Never sit on your behind when calling lion!

[452b264]

A good friend and I hiked deep into an area we know holds a decent population of bears, with a late start we dodged several rattle snakes in the 100 degree heat, and spotted a few coues deer on the way in. At about the 11 mile mark our water supply had depleted to very low levels, and with at least another 4.5 miles to go, and sundown approaching fast we camped in a saddle with plans to hunt back to the truck and water at first light. On the way out I spotted a decent set of lion tracks in the soft wet soil where we stopped for water, I made a mental note and planned to come back to the area at a later time. A couple months past and there was a good storm that lasted about four days so I decided to hunt the area at first break in the storm. When I returned to the remote water source there were again fresh tracks about 200 feet lower then the first set, I climbed up to a saddle with three fingers leading to a flat about 45 feet wide by 70 yards long, behind me was a shear drop to the bottom of a ravine that led up and to the south. I set up my stand here calling with my favorite open reed call, using a fawn in distress for short periods with a full minute pause. After about fifteen minutes I had paused to look and listen when I heard a thump to my far left, which I didn't anticipate any predators using since it was so steep, what I didn't do was walk far enough to see large steps going from one boulder to another leading to the far ridge and the head of the dry creek bottom. At first the sound was so light I thought it was a coyote approaching, just as that thought entered my mind a heavy thump landed above, and to my hard left. I was sitting in a chair shaped boulder with my rifle butt in my shoulder, and the barrel resting on shooting sticks, I turned with my rifle ready to be greeted by a mountain lion looking at me with its head sticking out from the vegetation maybe three feet from the end of my rifle, there was brush blocking a clear shot and the lion started down the boulder to enter a clearing right in front of me, as its vitals cleared the bush I fired dropping the lion with one shot. One of the best hunts I have ever experienced.

[ready2hunt]

great story but where are the pics??? congrats! bet you had to change your pants

[AZbowhntr]

That will get the blood flowing. Not to mention everything else. Get any pictures of it?

[452b264]

Nope good to go, but my adrenaline was pumping so hard I had the shakes after the fact. Yes there is a picture around here somewhere. I will have to scan it, and post it later.

[rossislider]

Nice, but you can't post a story like thay without a picture. Not to prove it, but just because lion pictures are awesome!

[naturebob]

Many years ago had a bobcat face to face at about 6 ft ,leaning backwards against a tree. Shotgun from hip was instant reaction as he looked ready to pounce on me. Pants stayed clean but it was close.............BOB!

[Edge]

Good write up

[218buck]

Very cool you never know what's going to come in when your calling glad your plan worked out that's awesome that you killed a lion especially at such close range.

[trphyhntr]

you walked 15.5 miles one way in Arizona summer heat? youre crazy man.

[452b264]

you walked 15.5 miles one way in Arizona summer heat? youre crazy man.

No 11 miles, this means I'm sane!

[452b264]

Very cool you never know what's going to come in when your calling glad your plan worked out that's awesome that you killed a lion especially at such close range.

Being in the middle of a pause of the calling sequence may have kept her from attacking me out right. I don't sit on the ground while calling any more, ever. This has happened to a friend of mine twice. One of those lions charged at a full run and he made the shot at 7 feet.

[Matt Meyer]

Great story and congrats on the lion

[Zeke-BE]

You posted July 3rd, now I'm refusing to believe you! PICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[452b264]

You posted July 3rd, now I'm refusing to believe you! PICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The hunt was 7 years ago!

[idgaf]

 

You posted July 3rd, now I'm refusing to believe you! PICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The hunt was 7 years ago!

 

Yes but the story is only two days old. Pics please