Should Oklahoma Allow A Mountain Lion Hunting Season?

Oklahoma's relationship with mountain lions is a strange one. State officials have spent years denying cougars came into the state, but have since been forced to admit these big cats come and go with prey as technology provides concrete evidence.

That's not to say your local game warden won't try to convince you the trail camera snapped a pic of a really, really big bobcat... but admitting the existence of these creatures was a first step.

Oklahoma has been tracking sightings of these cats since 2002, of which there have been 88 confirmed sightings. Whether it was a trail camera or a rancher defending his herd, that's how many exist in the public record beyond the he said/she said/ I know a guy stories.

Sightings are increasing.

While the state may only accept the 81 confirmed sightings listed on the website, 47 of those have happened in the last five years. By all measurements, mountain lions are coming to and traveling through the Sooner State more now than ever.

While you are allowed to defend your livestock with deadly force in certain situations, the killing of mountain lions is pretty off-limits. You can't just cap one because you happened to see it out and about. They've been protected in Oklahoma since 1957... but some science suggests the numbers are up enough to allow a cougar hunting season.

While the bill to make a mountain lion hunting season legal through a license lottery is making its way through the state legislature, it has both opponents and fans. The OK State Senate has overwhelmingly voted in favor of it already, but it's a slow process that will take time.

Obviously, there's quite a crowd of people who would want to continue protecting these big cats. If you've ever been lucky enough to see one, they are majestic to catch a glimpse of out in the wild.

All the same, populations left unchecked tend to grow out of control. This bill isn't the end all/be all of hunting mountain lions. It would allow for five lions to be hunted each year. The main problem opponents have with this idea is the manner in which mountain lions are hunted.

Get the dogs, run it up a tree.

Traditionally, cougars are hunted by dogs. They'll lock onto the scent and chase it up a tree. When allowed, the lion is usually shot when the hunters get there.

It doesn't seem very sporting at all.

Several hunters do a similar thing for coyotes, but it's not much more than legalized dog fighting.

Time will tell what will come of this. You can check in on the status of SB 1073 here.