Lion hunting has been illegal since the 90s per petition in CA. Last year hound hunting for bear was made illegal by senate bill. There is no shortage of lions in CA. No biological reason not to hunt them. But let's leave it at that. I don't want to get into any arguments. We'll continue to see erosion of hunting rights in CA fist and across the country later.

G

I've removed plenty of blood off from these trophy pictures in my image editing career. I'll say that beyond a reasonable doubt that that lion pic was retouched lots to make it more acceptable to her audience. I'm pretty sure that she had a little digital work, too....

They are getting inbred in the Santa Monica Mountains area. Freeways isolate the populations. I don't want to see them gone.

Per California's own game department records, the houndsmen left in California that still run the cats are killing more today than before the ban on hunting them with hounds. The difference is that the public is now paying them through the game department that hires them to go after "nuisance" or "problem" animals. Talk about the law of unintended consequences. At least prior to the ban hunters were hiring these guys, and it wasn't costing the taxpayers of California one thin dime. The inevitable result of allowing the emotionally driven, clueless public to "manage" game populations.

With more cats being hunted and killed than ever before (utilizing the exact same methods, exact same professional houndsmen that were banned for the public's use), one is left to wonder what PETA, ALF, et al got out of this. It's costing the taxpayers a small fortune. I dunno - maybe they derive some sick satisfaction from the notion that at least no one is enjoying it, that only game department "professionals" are now killing them. Well, I've got news for those morons - the fish cops that get to go hunt with the houndsmen think they've died and gone to hunting heaven. Best gig in the department - hunting cats (and soon bears) for free. Hell, not just for free - getting paid to do it.

The folks that pushed these laws through, and the hand-wringing dip sheets that voted for it are quite simply some of the stupidest people on earth. It's really too bad that their emotions can win the day over sound, scientific management principles.

I suppose the truth lies somewhere between "sick satisfaction,"died and gone to hunting heaven," and "sound, scientific management principles."
Hard to believe your hunters who are experiencing the emotion of having "died and gone to hunting heaven," are really only in heaven because of the unemotional task of "sound, scientific management principles."

Talk of outrage.........
Who owns the moon? "They" are working on a law to sort it out.
I bought waterfront property on the Sea of Tranquility years ago. I am no longer tranquil.:mad:

You have it completely wrong, Patrick. The public has denied the game department and its personnel the option of employing sound, scientific management principles. When they were were allowed to employ such practices, they had the somewhat boring job of monitoring others' hunting. They didn't have to hunt themselves as a part of their jobs. Now they do, as a direct result of having the preferred option taken from them by the voting public. It's this newfound opportunity to hunt on the public's dime that has them feeling they have died and gone to heaven, but none of them would ever characterize this opportunity as "sound management practice". It's a desperate, necessary stopgap, but that does not mean they can't enjoy it. They would prefer, however, to do their real jobs - that of managing game populations, utilizing the hunting public as a valuable tool to accomplish that task. They can't do that anymore, so they are on to "plan B".

I'm confused about your characterization as "They didn't have to hunt themselves as a part of their jobs" as if it were a burden and " ... it's this newfound opportunity to hunt on the public's dime that has them feeling they have died and gone to heaven"

So do wildlife managers enjoy killing mountain lions or do they see it as a nasty job that they have to do?

Hmmm... I think I worded that poorly. Maybe "they didn't get to hunt themselves as a part of their jobs" is a better way of putting it. Make no mistake - there are plenty of hunters working in game departments that certainly see being able to hunt on the clock as a very nice perk.

It does, however, take them away from their real duties, those duties for which we would like to think we employ them. You know, like managing habitat, herds, etc. Every day they spend distracted doing what paying hunters could be doing is a waste of their time and public resources.

Three fatal lion attacks in a decade. What a menace these cats are!

List of fatal cougar attacks in North America - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

They are designated "nuisance" or "problem" animals for their attacks on livestock and other game animals (prey species), not humans. Your two minute Wiki expertise failed you (as it so often does on this forum) - you at least need to know what to look for.

Over 5000 depredation permits in CA alone in the last 40 years for Mountain Lions. Yes, most of them after the hunting ban. Usually these are issued when livestock is lost.

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/lion/dep-permits-issued.html

G

Maxie...what?!?!?!?
Cats ARE NOT on shaky ground!!!

Mountain lions in Santa Monica Mountains need more room, experts say - latimes.com

There are chitloads of them! A friend worked w/ DFG (When it was DGF) tagging lions on Camp Pendleton. They got 6 collars for their study...about as many cats as thought would be in the area. They ended up collaring 19!!! 1 lived under the tracks at Trestles. They are pounding the crap out of the local deer populations...and have now moved east (the only way they can go) and are putting the hurt on the bighorn sheep population...(along w/ pnemonia from domestic sheep).
Oh...I've eaten lion...it is great!

It's all about the boobs.

For the record, I don't eat cat. But I will eat pussy.

A Selfie pic of killing an animal is a well known clinical sign of Inferiority Complex.

But he's still a fckwit.

I'm not going to disagree with you, but the difference between the two images is striking.

The difference between the two pics is why there is little to no outrage. One depicts a hunter, one depicts aristocracy.

Is that traditional hunting mascara? Wanker.

An American goon killing American wildlife, you guys sort it out.

Well said!

I have no doubt about that Markus. I've said the same thing all along although not as eloquent. I tend to put to much emotion behind it ;)

What a sad state of affairs we arrogant humans create. We now call an animal a nuisance for doing what Mother Nature intended it to do... survive.



Well said Shaun. And yes I am just as outraged. I personally don't give a flying fuch if it's some bimbo or a 'hunter' they're both disgusting.