cougar in clay county

[gpzyellow]

did anyone see the story in the brazil times about the hunter who took a cell phone picture of a mountain lion that walked under tree in clay county indiana



www.thebraziltimes.com/story/1578453.html

[tickman1961]

WOW..

[Decatur]

Cool!

[DEERTRACKS]

Awesome!!!!!

[Greenedog]

Now that would be something to see from your stand! Thanks for posting this, I hadn't heard about it yet. My brother lives along I-70 near the Vigo, Clay line and he and his young son hunt in their backyard. I'm sure he'll be very interested in this.

My understanding is that cougars are protected in Indiana and you're only allowed to shoot if you are in danger. Anyone know for sure?

[HuntMeister]

Oct 15, 2009 9:45:23 GMT -5 Greenedog said:

My understanding is that cougars are protected in Indiana and you're only allowed to shoot if you are in danger. Anyone know for sure?

That is basically what I was told by a CO a couple of years ago, cannot shoot it unless iminent danger...

[Woody Williams]

Oct 15, 2009 10:06:23 GMT -5 HuntMeister said:

Oct 15, 2009 9:45:23 GMT -5 Greenedog said:

My understanding is that cougars are protected in Indiana and you're only allowed to shoot if you are in danger. Anyone know for sure?

That is basically what I was told by a CO a couple of years ago, cannot shoot it unless iminent danger...

Would the danger of having a heart attack if you saw this in the woods at ground level count?

[indianaboy]

cougars are not protected in indiana. they are like a bear or elk. they , the dnr, will tell you they are not in indiana. guy should have shot it.

[den57]

Oct 15, 2009 13:32:04 GMT -5 indianaboy said:

cougars are not protected in indiana. they are like a bear or elk. they , the dnr, will tell you they are not in indiana. guy should have shot it.

You might want to rethink that IB:

huntingindiana.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=coanswers&action=display&thread=25060

huntingindiana.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=coanswers&action=display&thread=25262

[indianaboy]

ill take my chances! lol

[den57]

Oct 15, 2009 14:00:01 GMT -5 indianaboy said:

ill take my chances! lol

Sorry to hear that.......

312 IAC 9-3-18.5

Adds a new administrative rule that prohibits the taking of exotic mammals and intentionally releasing them
into the wild in Indiana. This new rule prohibits the hunting of exotic mammals such as fallow deer, elk,
antelope, and zebra in Indiana. Exotic mammals that are lawfully possessed would not be able to be
intentionally released into the wild in Indiana; if one escapes, a conservation officer would have to be
notified within 24 hours. Wild boar would be allowed to be taken at any time due to disease concerns and
the potential for damage to property. Other species of exotic mammals would be able to be taken by a landowner or tenant when causing damage to property. This new rule also authorizes the possession of exotic mammals from a family listed in this rule only as allowed by statute or administrative rule. This list of families of exotic mammals is designed to include all species of mammals found throughout the world that could potentially be possessed in captivity and hunted.

312 IAC 9-3-18.5 Exotic mammals
Authority: IC 14-22-2-6, IC 14-22-32-6
Affected: IC 14-22
Sec. 18.5. (a) A person must not take, as defined by IC 14-8-2-278, an exotic mammal that is a species
from any of the following families of mammals:
(1) Bradypodidae (tree sloth).
(2) Bovidae (gazelle, big-horn sheep, antelope, and wildebeest), except for domestic cattle (genus
Bos, including all dairy and beef animals) and buffalo (Bison bison).
(3) Camelidae (camel and llama).
(4) Canidae (jackal, wild dog, and other exotic foxes).
(5) Cebidae (marmoset).
(6) Cercopithecidae (baboon and monkey).
(7) Cervidae (elk, moose, caribou and other exotic deer).
(8) Dasypodidae (armadillo)
(9) Elephantidae (elephant).
(10) Equidae (wild horse and zebra), except for domestic horses.
(11) Felidae (mountain lion, lynx, tiger, and other exotic cats).
(12) Giraffidae (giraffe and okapi).
(13) Hippopotamidae (hippopotamus).
(14) Hyaenidae (hyaena).
(15) Lorisidae (potto and bushbaby).
(16) Macropodidae (kangaroo and wallaby).
(17) Manidae (pangolin).
(18) Mustelidae (otter, weasel, polecat and badger).
(19) Myrmecophagidae (anteater).
(20) Orycteropodidae (aardvark).
(21) Pongidae (chimpanzee, bonobo and gorilla).
(22) Procaviidae (hyrax).
(23) Procyonidae (ring-tail cat and coatimundi).
(24) Protelidae (aardwolf).
(25) Rhinocerotidae (rhinocerus).
(26) Suidae (wild boar and other exotic swine), except for domestic swine.
(27) Tapiridae (tapir).
(28) Tayassuidae (javelina and peccary).
(29) Tragulidae (chevrotain).
(30) Ursidae (bear).
(31) Viverridae (civet, genet and mongoose).
(32) A hybrid or genetically altered mammal of any of these families.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a person may take an exotic mammal only under one of the
following:

(1) the exotic mammal is taken by a resident landowner or tenant while causing damage to
property that is owned or leased by the landowner or tenant;
(2) the exotic mammal is a species from the family Suidae and has been released or escaped
from captivity or is a member of a breeding population in the wild; or
(3) the exotic mammal is a species from the family bovidae, camelidae or cervidae and
slaughtered in accordance with IC 15-2.1-24.
(c) A person may not possess an exotic mammal that is a species from a family listed in subsection (a)
except as otherwise provided by statute or by this article.
(d) A person may not release an exotic mammal that is a species from a family listed in subsection (a)
into the wild in Indiana except as otherwise provided by statute or by this article. A person must
report the escape of any exotic mammal listed in subsection (a) to a conservation officer within twentyfour
(24) hours.
(e) As used in this rule, "exotic mammal" means a species that is:
(1) not native to Indiana; or
(2) extirpated from Indiana and either:
(A) a wild animal; or
(B) a feral animal other than a dog or cat.

[vectrix]

Bam right in the boiler room!

[freedomhunter]

I considered myself in danger when I cut a track out west backpacking. It's dead if I see it in range, can't believe it is still out there.

[vectrix]

Asked you earlier, you hunting around Freedom?

[freedomhunter]

Not sure what it is to you, but I'll send you a pm.

[wileyonetoo]

A couple of years back, there were sightings of a cougar in Boone County. That same year, my brother almost ran over one on SR136 between Crawfordsville and Covington. (one county west of Boone) I don't know their range but likely the same cat. I advised him to report it to the DNR and local law enforcement.

Anyway, when all of the various sightings occured, the DNR was quoted in a few articles that you absolutley CANNOT shoot the cougar. I don't recall the exact penalties that were mentioned but it was serious.

[tskin]

Here's the exact response from the DNR on this site regarding cougars/bears in Indiana:

"Technically, they are protected. However, you have to right to protect yourself from immediate bodily injury or death. DO NOT MISTAKE this as an excuse to shoot something just because it is there and then claim self-defense. The burden of proof will be on you proving that it was in self defense."

[bsutravis]

I did a story a few years back on a cougar in Eagle Creek Park on Indy's West side.... The park ranger confirmed to me that a large cat had been spotted on several occasions and tracks had been found as well. These critters could be anywhere!

As far as the "Can I shoot it" question...... it's right in the Indiana Code. NO, you cannot. A few years ago, yep......but the laws changed so any information that you were told or heard in regards to killing a cougar, elk, bear, unicorn, etc. has changed and you can no longer kill them unless in self defense. Dude is lucky he didn't stick that cougar with an arrow!!!

[gobblerstopper]

I saw one about 5 years ago when out looking for hogs. I was just looking so I didn't have a gun with me and it was about 2:00 in the morning. It actually walked across the back of a field about 70 yards from my truck and "hide" in some foxtail at the corner of the field for about 5 minutes. At first I thought it was a big bobcat, because we have called a couple in around there calling for foxes, but it had what looked like a 3' tail.

I called one of the county CO's (who lives about 2 miles from the place) the next day and told him about it and he said he wouldn't doubt it at all.

It wasn't too far from your place Woody.

[Woody Williams]

Oct 17, 2009 10:02:50 GMT -5 @gobblerstopper said:

I saw one about 5 years ago when out looking for hogs. I was just looking so I didn't have a gun with me and it was about 2:00 in the morning. It actually walked across the back of a field about 70 yards from my truck and "hide" in some foxtail at the corner of the field for about 5 minutes. At first I thought it was a big bobcat, because we have called a couple in around there calling for foxes, but it had what looked like a 3' tail.

I called one of the county CO's (who lives about 2 miles from the place) the next day and told him about it and he said he wouldn't doubt it at all.



It wasn't too far from your place Woody.

Now, why did you have to go and tell me that?

I'll be looking over my shoulder from here on in..