[loneviking]

in reply to: Cougars, livestock and hunting #54149

I agree that California is a unique situation with no hunting having taken place in almost 40 years. And that’s where maybe it’s time to put science into play.

The wildlife biologists here in Nevada started collaring lions to figure out how many there were and improve on what was known of their behavior. I was told by one of their biologists that a big surprise was to find that some of the cats had learned to take down wild horses, and that was the main source for some of these cats. Apparently they learn how to take down an animal and then teach their offspring to do the same. It would be interesting to see if something similar is taking place within a subset of the California population in regards to peoples dogs and cats. Why not horses,cattle and sheep as well?

Limited hunting is another way to inject science. Our bear hunts here in Northern Nevada gave the wildlife experts a surprise. Hunters were dragging in bears that had never been tagged, never been seen and the numbers of unknown bears has led them to up the estimate of animals in the area.

Anyway, interesting thread and just some random thoughts of mine.

[loneviking]

in reply to: Cougars, livestock and hunting #53494

I disagree about non-hunting not causing problems. I’m a California native and know the state well. Up around the Redding/Shingletown area (as an example) back in the 70’s, Cougar problems were non-existent. Since the ban on hunting, the population in that area has just constantly gone up.

Today, I wouldn’t go into those woods, and especially at night, without at least a sidearm. My wifes relatives live in Shingletown and nearly everyone up there has lost a dog or a cat to a cougar. The cats will come down and take pets right off the deck of a house, they’ve been known to stalk people out walking their dogs. There’s just too many of them and they need to have their numbers (of both sexes) reduced.

I’m not sure what ‘rememdial’ hunting is as hunting these big cats is one of the toughest hunts you’ll usually ever have. Here in Nevada, you can buy a tag for ’em over the counter and cheap. There’s apparently quite a bit of hunting for them, but not much problem with nuisance cats.

The nuisance cats are usually the young toms. I had one that took up residence by my house. He’d even sit in the Cottonwood tree outside the garage. He’d scram if somebody came out, but he wouldn’t go far. He had a bad habit of being way to curious and was known for chasing dirt bike riders and joggers. He met his end when he attacked a couple of dogs at a nearby park and the owner used his sidearm to kill him.

The one thing I take away from the article is that ‘indiscriminate’ hunting doesn’t work to stop a problem. It has to be targeted at specific problem animals. What I really wonder though, is if in a place like California where they aren’t hunted, if even targeted hunting would reduce the problem?

[loneviking]

in reply to: Stalk in these? #62754

I tried on a pair of the fve fingers and had problems. Three of my toes were too short to fit in the toe pockets. The width of the shoes is pretty much a medium. I have a 12EEE foot and I’m going to have to go with a custom built pair of mocassins. So, if you have big or odd shaped feet, Five Fingers probably won’t work.

[loneviking]

in reply to: Interesting Waste of Time #62740

Well, to be fair, if there is something I need and can only get through the catalog then all I have to do is choose the ‘pick up at store’ option and there’s no shipping charge.
And there are some supplies such as reloading and arrow making that are cheaper at Cabela as they buy in bulk.

But clothes and fad gizmos? They’d go broke trying to survive off what I spend! Somebody is buying a lot of hightech junk that will likely never be used. And that does make me wonder about some of the hunting crowd in the woods today.

[loneviking]

in reply to: Woodsmanship….. #62732

Smithhammer wrote: We tend to focus on the ‘technical’ skills, but I think that continual awareness and observation, with all the senses, is the foundation of all backcountry skill, and often doesn’t get emphasized enough.

Yep…aka ‘curiosity and patience’..what is that critter over there and why does that plant only grow there? That along with the tough to learn skill of sitting still and quiet, just immersing yourself in all that is going around you in nature.
And at days end, a small glass of Drambouie as you reflect on what you’ve learned!

[loneviking]

in reply to: Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Chart for N. America #12409

Farming seems to be the biggest source of outbreaks. Here in Nevada there are no captive Elk or Deer as the farms are not allowed. There’s also no CWD!

[loneviking]

in reply to: Too old to hunt? #40230

I love reading these stories. I”m new to the forums, but I already feel right at home. I turn 50 next month, but I don’t feel all that old. I”m in good health and the kids (20 and 22 y/o daughters) complain about the ‘death hikes in the Sierra’ that I take ’em on! I figure I’ve got at least forty more good years to ramble around in the moutains and deserts. However many there are I intend to make the most of them.

[loneviking]

in reply to: Ground Hunting #37563

Ground hunter. Where I live in Nevada, you couldn’t tree stand hunt if you wanted too! Ever tried to put one up on a Pinyon or Juniper?

[loneviking]

in reply to: Predators and A Hunter's Conscience #35770

Good post by Steve, and I know about watching that fire die out. I was about 13 or 14, and there was a Redtail Hawk that kept after the chickens in the coop, and even managed to make off with one of them. I fixed the coop back up and run off this hawk three or four times. One day I hear the chickens going nuts and grabbed the old .410 to go see what was going on.

Here’s this hawk, hovering in the air and yanking on the chicken wire with his claws! I figured I’d given him enough chances to change his ways and opened up with the shotgun. The blast knocked him out of the sky and over on the other side of the coop. I ran over there in time to watch the fire fade from those fierce yellow eyes.

I’ve never been one to hunt predators without a very good reason. I just can’t see shooting one for sport. But, there are times when the numbers need thinning. I live close to Lake Tahoe, and we have a real bear problem up there now. So much so that Nevada has just created a bear hunt for this year. The bears are way too numerous, and they aren’t even hibernating over the winter anymore.

The thinking is that the bears are living on people food which doesn’t give them the nutrition they need to hibernate. They don’t get fat enough, and the junk food creates cravings for more junk food. The bears are only denning up for a week, maybe two and then they are back out again. So, time to thin the numbers out, but it’s something I’d do with regret.

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