Mountain Lion Hunting Dogs and the New Washington Rule

In Washington state, a new rule has been implemented for hunting mountain lions with dogs. This rule requires hunters to have a permit to use dogs for hunting mountain lions.

The rule aims to increase safety and reduce the risk of conflicts between hunters and mountain lions. The new regulation also requires hunters to follow specific guidelines for handling and training their dogs.

According to the rule, dogs must be at least 12 months old and have a certain level of training to be used for hunting mountain lions.

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Mountain lions are one of the most elusive game in North America, making them a challenging but rewarding hunt. Most hunters use a small-caliber rifle and a pack of well-trained hounds to hone in on their prey.

Fresh tracks are essential for success, and hunters typically search isolated roadways and logging trails by truck or all-terrain vehicle to find them. After finding fresh cougar tracks, a pack of dogs is released from the kennel, leashed and put on the track.

A good mountain-lion-tracking dog has a "cold nose", which refers to the ability to trail an old track—a crucial skill for Idaho mountain lion hunting. The most preferred breed for this task is the Blue tick coonhound.

Hunters often equip their dogs with GPS collars, enabling their location to be identified from afar. But a pair of good old-fashioned ears will also work well, as the dogs instinctively howl while they track.

Once the dogs have treed the cat, you'll need to catch up, following their barks and bays while glancing down periodically at the GPS monitor. Seeing that the blinking dots have converged, you know they've treed something—you just hope they didn't become distracted by a bobcat or raccoon.

Mountain lions are large and formidable, so mountain lion hunting with hounds usually involves larger breeds to handle the tracking and treeing duties. The dogs will worry the cougar, causing it to seek the relative safety of a tall tree.

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Hunting with dogs is a tried and true method for tracking down mountain lions. Our team has been raising and training big game hounds for over 40 years.

The key to a successful hunt is finding fresh tracks, which can be a challenge in itself. Hunters typically search isolated roadways and logging trails by truck or all-terrain vehicle to find these tracks.

A well-trained pack of hounds is essential for tracking down a mountain lion. Most hunters use a small-caliber rifle and a pack of well-trained hounds to hone in on their prey. Typically, hunts begin with the search of isolated roadways and logging trails by truck or all-terrain vehicle.

Larger breeds are often preferred for mountain lion hunting with hounds, as they can handle the tracking and treeing duties. Blue tick coonhounds are the preferred choice for most, but black and tan hounds, leopard curs, and redbone hounds are also used.

Washington state has just implemented a new rule regarding hound training for cougar tracking. This rule requires that all hounds used for hunting mountain lions be well-trained and equipped with GPS collars.

You'll need a pack of well-trained hounds to have any chance of success when hunting mountain lions. Most hunters use a small-caliber rifle with their hounds.

Typically, hunts begin with the search of isolated roadways and logging trails by truck or all-terrain vehicle. This is where you'll find fresh cougar tracks.

A good dog will instinctively howl while tracking a mountain lion, allowing you to hear them as they make their way through the bush. This is especially helpful when you're tracking in dense terrain.

Once the dogs tree or otherwise corner a cat, it's the hunter's job to catch up and do the rest. This is where experience and skill come into play.

A unique perspective: Hunt Mountain Lions

A good mountain lion tracking dog is crucial for a successful hunt.

They need to have a "cold nose", which means the ability to trail an old track.

In Idaho mountain lion hunting, larger breeds are often used for their tracking and treeing abilities.

Blue tick coonhounds are the preferred choice for most hunters.

Mountain lions typically have no reason to fear four-footed predators, but a pack of well-trained hunting dogs is a different story.

They will worry the cougar, causing it to seek the relative safety of a tall tree.

Hunters often equip their dogs with GPS collars to track their location from afar.

A pair of good old-fashioned ears will also work well, as the dogs instinctively howl while they track.

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Mountain lion hunting dogs have been a topic of controversy and debate among wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists.

Some argue that these dogs are essential for managing mountain lion populations and protecting livestock, as seen in the example of ranchers in Colorado who use them to control mountain lion attacks on their cattle.

Others claim that the use of hunting dogs is inhumane and unnecessary, pointing to the fact that mountain lions are a protected species in many areas.

Proponents of hunting dogs argue that they are a more efficient and effective way to manage mountain lion populations than traditional hunting methods.

However, critics argue that the use of hunting dogs can lead to the killing of non-target animals, such as other predators or even pets.

The debate surrounding mountain lion hunting dogs highlights the complex relationship between humans and wildlife, and the need for careful consideration of the impact of our actions on the natural world.

Some researchers have suggested that alternative methods, such as non-lethal deterrents and education programs, may be more effective and humane ways to manage mountain lion populations.