108 CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME. 



THE WHY AND HOW OF MOUNTAIN LION HUNTING IN 



CALIFORNIA. 



By Jay Bruce, State Mountain Lion Hunter. 



The importance of the control of the mountain lion {Fells concolor) 

 as an aid in game-conservation can be appreciated when it is realized 

 that the present lion population of California is scientifically estimated 

 to be about 600 lions, and their annual kill of deer 30,000 head. This 

 is over twice the number known to be killed by human hunters. Since 

 does are probably about five times as numerous as bucks, a lion has five 

 chances to kill a doe for one chance to kill a buck. So, naturally, most 

 of the deer killed by lions are the breeding stock of females. 



Although deer form their principal food, lions also kill thousands of 

 dollars worth of domestic stock every year, even including full grown 

 cattle. In fact, no animal in California is entirely exempt from the 

 bloodthirsty instincts of these animals. I know definitely of lions hav- 

 ing killed and eaten foxes, skunks, coons, porcupines and bobcats. 

 I also have reliable information of several instances where lions have 

 killed and eaten domestic dogs, while two lions now in captivity in the 

 Yosemite Valley killed and ate a cub bear which managed to get into 

 the lions' cage from his own adjoining cage. 



The lion problem has been intensified by the establishment of a chain 

 of game refuges where no public hunting is allowed. The breeding 

 stock of deer and other game is fast increasing in these areas, and nat- 

 urally the lions accumulate there. Since the lion's instinct is to kill 

 at every opportunity, the most damage Avill be done where deer are most 

 numerous. 



In order to meet this condition a high state bounty was advocated. 

 It seemed doubtful, however, whether a $100 bounty would attract 

 enough hunters to confer a benefit anywhere in proportion to the addi- 

 tional cost, as will be shown later. Another method of control consid- 

 ered was the employment of experienced lion hunters on a regular sal- 

 ary, plus the present bounty. As an experiment along this line the 

 writer was employed by the California Fish and Game Commission, on 

 January 1, 1919. This system costs only about $2000 per year, as 

 against the $15,000 by the increased bounty, and lions are killed where 

 there is the most need of killing them. The main object of the plan 

 adopted Avas to control the lions in game refuges, and then to answer 

 any calls where lions were doing unusual damage. During the last 

 three years I have accounted for ninety lions, as follows : 1919, twenty- 

 six lions; 1920, thirty lions; 1921, thirty-four lions. Most of these 

 were taken in and around game refuges. Since October, 1908, the 

 California Fish and Game Commission has been paying a bounty of 

 $20' for each mountain lion killed, ('laims for such bounty are made 

 on blanks furnished by the commission, and every claimant has been 

 requested to fui-nisli the commission with a written statement showing 

 where the lion was killed, why it was killed, the damage done by the 



NoTK. — There have been few articles appearing in Califoknia Fish and Game of 

 more general interest than the one offered here, written by a man who probably knows 

 more about the habits of tlie mountain lion than any other Westerner. In bagging 

 12! lions, Mr. Bruce has traveled on fuot over 10,000 miles, hunting, trailing, and 

 studying their hal>its. — Editor. 



