Opinion: Colorado’s mountain lion hunting helps maintain a delicate balance

In the picturesque landscapes of Colorado, a unique form of hunting has been stirring debate for years — hunting mountain lions with hounds. This controversial practice, deeply ingrained in the state’s heritage, holds several key benefits that deserve consideration. In this article, we explore the importance of predator-prey balance, human conflict avoidance, and selective harvest.

Colorado’s wilderness is home to a diverse ecosystem, where maintaining predator-prey balance is essential for the health of both wildlife and the surrounding environment. Mountain lions, also known as cougars or pumas, are apex predators vital to the ecological equilibrium of the state. When the population of these large carnivores grows unchecked, it can lead to imbalances, causing devastating consequences for other species, such as deer and elk.

These consequences, in turn, have negative impacts on the mountain lions themselves. Statistics from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) indicate that mountain lion populations have been steadily increasing in Colorado over the past few decades. These populations have the potential to double every 5 to 10 years in the absence of human intervention.

As Colorado’s population continues to grow, human expansion into once-wild areas also increases the chances of human-mountain lion encounters. In many cases, mountain lions are drawn to human settlements because they perceive them as sources of easy prey. This poses a considerable risk to both humans and lions alike. CPW statistics show an alarming uptick in human-mountain lion conflicts over the last decade. In 2021, there were over 200 reported incidents, a significant increase from previous years. These conflicts resulted in livestock losses, injuries to pets, and even occasional threats to human safety.

In response, hunting with hounds serves as an effective method to mitigate these conflicts and maintain a healthy, stable lion population. Hounds are trained to track and locate mountain lions, allowing hunters to approach and assess the situation before deciding on next steps.

Selective harvest is a key element of hunting mountain lions with hounds. This practice distinguishes it from indiscriminate culling methods and underlines the conservation-oriented approach of hunting with hounds. Hunters can carefully assess the age, sex, breeding status, and overall health of the mountain lion before making the decision to harvest or release the cat. This approach also provides the opportunity to haze released mountain lions, discouraging them from frequenting populated areas.

Studies have shown undeniable data supporting the idea that catch-and-release hound hunting reduces human conflicts. Through the use of selective harvest, hound hunting provides a way to protect human and lion safety, all while maintaining a healthy overall ecosystem.

Hound hunting also provides invaluable data on the lion’s behavior, helping researchers and wildlife managers better understand their movements and behaviors in proximity to human activities. This information is essential for implementing appropriate conservation strategies, minimizing the risk to humans, and ensuring the well-being of mountain lions.

CPW’s harvest data demonstrates the conservation focus of mountain lion hunting. In Colorado, the annual harvest quota is determined based on a variety of factors, including population estimates, prior harvest data, and gender ratios. The goal is to maintain a stable, healthy population that does not exceed the carrying capacity of the environment.

It is also important to note that harvest numbers are dictated solely by the quotas for each unit rather than license sales. Mountain lion hunting licenses are unlimited but can only be used prior to quotas being met. With hound hunting, hunters can adhere to these quotas, in turn, contributing to the preservation of the lion population. This also means that each year over 80% of mountain lion licenses go unused but contribute to the state’s funding for wildlife management.

It’s important to note that hunting mountain lions is not an unrestrained free-for-all. Colorado, like other states, has established rigorous regulations and quotas to ensure that the practice is sustainable and ethical. Hunters must participate in mountain lion hunter education courses, obtain hunting licenses, and follow guidelines on when, where, and how hunting can take place. Hunters are also required to report all harvests within 48 hours as well as obtain an inspection seal by presenting harvested lions to parks and wildlife officers. This inspection involves ensuring that all legal requirements have been met and the collection of valuable data such as DNA, age, sex, and location of harvest. These regulations are carefully crafted to ensure ethical practices while managing our big cats.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife also enforces strict requirements and regulations concerning the consumption of mountain lion meat in Colorado. Regulations outline specific rules for utilizing all edible portions of mountain lion meat. This negates the idea that “trophy hunting” is the primary motivation for mountain lion hunting and ensures that the practice remains ethical and supports the broader conservation goals set by the state. Many lion hunters also note that mountain lion meat is among the best available of Colorado’s game species.

The controversial practice of hunting mountain lions in Colorado serves a critical role in the state’s ecosystem and society. It helps maintain the delicate balance of predator-prey relationships, mitigates human-wildlife conflicts, and offers a conservation-oriented, selective harvest approach that ensures the well-being of mountain lion populations. The stringent regulations regarding the use of mountain lion meat underscore Colorado’s commitment to ethical and sustainable hunting practices.

While the debate around hunting practices often sparks strong emotions, it is important to consider the broader context of wildlife management, conservation, and human safety. Hunting mountain lions, when conducted responsibly and in compliance with state regulations, represents a crucial tool in preserving the natural beauty and ecological health of Colorado. It is a practice rooted in tradition and executed with modern conservation values in mind.

Seth Brandstetter is a Colorado hunting guide and mountain lion hunter.

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