Rancher in Mo shot a male Mt lion when his dogs treed it near his livestock.
MDC is examining the cat to determine it's origin.
http://www.heartlandoutdoors.com/index.php/heartland/story/young_male_mountain_lion_shot_in_missouri

Part of me really hopes they ticket the crap out of him. The other part of me can't blame him.

i know some people on here want them in the area, but i for one know what we would do if we found one next to our cattle. You have to realize that livestock is a way of supporting your family for some people. I know this might make people mad but ticket or no ticket i would have done the exact same thing to ensure there is no problem in the future. Only one cow down equates to quite a bit of money lost with no chance at recoupment when you look at the feed bill for that one animal, let alone lost wages if it would have been a dairy cow. Just saying, for a person to go out and shoot one because he doesn't like them I don't agree with, but for a farmer protecting his investment i completely agree with

I think a dairy cow is relatively safe from a cougar. Cougars being lie and wait predators don't stalk cattle. Most dairy farmers I know don't have anywhere for a cat to hide. Wouldn't insurance cover any losses from a cat and couldn't this be used as a tax write off? Just curious. My arguement to shoot a cat would only be if it would endanger a person.

A tax write off? It doesn't replace the income (beef or dairy) of that cow. Your interest on your mortgage is a tax write off also. It just reduces your taxable income for the year but doesn't replace the income.
Just a person is your argument to shoot it? I expand that to horses, pigs, sheep and pets. I'm sure I forgot many other examples.
You would have to purchase insurance to cover that but does it cover predators? It's not like crop insurance.
He did what the law states so he will not get any ticket or fine.

A tax write off? It doesn't replace the income (beef or dairy) of that cow. Your interest on your mortgage is a tax write off also. It just reduces your taxable income for the year but doesn't replace the income.
Just a person is your argument to shoot it? I expand that to horses, pigs, sheep and pets. I'm sure I forgot many other examples.
You would have to purchase insurance to cover that but does it cover predators? It's not like crop insurance.
He did what the law states so he will not get any ticket or fine.

I am not sure that he was following the law and didn't get a ticket - the article never said. A lion in the vicinity of livestock wouldn't necessarily mean the cat was threatening to eat the livestock. I imagine if he did get a ticket the farm bureau would help him fight it or put political pressure on the states attorney in the county to drop the ticket.

I think a dairy cow is relatively safe from a cougar. Cougars being lie and wait predators don't stalk cattle. Most dairy farmers I know don't have anywhere for a cat to hide. Wouldn't insurance cover any losses from a cat and couldn't this be used as a tax write off? Just curious. My arguement to shoot a cat would only be if it would endanger a person.
When I was young lad in Pope county my father lost a couple of calves every year to cougars that lived in the big hollow behind the house.Everyone agree'd that we were dealing with big cats. they coughed up hairballs and covered up the kill with dead leafs and grass. And we saw them on a regular basis. A full grown cougar can flatten out in very little cover and you can walk right by them and never know they are there...:eek:

I am not sure that he was following the law and didn't get a ticket - the article never said. A lion in the vicinity of livestock wouldn't necessarily mean the cat was threatening to eat the livestock. I imagine if he did get a ticket the farm bureau would help him fight it or put political pressure on the states attorney in the county to drop the ticket.

Missouri’s Wildlife Code does protect mountain lions, but the Wildlife Code also allows the killing of any mountain lion that attacks or kills livestock or domestic animals or threatens human safety. People who kill mountain lions must report the incident to MDC immediately and turn over the intact carcass, including the pelt, within 24 hours.”

He did the above as stated in the article (last paragraph). I would think he is clear. The cat wasn't near his cows for nothing for sure.

When I was young lad in Pope county my father lost a couple of calves every year to cougars that lived in the big hollow behind the house.Everyone agree'd that we were dealing with big cats. they coughed up hairballs and covered up the kill with dead leafs and grass. And we saw them on a regular basis. A full grown cougar can flatten out in very little cover and you can walk right by them and never know they are there...:eek:

Hey everyone knows there's never been cougars in Pope county or IL for that matter, just ask the DNR!

Swampman, do you have to turn over the carcass and pelt for good? I'd assume so, but that would make one heck of a full mount...

When I was young lad in Pope county my father lost a couple of calves every year to cougars that lived in the big hollow behind the house.Everyone agree'd that we were dealing with big cats. they coughed up hairballs and covered up the kill with dead leafs and grass. And we saw them on a regular basis. A full grown cougar can flatten out in very little cover and you can walk right by them and never know they are there...:eek:


I can only assume that this comment is a joke. Internet sarcasm is so hard to read.

Hate to hear that he shot it...

Nobody advocates indiscriminate shooting of any animal but when your livelihood (raising livestock) is at risk one can understand.

I can only assume that this comment is a joke. Internet sarcasm is so hard to read.

You assumed wrong, although I am not above a wee bit of sarcasm...:)