It's Official....Mtn Lion in New York

[Guru]

You guys just leave me shaking my head sometimes    

 Believe what you want to believe,deny if you want to deny, but they are around...like it or not......

  Taking personal shots at Joe is just not cool!

If you have something constructive to say on the matter. like some have...then go ahead...

Personal shots won't be allowed!!

[SteveB]

My post was not intended as a shot at Joe personally. Just an observation on the history of sitings as I have seen them. I welcome eagerly the presentation of documented evidence - that is all. Until then, I remain a skeptic with an open mind.

Steve

[vermonster13]

The DEC confirming they released a lion is what I am having difficulty swallowing. The policy has always been otherwise. I am sure Joe's friend told him they were told such, I just don't believe that friend is being 100% accurate in that statement. If a person from the DEC did make such a statement I don't think that person will have much job security if their identity was to become known.

[mcgroundstalker]

If Joe was given some disinformation well... That's the way some people operate. I can tell ya what I do know. I've been hunting the same area of Greene County for over 35 years and KNOW there are cougars wild and free in the woods there.

Please understand why I can't give more details. Just reolize the DEC wouldn't go to Wally World to buy a mountain lion. These cats may be bread and released locally. Easy Button......

... mike ...

PS... Don't Ask! Don't Tell!

[Gaff]

well, ill tell ya a story. i personally know at least 10 guys and women that have seen them in my area of western ma.  :(  
anout 12 years ago i was hunting in pownal vt. with 2 friends of mine. my buddy shot a buck at last light with his bow. we decided that coming back in the am would be the best bet. we did, and after 100 yds we found the buck with ZERO meat left on it, HANGING from a tree branch 15 ft in the air!!!  :confused:   dont tell me anything else would do that!!! because nothing else would!!  :eek:  

it then happend again about 2 weeks later!! then a well known and respected doctor saw a lion while riding his bike about 1 mile from our hunting spot...  :(  
believe what you want. dont believe it if ya want. just be openminded, AND show joe some respect..he's just givin ya the heads up!!

gaff

[kbetts]

There was denial about coyotes being introduced to DE until someone shot one with a tattoo in their ear.  Hard to deny that.

[Jan Brown]

Folks... I don't post often, but on this one I will chime in! Joe is a stand up guy and doesn't need or deserve to be pounded on in this forum! Curt deserves a thank you for putting a stop to the beating on Mr Skipp. Now the real issue at hand is can we discuss this topic logically? I feel the answer to that is a resounding yes! Let's leave the attacks for those who would like our sport and related outdoor activities to go away... one team one fight! United we stand divided we fall!  

[IndianaBowman]

Steve Kendrot, they have your home state listed wrong. It shows Maryland, not Missouri! : )

My son saw one in our backyard and I'd put him up against anyone when identifying wildlife. I found a deer partially eaten and covered with leaves, sticks, and dirt AND some unusually large feline looking tracks. Now I have a BIG cat, but I believe a deer could whip his rear! Several of my neighbors have seen them as well. My next door neighbor even called and asked if it was safe for her grand daughter to walk the gravel road to the bus stop because they saw it. Now, I haven't seen one personally, but me and Perry Mason believe the circumstantial evidence warrents a bit of belief.  

I didn't think the DEC would admit it because if they recognized it as a big game animal in the state, they would have to develop a management plan and they don't have the money or staff for that???

[joe skipp]

Morning Fellas...hey..personal shots don't bother me. I'm attempting to find out today exactly who my friend spoke to at the DEC. I would like to also verify the information from the DEC but my friend of 30 yrs really has no reason to BS me when he stated they saw the cat.

For years farmers and hunters over in Dutchess Co. NY have seen tracks and spotted cats which "Were much bigger than Bobcats."  Personally, I hope there isn't a cat in the area and if there is, where did he wander down from...the Catskills.

[Shaun]

The official DNR position in Iowa is that mountain lions do not exist in this state. Our local state wildlife biologist has stated in open in-town deer hunter seminar that this means that there is no legislation pending or law on the books which mentions mountain lions. And, that if one is seen by a hunter he may shoot it. As soon as there is enough evidence of cougars in Iowa, they will have to address them in regulations. Until then, its no closed season. I would not hesitate if I saw one around here.

[Mr.Magoo]

I don't know about the NY DNR but I saw a mountain lion back in the early 90's when I lived in Olean, NY.

Not sure why it's so hard to believe.  The cats don't have to show their travel papers at any state border.

[hickstick]

Curt is right as always here guys.   No room for disrespect!

we have all heard reports of sightings....heck a few years ago there was a summer you couldn't turn the news on here in Mass without a news story about sightings of a big cat in EASTERN Mass.  

over a decade ago there was scat found in The Quabbin Reservoir area, that was sent by MassWildlife to a government lab and confirmed to be Mt. Lion....who's last meal was cottontail.

and since they always give the same story of 'escaped or released pet'....I'm going to venture to guess Joe's neighbor misheard or is misremembering the DEC rep....I'm sure I would be pretty 'spun up' with a lion sitting in my back yard and quite likely could be given the secret recipe to Cold Fusion and wouldn't remember it correctly.  

until someone finds evidence of kittens they will always say 'there is no evidence of a 'breeding' population and fall back on the escaped or released pet.

[Huntrdfk@Work]

Those of you that know Joe how much of a standup guy he is.........

Recently there was a sighting in New Hampshire, as you can see by the link, Fish and Game, while admitting that one of their "staffers" saw the animal while following up the original report, still downplays the existence of lions in our state.

 http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090919/GJNEWS_01/709199855

And here is Fish and Games news release on their web site......

 http://wildnh.com/Newsroom/News_2009/News_2009_Q3/mtn_lion_091809.html

I find it interesting that there have been no followup articles to the original reports....

I have absoulutely no doubt as to what Joe, or Terry, or Mike or Curt has said, and also understand that the official position of NY Fish and Game is that there are none in that state.  

Frankly, I am suprised that New Hampshire has gone as far as they have in admitting a "possible" sighting......

David

[Mudd]

Shawn, I believe Missouri takes a little different approach. They try to tell us there are no big cats(wild) but since there isn't any season on them it would be illegal to shoot one...lol A highway 54 motorist proved to anyone with a TV that they do exist here because the film crew was there before the body was removed.

[LongStick64]

When it comes to NY DEC anything is possible.

When I reported to them that I saw Hogs in the NY/Penn border, local DEC told me I was nuts. Every year same story, they would deny it and told me I was watching some farmers animals. Big difference between a pink pig and a hog. Guess what look in the official NY Hunting guide, and they now say with a small game permit you can take a hog.

When I was hunting NY DEC MANAGED land a few years agon on Long Island, I told them I saw Turkeys, they told me I was wrong they were Pheasants. I pressed the issue. I basically told them that if they were indeed Pheasants and I shot them while small game hunting that it will legal. That's when they said yes they were Turkeys and I wasn't allowed to take one because they were being introduced back to Long Island.

Best way is ask the DEC up there if they did release one, if they say no way. Shoot it and tell them you thought it was a Lynx or Bobcat. See how fast they will change their tune.

Anyone who hunts in NY state can tell you that at best the DEC doesn't manage the game as best as possible.

[hickstick]

Shaun...this is how Mass officially answers that question:

"Closed season throughout the year on all birds and mammals not mentioned herein or in Massachusetts
Migratory Bird Regulations."

[Joseph]

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife tried to tell us in Montana that there were not any wolves here before they reintroduced them in Yellowstone Park.  Waite till they want to bless you with wolves also.  Here in the Billings Zoo we have a breeding pair of "Eastern Grey Wolves" that means you guys need some back to put things in balance again     If you believe what the goverment tells you or waite for them to rescue/take care of you, you will get exactly what you deserve.    

[ishiwannabe]

I have no doubt they are in NY. I have seen tracks. A kill...my wife and my mother have seen them. I have even had tracks follow mine, in a snow storm, while small gaming.

As far as I knew, and I worked for them, they(DEC) had a "not here" answer for cougars. I KNOW of atleast three road killed lions within 30 miles of me.

Whether you believe it or not, atleast be respectful with your opinion.

Terry, I would put your kids up against any wildlife expert too...

There is a website devoted to tracking cougar sightings in NY and the northeast. Its is trackincats. com....check it out.

[lpcjon2]

I read an article about guides in the mid west who have sewn eyes(like you can get at the craft shop)on the back of their hats or packs,apparently a lion will not attack head on so the eyes make them think your facing them.This wont hurt to try.

[preflex]

if one came on my property i would just shoot it and claim self defence or that i was defending my family (kids dogs cats etc.) cause what are they gonna do to you (especially if they were introduced to the area by the DEC and not just a group that migrated to your area) and it might get them to realize the problem. and mountain lions around people (citys and what not) are bad, we have problems with them here in cali takin peoples pets, not too long ago there was a mountin biker killed and eaten by one (the big wild fires dont help either), if your seeing them in your general area id keep small pets and kids inside.