Things got a bit "western" today

[mostinterestingmanintheworld]

This is quite a story.

I was walking up a canyon late this afternoon to check some traps.

As I approached a huge Juniper tree I heard some crashing around up in the tree.

First thought was I caught a damn lion in the set across the canyon and it was on a light rock.

So I check the tree out and sure enough there's a big lion up there looking at me.

I got in there and tried to take some pictures but the light wasn't great and he was up 12-15 feet.

I thought well I'll go up and check the traps and then walk out and call the Fish and Game to come get him in the morning.

Well I go check the traps and they are all there. Now I'm thinking what the helll!!

I go back to the tree and the lion is gone. By now I'm kicking myself for not having a tag in my pocket.

I'm thinking I just treed a big tom lion without dogs and I had my buntline special .22 in the pack.

So oh well, I'm pondering this situation on the way back to the ATV, I get on a drive up to a trap about a mile away.

Lo and behold it's all tore up with big lion tracks and the 3/32nd cable bit off like it was fishing line.

I was poking sticks at this thing and it wasn't even caught in the tree.

I took a couple of pics, they didn't turn out to good, but it was a good story, I'm sure I'll tell it to the great grandkids someday.

Joel

The first pic is his tail, the second you can see his nose (It's the dark spot in the middle of the pic) the eyes are shining in the flash with a branch between and his tail hanging down.

I'd have done better but I figured there would be some great pictures when he was released. Little did I know he was already released.

[GUTPYLZ]

Cool! I really hope I don't catch one of those. Only if I have a tag anyway. Loved the story.

[mostinterestingmanintheworld]

I caught him in a #2 dogless montgomery.

I doubt I'd have caught him in a trap that size with a dog on or if the trap would have been covered.

His foot must have fit right in there or caught a toe on the way out.

Joel

[billcat]

Joel,

I see you still have your old habit of baying like a hound when your checking traps. Probably scratched and pee'd all around the base of that tree, too, didn't you. Good story.

Bill

[bobCATching]

What an unusual happening!
Even small traps hold'em if you get a couple of toes. A guy can only do so much to avoid them. When they are so overpopulated like they are in western NV, a few will be held.
Good thing you aren't a climber

(Sorry I missed your call last night.)

[GUTPYLZ]

billcat has a sense of humor! ;D I like that!

[bobCATching]

Aww heck Bill, he does that at any lone rabbit brush along the side of the road!

[mostinterestingmanintheworld]

Well I've been doing it for 40 years now and it finally worked.

Who says that there is a definition of insanity?

Joel