First scout/hunt

[HumaLabs]

I've been elk hunting as a young kid with my uncle, but never really participated as a member of a hunting party. My buddy has a turkey tag, so we're going up north tonight to set up camp for Saturday and Sunday
Super stoked, because we all also have mountain lion tags. I know they're tough to find and almost impossible to track without dogs, especially for a novice; however, I was curious if anyone had any experiences with mountain lion and their "durability"
I have a Browning 12 ga. over-under double barrel, and I will be carrying my .38 special. Any advice on what shells to use? I have both slugs and 00 buckshot(personal defense). I'd like to know what's going to put down a lion better, and is it a bad idea to use buckshot for fear of ruining the hide?

Tl;DR version: Wanna kill mountain lion with 12 ga. : Do I use buckshot or slugs or one and one(double barrel)

[rmewrench]

Re: First scout/hunt

I was stationed on Colorado for 3 years and wish I had hunted mountain lion. Although I've never shot one I would definitely use a slug not buck shot. Buck shot will definitely tear the hide up, a lot. The state I live in now we have to use shot gun only to hunt whitetail, and its slugs only.
You don't have the option of any other weapon? I'd much rather use a high powered rifle if it was me. Using a shot gun means you are going to need to get well within a 100yards of a mountain lion, That's not on my top 10 list of things to do with only a double barrel shot gun and a sidearm. Id much rather sit at 200 plus yards and reach out and touch em that way... lol

[HumaLabs]

Re: First scout/hunt

My .270 Remington 700 needs work done unfortunately. Missing a key component, and I really am going up there to help my buddy scout turkey more than anything. But on the sheer chance that I run into a lion, I want to put it down, and fast. Last thing I need is to come home clawed up(assuming I'd survive) lol.

[HumaLabs]

Re: First scout/hunt

And I thought it would be extremely badass to take one down at close range with either shotgun/sidearm.

[rmewrench]

Re: First scout/hunt

If you put a 12 ga slug right behind the front leg within 50-60 yards it should drop in its tracks, if it doesn't I'm sure it wont make it very far... Good luck!!

[jipped genes]

Re: First scout/hunt

man i don't know anything about mountain lion hunting. i thought about saying "cover yourself in bacon to draw on in" but that really is not very funny when dealing with such a powerful dangerous animal.

shotgun vs mountain lion? maybe if you knew where one went to drink and you were within 25 yards with a 3" mag buckshot or a slug but they are so elusive (all this is conjectural speculation)

but they hear so good and will not be seen unless they want to be seen or you see them a long way away.

now elk, that is fine tablefare. I have some ground elk in the fridge. my next door neighbor elk hunts when he has enough $$$.

[Guest]

Re: First scout/hunt

Never hunted mountain lion.

Good luck on the hunt brother.Either way come home with some goodies.

[sofargone561]

Re: First scout/hunt

good luck!

[HumaLabs]

Re: First scout/hunt

No luck seeing the lions, found plenty of sign and where one or two come to drink. If I had the time/funds, I'd camp in a damn tree and sit on that watering hole, it's too bad I don't lol.