Lions, Pups and the Stuff of Heart-pounding Adventure
At first glance, this may not be the most impressive mountain lion taken but behind it was a week of firsts, rollercoaster emotions, heart-pounding adventure, family time, and fun!
My dad asked if I wanted to go on a mountain lion hunt that he “got a deal on,” which is usually what he tells my mom to convince her to let him go on another hunt. Of course, I said, yes, because any chance to hunt together is always special. This hunt was different for both of us because the outfitter uses dogs on his lion hunts. I was intrigued and excited about the hunt, and as a dog lover, to meet the pups!
We traveled from the Denver area west to Grand Junction, where we met our outfitter, JT Robbins of Allout Guiding & Outfitting, along with his family. After settling in, we had dinner with the entire crew. We talked about the plan for the week, got to know their operation and how much each person in the family contributes, which my dad and I appreciate since we always hunt as a family.
On our first day out, I met the dogs. They were a six-pack of cuteness and intelligence. I couldn’t believe how smart each one was. We made our way to the first area to scout and repeated this for the next few days, going into the Bookcliffs in Utah and back. On day three we saw tracks and let the dogs out to do their thing. A member of the outfitter’s team ran along with the dogs and came back several minutes later to report the lion was gone, but one of the dogs had gotten too eager and didn’t come back with them.
We were losing daylight, and the outfitter said we’d be heading back home. I immediately said, “We can’t leave the dog!” The outfitter left his jacket, assuring us the dog would be there in the morning, as had been the case many times before. Being the dog lover that I am, I was worried all night for that pup, but wouldn’t you know, when we returned the next morning, the dog was there waiting for us.
Relieved, we started hunting. The final day of our hunt was upon us, and I was starting to accept that while this was a great experience, we wouldn’t have an animal to take home. It was after lunch when we saw the lion track. It was fresh. Off the dogs ran! We hiked a ways behind them, hearing the constant barking. I got closer and found the dogs surrounding a thick tree, barking as loud as they could. Then I saw it, the lion we had been waiting for. We examined it, and the outfitter let me know it wasn’t the biggest but that I could take a shot if I was interested.
Interested? Of course I was! It was the last day, and my dad and I are notorious for finally seeing an animal on the final day of a scheduled hunt. Adrenaline was coursing through us after that fast-moving hike, and the excitement of the barking dogs filled the air around us. Of course, I was going to try to get it if I could!
I lined up my shot. The lion’s gaze darted from the dogs to me and then back. I took the shot. The lion fell to the ground, and the dogs pounced. The outfitter confirmed that the lion was down, and we were all overjoyed! After a week of ups and downs, it was a great reminder of why we continue to hunt: the thrill of knowing anything can happen, the appreciation of the animals, and the bond of family. – Jocelyn Guite
