Kripes, it's coming for me!

Admin

Admin

Administrator
Staff member
mezz said:
All fun aside for a moment, I don't know why the DNR won't just admit that we do have Cougar here in the Western UP & more than the one recently captured on a game cam. They have been here for some time now. This one has apparently migrated from outside of our area, hmmm, why do you suppose that is? I'm sure it's not because it thought it was going to have God's Country all to itself.:eek:-Mezz
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I am guessing that since their word would be considered factual by many that they need absolute proof that there is one (or many) in the area. I have heard lots of stories from lots of locals about what they see in the woods and much of it is pretty laughable. I am sure some of it might be true, but personally, unless someone shows me a picture of what they claim to have seen in the woods, I am pretty skeptical.

-John
 
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skeeter2010

Member
Couger.jpg

you have to love "The Couger" some how I think a UP couger may look a little different maybe add a little Flannel, the tracking collar is only used to cover up the Turkey neck
 
mezz

mezz

Well-known member
Administrator said:
I am guessing that since their word would be considered factual by many that they need absolute proof that there is one (or many) in the area. I have heard lots of stories from lots of locals about what they see in the woods and much of it is pretty laughable. I am sure some of it might be true, but personally, unless someone shows me a picture of what they claim to have seen in the woods, I am pretty skeptical.

-John
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I would tend to agree with the that statement, however, I do know of activity & sightings, both of which have been reported to the DNR. They (DNR) have been in serious denial about acknowledging their presence even with an 8x10 glossy. I just don't get the reason for down play on that subject. I am reasonably certain that there are not as many as some may attempt to lead you to believe, but, I personally would not be too skeptical.-Mezz
 
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anonomoose

New member
Just like when the DNR denied that there was a viable wolf population back in the 1960's...if you deny existance, then you do not have to live with any issues, and have a plan.
 
bearrassler

bearrassler

Well-known member
mezz said:
I would tend to agree with the that statement, however, I do know of activity & sightings, both of which have been reported to the DNR. They (DNR) have been in serious denial about acknowledging their presence even with an 8x10 glossy. I just don't get the reason for down play on that subject. I am reasonably certain that there are not as many as some may attempt to lead you to believe, but, I personally would not be too skeptical.-Mezz
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About 7 or 8 years ago the ND Game and Fish said about the same thing, there was some sightings but most were from SD or MT just passing through, young males looking for new territory. Then they had a season on Mountain Lions with a quota of 6. All 6 were taken, and the next year 6 more were taken, they upped it to 8 and 8 were taken. Last year the quota was 10 and all were taken by the time deer gun season came. This year 5 of the 10 have already been killed, it is not just a few passing through. The Game and Fish will admit to that now. The same thing is happening in northern MN and it sounds like the UP also.
 
Admin

Admin

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Staff member
Just to clarify, I have little doubt that this is the only cougar in the UP. My post was only to say that the DNR has to go off of solid proof and not stories or hearsay. I suspect that as game cameras grow in numbers, so will the sightings.

What's next? Grizzlies?!

-John
 
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willey

New member
If we are talking Cougars and Grizzlies I am gonna have to get a bigger backpack and stock it with some more deadly garden tools!!! LOL.
 
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soxfan3

Member
There was a similar siting on trail camera in Clinton County, Iowa. East side along the Miss. River. Iowa DNR confirmed it as a Mountain Lion.
 
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snoluver1

Active member
There have been sightings in Northern IL and Southern WI also. If I remember right, there was a "confirmed" sighting somewhere around Madison or Janesville last year. Just like someone else posted, if the DNR admits that there is a breeding population, then they automatically acquire the responsibility of creating a management plan. They don't have the resources,time,money,motivation, to do it. So guess what...they aren't there! Thats what I've been told anyway???
 
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rjgoniea

New member
Administrator said:
I guess it probably still has to cross the bridge or swim the Portage Lake to get to the "island", but I am probably going to start carrying my pistol with me when I go into the woods.
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Article said it was spotted in northern Houghton County, so it is certainly possible that is past the canal. The dang thing walked all the way from SD. The canal is likely not the first body of water it had to cross to get to da UP.

Wouldn't it be something if it were caught on one of the cams on the NCN?

/just have to worry about the occasional black bear around here. I'm too old to be hunted by the other kind of cougar.:D
 
yamadooed

yamadooed

Active member
I would think a cougar or any other non hybernate'n furry lil woodland creature wouldn't have any issues crossing the canal in the winter time...
 
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radsrh

New member
I can guarantee there is more then one in any of the states listed, last summer we were headed up to camp and had one run across the front of the truck just north of Conover, WI. Sorry John no pics of this one "but" we both seen this thing, it was running fast and there is no mistaking the size of the animal or the long tail with the upward curve. There was one just on the news a few weeks ago that came through from out West crossed into Wisconsin and then was tracked into the UP and ended up getting hit by a car on the East coast, BIG question is how did it get across the bridge? or did it take to the water. It did have a collar on so they confirmed it made the trip and how it traveled.
 
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snoluver1

Active member
The question I have is what is forcing them east?? You would think they would want to get further away from habitat encroachment, not closer to it, wouldn't ya? Something has to be driving them this way.
 
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snoluver1

Active member
Just watched on the 5 o-clock news that a teenage boy was attacked by a "mt lion" in downstate IL. These things are all over the place!!
 
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