Access is a concern for 

 most hunters in Montana. 

 Respondents were asked if 

 "The opportunity to 

 hunt/chase lions where you 

 want" was restricted in the 

 areas they hunted. A 

 majority of lion hunters 

 (56%) didn't feel access 

 was a problem. Those who 

 did were then asked what 

 they felt was the major 

 reason. As Table 6. points 

 out, not being able to 

 hunt private land and road 

 closures were the biggest 

 problems . 



Respondent's were also asked about the quality of mountain lion 

 hunting in Montana. Ninety two percent (92%) of them felt that 

 lion hunting was good or excellent. Only two percent (2%) 

 responded that lion hunting was poor. The majority of hunters 

 (74%) thought that lion numbers in the areas they hunted had 

 increased and twenty one percent believed lion numbers had 

 stabilized. The remaining five percent felt mountain lion 

 numbers had decreased. 



Respondents were also asked if lion hunting without dogs should 

 be allowed during the general big game hunting season. Fifty 

 eight (58%) percent of those responding said yes while forty two 

 (42%) said no. 



Those individuals who chase lions were asked if there are too 

 many houndsmen where they chase lions? A large majority, 82% 

 said no. Those that did feel there are too many houndsmen where 

 they chase lions were asked which option listed they thought 

 might reduce the problem. More individuals felt reducing the 

 number of nonresident houndsmen would solve the problem. 

 Restricting vehicular traffic and choosing your area to chase 

 lions were also possible options to reduce the numbers of lion 

 chasers . 



11 



