Trad Gang
Topic Archives => Memorable Hunts => Topic started by: Walt Francis on December 30, 2006, 12:06:00 PM
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After seventeen days (this year) of looking for tracks it all finally came together yersterday. It only took a little over two hours to cover three miles and tree the cat. I will post more details (embellished of course) and pictures this evening. For reference, I am five feet nine inches tall and weighed in after the hunt at 187. Not as big as that brute Mickey got, but I believe he is a keeper.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/mountainLionLenny022.jpg)
Walt Francis
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Congratulations, that cat looks pretty big to a NY boy. Your hard work paid off just like it is supposed to.
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Well done! :thumbsup:
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Can't wait for the story Walt..especially the embellished version ha ha. Congrats my man, that is one dandy mountin lion! :thumbsup: :notworthy:
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Way to go Walt!!! That is a good lookin kitty!!!
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Good Grief :scared: :clapper: ...Van
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Congrat's Walt. Man that cat is huge. Looking forward to that story. :bigsmyl:
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Yowzers!
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That is a Dandy-Lion! Sorry, Had to...Nice job man!!
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WOW! :scared: :scared:
Congratulations!
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Dandy-Lion...good one Matty! That is one great looking cat. Nice picture. Thanks for showing us.
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That's cool. How much do ya think it weighs?
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Congrats Walt...he's a dandy!!!
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Wow, there have been cougar siting near Kerville Texas and would love to harvest one.
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That looks like THE daddy rabbit! Talk about character in its face , sheesh what a whopper!
Was it an older cat?
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wow nice cat
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Wow!
That's awesome. I would love to get a cat like that!
Robert
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... :thumbsup: ... :thumbsup: ... :thumbsup: ... :thumbsup: ...Can't think of anything to say but...WOW!!!
>>-----> mike <-----<<
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Wow!! No doubt he's a keeper. Congrats.
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Nice cat Ive been out running a little bit no real luck on mt lion but had some good bobcat races. What kind of hounds you running
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I'm here to tell ya that's one monster cat!!! Congrats Walt!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Now comon with the story already!
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Wow, WoW WoW, That looks like it would make a beautiful full mount. Boone & Crocket. Can you tell how old it was? Whats the weight?
Good kity. congrats
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Nice job Walt,that is a beautiful animal for sure,What kind of hounds do you use?
Thanks for sharing
john
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WOW
nice work
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Outstanding kitty!!!
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Whoa, Walt that's a pretty big looking cat to this eastern boy. Can't wait to hear the story...
David
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good lord! :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
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Very well done Walt,Look at the head on that dude he is huge. :thumbsup:
Tracy
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Shoot! That cat looks like it's been eating Californians for years !! :eek: :scared: :scared: :eek:
Killdeer :notworthy:
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Walt, hear from Mark you had to take Susan clothes shopping..........feeling a little guilty about your taxidermy bill er'ya? My God Walt, you done us proud. Fine cat. Doug, Where is Tom to haul the cat when you need him?
Brent
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You da man for tackling that kitty and getting him in the sleeper hold. :p
very nice my friend!
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Okay, here is my account of the hunt. I had better not embellish the details to much or Lenny Brown and Randy Morin, who were with me, will jump in and make me look bad.
First off, this is only my second season of seriously hunting mountain lions so if I sound like a rookie it is because I am.
I have been out checking for cat tracks seventeen days since December first, opening day of mountain lion chase season in Montana. For the first few weeks the hunt consisted of hiking into the Lee Metcalf Wilderness area via draws or mountain ridges for several miles looking for fresh mountain lion tracks in the snow. The terrain is steep mountains; there is no level ground anywhere. When tracks are found we hike back out to the trailhead, get the other hunters who have been searching other areas, the hounds, then hike back to the tracks, the chase is then started. This usually means before we let the hounds loose most of the group has put on between three and five miles, in the snow. I know, most people envision the tracks being found via snowmobile or truck, not us; let’s just say I like doing it my way, or I just might not be smart enough to use those methods.
The second weekend out we came across a nice sized set of tracks that we figured were a couple of days old. Normally we would not pay much attention to these tracks but the dogs kept acting as if they were fresher then we thought. After listening to them howl for a couple of minutes we let the dogs off their leashes hoping the lion had a kill in the area and was still around, chase number one began. A half mile later we caught up with the dogs running around in circles, having lost the scent. After several minutes we were able to sort out the tracks and determine the lion had followed a downed tree for thirty yards then continued on up the hill giving the hounds the slip. After a little discussion we decided to hike farther up the valley and hopefully cut the lions tracks, thus saving us some distance. Wrong decision, we found the tracks half a mile directly up the hill from where we left them. Next we decided to follow the tracks with the dogs leashed to see where it would take us. To bring a long chase short, we turned back to the trucks a couple of miles later. End of chase number one.
After two weeks the hunting start time was moved up to four a.m. so I could check out a favorite draw before other hunters. Also, instead of waiting for the weekends for the other hunters it was decided to hunt everyday the conditions would allow (It has been a bad winter for a ski resort, the slopes were late opening because of the lack of snow.). Lack of snow had allowed the deer, elk, and Big Horns to remain high on the mountains out of their normal winter grounds. This brings up rule number one when hunting mountain lions; mountain lions are where the food is. That rule is applicable to most hunting. The weekday hunt usually consisted of me getting up at 4 a.m. running my favorite draw then meeting John (my hounds hunting friend) at the trail head at six, then hunting another area before John had to be at work. On the days John and Lenny didn’t have to work we would all meet then check several areas.
Friday was a workday so I hit the trail alone with real good tracking conditions. Walking up the trail I had made it a hundred and fifty yards before cutting a mountain lion track crossing the trail.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/mountainLionLenny013.jpg)
After studying the track for several minutes it was time to head back to the truck and wait for John and the dogs. Needless to say it was a long hour till six when John was supposed to meet me. When he hadn’t arrived at 6:20 it was time to start running him down so I headed to my house five miles away hoping to get back before other lion hunters decided to check the trail. After several unsuccessful phone calls trying to track down John I called Lenny Brown to let him know I had found a track and was unable locate John. It was decided that I would go back to the trailhead while Lenny would attempt to locate alternative hounds to run the track. This is where the zoo starts: Lenny gets hold of Randy Morin (fellow Tradgang member) who manages to get five hounds for the hunt. Meanwhile, back at the trailhead another houndsman I know comes by to check for tracks and offers to run the trail. So Ray (the houndsman) drove down the valley to get the dogs. To avoid all the confusion I will just say we had thirteen hounds ready to run the lion at the trailhead by 10:30. We went from no dogs to too many dogs in three hours; meanwhile the tracks were getting cold. It was decided to only use eight of the dogs.
Here is a picture of some hounds getting ready for the trail.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/mountainLionLenny007-1.jpg)
I know a couple of Tradganger will recognize the trailhead.
More later
Walt Francis
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Congratulations on your well deserved lion. It's real pretty cat.
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Seeing that sign brings a big smile to my face!!!
This will be extra special now.....that's where Pete I,KStrapper(Tracy),and I hunted elk this year...very cool!!!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/MyMT06113.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/MyMT06110.jpg)
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Finally around eleven six of us, Ray, Lance, Megan, Lenny, Randy, and me, set out on the trail. The lead hound was released on the track then shortly followed by the release of five other hounds. Two young hounds were kept on the leash for most of the hunt to learn to follow a scent trail. Five minutes into the trail the hounds lost the scent but Lance and Ray were able to decipher the tracks and get the hounds back on the correct trail. The trail goes up a sixty degree slope for half a mile then circles around some cliffs making us to loose most of the hard earned elevation. Here is a picture of Randy going around the cliffs with the two young hounds.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/mountainLionLenny012.jpg)
After clearing the cliff we had to regain the lost elevation where we found Ray and Lance sorting out a lost trail. After five minutes we determined at least two cats had come through a saddle. The hounds were set on the largest track, with Ray following the larger track and Lance on the smaller one. The rest of us tried to stay as high a possible, not wanting to loose any elevation. The tracks crossed each other several time over the next mile while continually getting higher. After a half mile one of the lions kept going level (same elevation) and the other started angling higher at a faster rate. The hounds could be heard at times, whenever they would top over a draw. Lance figured they were about a mile ahead of us so we kept plugging along. A little further up the mountain the hounds howling appeared closer and Lance waited for us old folks to catch up. While catching up to Lance the barking kept getting closer and closer, though they were a lot higher in elevation then us. Finally, the hounds were almost directly above us, which gets me thinking we had better start angling back up the mountain to head them off, suddenly the hounds start their loin is treed bark about three hundred yards up, almost strait up, the mountain. At this point the mountain is about sixty degrees but turn into seventy five to eighty degrees quickly and we all head up the hill, some of faster then others. Several hundred yards up the hill we are able to see the loin treed in a small pine tree located on the point of a cliff. We proceeded up an avalanche chute, then steep rocks, to a ledge just below the tree that held the mountain loin. To get to the ledge we had to climb about ten feet under the treed loin, needless to say it was a great sight. I could go on about how gorgeous the mountain lion, the view, and terrain, but I will let a couple of pictures tell the story.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/mountainLion003.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/mountainLionLenny019.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/mountainLionWalt018.jpg)
While it is getting late and I will be looking for tracks in the morning so I had better get some sleep. Hopefully I will be unable to finish the story until Monday, but if no tracks are found I will finish it tomorrow evening.
Walt Francis
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Oh man,Like Curt said I am smiling from ear to ear.That trail head brings back some great memories,Can't hardly wait to hear the rest.
Thanks for taking us along.
Tracy
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Curt and Tracy,
I figured you both would appreciate that picture, the next time you are in the neighborhood stop by and visit, I live five miles up the road form there.
Walt
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GREAT cat pictures Walt!
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Mickey,
I have Lenny and Randy to thank for that. The first one was taken by Randy Morin, the second by Lenny Brown, and the third by myself. Lenny got his 35mm pitures developed today and they put these two to shame.
Walt
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WOW that is really all I can say!!! :clapper:
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HOLY CANNOLLI!!! YOU ARE THE MAN CONGRATS!!!
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That Randy Morin is quickly becoming a legend...as an author (enjoyed his piece on bear hunting in the latest TBM) and as a photographer too! Good on ya Randy :thumbsup: :clapper:
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:bigsmyl: :notworthy: Speechless.
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man!.... :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
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Thanks Mickey, you are too kind good sir. Needless to say you are a legend to me and a great example to follow. You have had a very positive influence over me these last few years, over the internet no less. Atleast theres one good thing about computers.
Randy.
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Where's Robin (Roughcountry) Severe? I was thinking about him when this was all said and done. He'll be around I bet.
Hey Robin!
:wavey: :wavey: :thumbsup:
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I think Robin's gone huntin'...should be some more good stories comin'!
Man..what a cat!
Killdeer :thumbsup:
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Okay, on with the tale. After finally getting on the snow covered ledge everybody started taking pictures, with Randy also taking some video of the mountain lion. I hadn’t hunted with anybody taking video since getting my mountain goat in 1994 and had forgotten how thrilling it is to relive the experience on video (note to myself BUY A VIDEO CAMERA). I only managed to take a couple of dozen pictures myself but most of them were lousy, having taken them into the sun. I decided it was time to get ready for the shot and proceeded to string up Pigger, my 63# snakey Osage selfbow.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/Pigger005.jpg)
With Pigger strung I removed the Great Northern strap on quiver, flexed the limbs several times, and then removed a 675 grain hex pine shaft tipped with a 190gr Grizzly from the quiver. I was ready; the others finished taking pictures and leashed the dogs. For those of you who haven’t hunted mountain lions it’s hard to describe the conflicting feelings that were rushing through my head. In the tree, I feel, was one of the most noble and beautiful animals there is, anywhere. However, there sat one of the most efficient killers of the critters I love to hunt, elk, deer, and big horn. This particular lion hunting unit was formed due to decreasing survival rates of the big horn sheep seven (?) years back, leading to the loss of our big horn season. The area biologist increased the lion quota resulting in an increased big horn survival rate. According to the biologist current numbers are almost back up to target levels, which should result in restoring the big horn season in two years.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/Picture009.jpg)
I can honestly say it would have been possible to walk away without shooting the mountain lion with little if any regret. However, I had been through this argument with myself numerous times with the same result, take the shot.
Walt Francis
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Aww man, now I am even more impressed (Like I needed to be MORE impressed). You shot that monster cat with that squiggly osage bow? You ARE da man! :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
"For those of you who haven’t hunted mountain lions it’s hard to describe the conflicting feelings that were rushing through my head. In the tree, I feel, was one of the most noble and beautiful animals there is, anywhere. However, there sat one of the most efficient killers of the critters I love to hunt....I can honestly say it would have been possible to walk away without shooting the mountain lion with little if any regret. However, I had been through this argument with myself numerous times with the same result, take the shot"...Walt Francis
Walt I have never heard it put more succinctly that that and anyone who has stood below a ponderosa pine looking up into the eyes of the supreme predator on this continent surely understands.
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Walt,Great story and awsome pictures.Just seeing the pictures makes me want head back to Montana right now.
Looking forward to meeting you next time we are up there.Nice looking bow too.
Tracy
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Beautiful cat...sounds like a great hunt, Walt!! Congratulations. Awe inspring pictures.
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With the hounds tethered the mountain lion started to get nervous and appeared ready to jump from the tree. I quickly concentrated on the spot chosen earlier, drew, and released. The arrow flew eight yards striking lion an inch or two high. The lion exploded up the tree, Lance and Ray both thought I had missed and told me to shoot again. As another arrow was knocked the lion was quickly descending the tree, I picked a spot and the arrow was in flight, going a little high and to the right, out into the canyon below, or so I thought. The lion exploded strait down the avalanche chute disappearing into trees a hundred yards lower. Following fifty yards behind were a string of hounds, Lance, Ray, Megan, Randy, Lenny, and myself. The first three had a good lead on Randy, Lenny, and me because we were storing cameras and strapping the quiver back onto my bow. At the base of the tree I found the second arrow shaft missing the front eight inches and saw the first arrow broken, lying in the tree branches. I was confident the lion was fatally hit. However, I could still hear the hounds down the mountain; I grabbed the second arrow, put it into my quiver, and headed down the avalanche chute. I made it about five steps before starting to slide and managed a semi controlled descent on my butt for another eighty yards before regaining my feet. A twisted knee and pulled groin later I caught up with Randy and Lenny. The hounds had stopped howling for the most part as the three of us tried to catch the others.
Down the hill Ray and Lance start yelling that they had lost the lion and we had better hurry up. At this point I am having trouble believing the lion had made it this far and start replaying the shot sequence over and over in my mind while continuing down the hill. Doubt started to creep in: maybe what I saw really didn’t happen it would not be the first time. When we get to the others I am thinking what the he** is everybody standing around for, lets get the cat. Suddenly, Lenny exclaims good joke, after seeing the lion behind a tree and everybody starts laughing. For myself, I felt a range of emotions including exhilaration, relief, satisfaction, and sorrow. Pictures were taken while everybody recalled their version of the shot sequence. Lance, Ray, and Megan all thought I had missed with the first arrow and made a good shot with the second arrow. Lenny and Randy thought the first arrow was good but had very little penetration while I believed it was both good and had good penetration. Lenny and I thought the second arrow had missed and Randy thought it had hit the lion but wasn’t sure where. Everyone’s version might have been influenced by the sun being directly in their eyes; that is my excuse and I’m sticking to it. Checking the lion it was determined the first arrow had hit where I thought about an inch ad a half high and angling up, going through the near lung and grazing the top of the second lung. Later that evening I found six inches of arrow shaft (two pieces three inches long) in the lungs. The second arrow hit mid body, just below the spine; Randy found the broadhead from the second arrow with the broken shaft half way between the cliffs and the lion. My personal belief is the first broadhead is stuck in the tree, and I will verify that theory next spring during bear season, if we don’t tree another lion in that area later this season. Last year two mountain lions were taken in that same set of cliffs.
Next, Lance and I started the drag down the hill which for the most part was controlling the descent. That is when he let me know earlier he had serious doubts about ability of a traditional bow to take a mountain lion. It was the first time he had seen a selfbow and it was a “recurve" as far as he knew.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/mountainLionWalt042.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Slivershooter/mountainLionWalt035.jpg)
I have had a numerous questions regarding the size of the mountain lion and my answer remains the same: He is big, but might look bigger in the pictures then he really is, or he could look smaller. DOES IT REALLY MATTER?
Mickey: Pigger in now offically retired and will have a place next to the mountain lion when the full body mount is finished.
Tracy: You are welcome to visit anytime.
Walt Francis
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Good stuff Walt. Good stuff.
Once again wish I were there to pat you on the back personally, but you'll just have to feel it thru your screen I guess. Congrats.
Do me a favor, if you've the mind to. Put this into a Word file and submit it to Primitive Archer.If you need help, give me a shout.
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Walt,
I want to go lion hunting in the WORST way. I showed this to my wife and she was just speechless from the beauty your pictures of the hunt showed. Great job!
Got any pointers for a guy looking for a good lion hunt, who doesn't LIVE in lion country?
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"(note to myself BUY A VIDEO CAMERA)"
Note to Walt: Buy a video camera BEFORE you come to Alaska this May! ; ^ )
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Mickey,
I might do that. Pigger is a special bow and has a lot of special memories, four deer, and a mountain lion in the last two years. She was built and named in memory of my chocolate lab Anna, (she died in the spring of 2005) who had a crooked leg from jumping out of my truck when she was a pup.
Walt Francis
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Walt, You and Randy both are on the top of my "visit list" next time I'm in MT.....I very much look forward to meeting both of you!!
Awesome hunt,awesome pix,awesome folks!!
My hat's off to all involved in a great hunt in what I personally know is a stunningly beautiful area of the world.Someday,I want to do the same.....
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Nice Job with the story Walt. I've got a big-ol smile on my face right now. It was nice to share that day with you and Lenny and those awesome houndsman/women. What a day. I'll be lookin in to getting my footage transferred to DVD for you maybe this week.
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That was almost as good as hearing it in person Walt!! Great story and congrats again!!
Oh yea, you gotta bring that DVD Randy is making over next time ya come. Hey Randy :wavey:
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Steve: I will call you later this week.
Curt: You are welcome anytime.
Randy: Thanks for being there and taking the video, it is awesome. Lenny and I were talking yesterday and I have to agree with him "it was one of the most memorable days I ever spent in the field". Megan sure put me to shame going up those mountains!
My one regret after looking through all my pictures is there are no pictures of Lance, Megan, Ray, and the hounds, a bad oversight on my part.
Walt Francis
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Wow Walt, just came in frome sorting gear in the shop.
That is one dandy tom :wavey: your bout due.
Any of my hunts will have to be told in person, that way I can get my hands into the tellin.
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I hear ya Walt. Those are some good folks. Never know, we may be calling them some morning lookin for hounds and have the pleasure of watching them work again. I wish I could've taken more video during the chase. But it's hard to record or snap pictures when your falling down so often. :D I dont think my camera would have faired so well. :D
Always gotta leave something for next time anyway.
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awesome. I love Montana! just awesome!
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Great story, Walt. I'm with Mickey in that you should submit that one, somewhere!
Hey Lenny and Randy...I'm gonna "borrow" a couple of those pics for my show, if you don't mind.
Once again, nicely told...and Randy, I do want a copy of that DVD.
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Excellent Stoy, Thanks for sharing!!!
Robert
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Hi Calvin,
In case you are wondering, I haven't forgotten your bow. I put the sheep horn tip overlays on this week and it is 90% tillered. However, I do need a shipping address, send me an email with your shipping address.
Walt Francis
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Before I forget, credit needs to be given to needs to given to my hunting partner Lenny Brown for all of the pictures that are posted, except for one. Randy Morin took the first picture of the treed mountain lion.
Walt
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Before I forget, credit needs to be given to needs to given to my hunting partner Lenny Brown for all of the pictures that are posted, except for one. Randy Morin took the first picture of the treed mountain lion.
Walt
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Congrats on you Hunt Walt ......What a great thread...... Thanks for sharing the story and pics ...... You guys sure have me missing the home state more than ever...... Terry
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Originally posted by Walt Francis:
I can honestly say it would have been possible to walk away without shooting the mountain lion with little if any regret. However, I had been through this argument with myself numerous times with the same result, take the shot.
??
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OH! MY THATS A BIG PUTTY CAT!!!!! (http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b164/kywarrior/Twittybird.jpg)
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Walt, great story and great pictures. This is a little of subject, but does anyone out there know of any books on training hounds? I've been looking for some!
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Mr.Francis, I'm sitting here on this darn computer, and it is now officially 2007(rocky mtn time), and I am completely blown away by your awesome hunt! I really don't care for this computer/internet thing whatsoever, except for Tradgang! Thank you sir for this inspiring hunt, your words concerning your shot spoke volumes, it is so hard to put those feelings into words, you did the cougar justice! Many Blessing, T
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Hey Doug! :wavey: Did you eat any of your cat yet. Does it taste like Chicken?
Mark, I'll be looking into gettin copies made this week. I can do VHS at home but I'll need pro help for DVD. Hopefully the video/tech store at the mall isnt too backed up with X-mas video right now and they can fit me in soon.
On another note Mark, it's killin me I couldnt take advantage of your bow sale (didnt know till Sat). I want to shoot that little baby in a big way.
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Congratulations Mr. Francis.
What a hunt............ :notworthy:
:campfire: Thanks very much for sharing, Mike
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That is just awsome! What more can I say. Congrats!
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All I can say is WOW! What a great story Walt, I'm with Mickey on the selfbow part, when I saw that you used that it raised this hunt to another level for me. What a great hunt, and a good job telling and showing it too!
David
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Awesome!!! The size of that monster!! :scared:
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Can i ask honest question....
is it eatible? never heard of mountian lion burgers before??
ST
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Yes String they are very "eatible". Light meat. I hope to have more in the description department in the near future.
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Randy...no worries, we'll fix you up my friend. Come on over and give one a try...heck we'll even let you glue one up.
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Congrats Walt!!!!!!!.....that looks like a whopper!
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Wow, Great thread. Thanks for including us in your hunt. I love reading these because it seems to bring us into the moment of the hunt. (Minus the work) I'd love to do one of these hunts and your story helps me dream about it.
Congrats.
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Hey Walt, if you need someone to share that kitty meat with I wouldn't turn down a pack or two. :D Congratulations!!! Joseph