KYhunter79]

That picture is without a doubt a Bobcat.

[Bray]

People will see what they want to see. For 25 years people have been telling tall tales about seeing mountain lions. Yet there is no proof. Until someone can show otherwise I am done with this topic. It's like trying to argue with someone who says they were abducted by aliens.

[RVtech24]

I brightened up the pic...see the black tip on his tail...this is a picture of a bobcat.

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t265/GTBUSA/ICAM0011.jpg

[KYhunter79]

Here is a better picture, same place..

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e290/nwest123/ICAM0010-1.jpg

The pictures are in this thread:

http://www.kentuckyhunting.net/forums/showthread.php?t=45115&highlight=mountain+lion

How can't you tell that is a Bobcat? Where is the tail? Why are there a bunch of spots on the hind quarter?

[Scott7m]

I don't see much of a tail either, but if thats a bobcat... he's the king of the jungle thats for sure

for those who say you see what you want to see, that goes right back at ya..

if that is a bobcat wouldn't you have to agree that he's huge, or