Lion and Mule Deer

[JohnP]

I wonder if the mulie got away.

[cathryn]

i somehow doubt it.

[Bills Custom Calls]

Is that off your game cam

It sure makes ya wonder if the deer won

[Yotehntr]

  Now that is cool! 

[JohnP]

Not off my camera Bill, nor is it on our property.  A rancher friend of mine who lives on the backside of our moutain range sent it to me.  I assume it was his camera and on his ranch. 

Catthryn, I'll tell ya later why I think the mulie won that race.  Or anybody else could chime in who that think won or lost.

[FinsnFur]

Well now you got ME curious as to why you think the Muley won.
All I can come up with is either there's a bed of water near by and the Muley ran into it, which I'm doubting since it's in Texas and there's a waterer in the pic.

Or the hillside there is steep enough to wear down the cat since cougars arent known for a lot of yardage.

[cathryn]

let me know.

[JohnP]

When I first joined this site you kept referring to me as sir,  took a while to break you of that habit now you implying that I live in of all places Texas .  Keep this nonsense up and I'll have to find a new place to hang out.   

[FinsnFur]

 
Sorry sir

[HaMeR]

I think the deer won because the lion lost it's footing right there in that frame. 

[iahntr]

I think the mulie won, because when the flash went off
the lion got distracted, turned for a brief second to say,
"what the  @#!*^  was that ? " and the deer just kept
haulin butt away.
The End. 

[JohnP]

If you notice the ears on the cat, straight upwards, if he was still in full pursuit they would be flat against his skull.  Additionally it "appears", at least to us, that his back haunches  are applying the brakes.  But what really convinced us was the next picture which was taken just a few short minutes after the chase.  I have not talked to my friend since he sent me the pictures so I'm still not sure if they came off his ranch or not.  The drinker looks like one of his but then again this is a popular design. 

[Okanagan]

Great photo.

My first look at the photo I thought that the deer got away, and John's comments add to that opinion.  I've tracked cougar attacks on mule deer in snow and IMO the deer in the photo is accelerating away at the point where the cat should be in contact or not catch it.  In my limited experience cougars have made contact with the deer on their first leap or within three touches of the ground, while the deer in each case either did not move at all or did not have time to react much nor get up to speed.  I think that the cat has to catch a mule deer either before or during the deer's first leap away, or not catch it at all in most cases.

Again, my experience is limited and could be too limited to be accurate.    In any case, those are terrific photos.

[FinsnFur]

VERY interesting analogy gentlemen
I believe I may have learned a little something right there.

[HaMeR]

I realize the problems these critters can bring to the table but in my opinion these cats are beautiful animals. 

[JohnP]

Yes indeed they are beautiful creatures.  I have killed a few and have been involved in other hunts that ended in kills.  I doubt that I'll ever kill another for purely recreational pleasure but I have no qualms in killing a stock killer. 

[Dave]

Great post!
I didn't have a clue, but it all makes sense.

[HaMeR]

I wouldn't mind going on a Lion hunt sometime but it wouldn't be with dogs. I would love to call one in & get the shot. But I don't think I would want to do it a 2nd time. One would satisfy my hunger to harvest one. I hear you on the stock killers too. They don't all need to be killed but some of them do.

[ThomasFields60]

I agree I think the Lion won too. They usually wont chase unless they're pretty sure they can win.

[Okanagan]

I agree I think the Lion won too. They usually wont chase unless they're pretty sure they can win.

I think you are right about mature adult cougars not wasting energy on stuff that's not catchable.  I have wondered if the cougar in the photos is a youngish lion.   It has the lean tall look of a youngster.  They chase quite a bit of stuff without catching it, learning on the job.   My son tracked one in snow that chased/attacked two separate deer and one rabbit in the space of a mile and didn't catch any of them.  It was a small adult cougar, probably its first year on its own away from its mother.

Cheetahs chase stuff, run it down and catch it.  Cougars pounce or make a short, deadly rush, but don't seem to make long chases.  My bet is that whatever happened after the chase photo was snapped, it happened within seconds and a few feet of the photo, one or two more jumps at most.  It is a fascinating photo and I wish we had the rest of the sequel!

Propainter, as a favor I'd ask you to turn off the CAPS lock on your keyboard.  Makes it easier for us old codgers to read.