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 The morning air was crisp and cold on my cheek as I stepped from the truck. I had repeated this scene several times in the past few days. Slowly driving
along the snow-covered roads looking for Mountain lion tracks is not always an easy task. It had been five days since the last snow storm, and with all the
deer wintering in the area tracks were aplenty! It was March 3, 1996, a day I will not soon forget.
In September 1994 I met a man who who started the series of events that have grown into a fever inside me and a love for a
new sport. Along with this came new friendships that I dearly cherish. I meet Rod through work, he is a hard working man that is not the easiest person to get to know. He spends his
summers working for an asphalt plant, dreaming of the day the first snow fall flies. Working in his seasonal job suits him fine, as his love for the fresh morning air after the storm is burning deep
inside. We became friends late that year and I had noticed the pictures of him with his dogs in the control room where he works. He also had a picture of the lion he had taken the year before. I was HOOKED!
We continued our friendship in the spring of 1995, as the new year brought our lives in contact again. Listening to Rod tell
stories about the chase to catch a mountain lion occupied many hours that summer. I purchased my first pup from him that summer. She is a beautiful Redbone. The day we picked her
up, our families became instant friends. On a camping trip that summer we met Rod's brother Jeff and his family, and again new friendship was in the air. Jeff also has dogs and a love for the chase.
They encouraged me to apply for a cougar permit that following season. I did and much to my surprise I drew out in the area of
my choice. I don't think that I have ever been more elated on the results of a permit drawing. Being an avid big game hunter, I have spent my fair share of days running to the mailbox
awaiting the results. The pursuit begins....
The Utah Cougar season begins in the early weeks of December and runs through the 2nd of June. Plenty of time or
so I thought. Several setbacks, misfortunes, and accidents later the plan began to change at an alarming rate. To mention a few, the lack of snow and then over abundance, hampered the
efforts to get out in the first place. A near fateful ride on a snowmobile for Rod and his winter chase was over. A broken pelvis, plate in his head and still tough as nails but unable to get
around. We did manage to get out for one trip before the accident. Lots of laughs but no tracks were seen. In steps Jeff to the rescue. Thanks to both for the help. Several other days
were spent with Jeff and others to the same results.
 In February my wife bought me a surprise. A 4-year old Treeing Walker, he is a beauty, and what a boost for my moral. Although he was not at
the tree in the end, he did a good job for only being used to me for a month, and shows great promise. There is always next time. The CHASE starts.....
I stepped from the door, that cold morning, on the urging of Jeff's friend to take a look at the best tracks we had seen yet.
They stood out like a neon sign. The large round print was beautiful. Crossing the snowy meadow, they traveled over the frozen creek and started up the mountain to the cliffs above. We
were off. We pulled down another road and parked the truck. Plans where quickly formed, gear was thrown together, the CHASE was now on...
Jeff's friend started the dogs in the right direction. Crossing the creek, the cat had walked up a fallen tree. The sight of those
huge snowy tracks going across the tree pumped our spirits high. The conditions were not the best. The snow was crusted and deep in the shade, and the exposed dirt was fast becoming
a scent destroying muddy monster. The dogs lost the scent on a rock ledge, so we restarted them again. This time two of the dogs located where the lion had left the ledge. The others lost
the scent and kept looking around trying to find it. The two that were on the scent were putting up quite a fuss, bawling all the way over the top of the cliffs. Their barking could be heard for
miles. I missed the trail that my partners were on, trying to watch my new dog hunt, and ended up in a box canyon that proved to be a real challenge to climb out of.
 When I arrived at the top, I found that the dogs had traveled one canyon farther over, and my partners were in hot pursuit. I quickly followed the ridge line
around the canyon. Arriving on the next ridge out of breath and gasping in large quantities of cool fresh air, I noticed the dogs running and barking around one particular cottonwood tree.
As I looked further up the tree I caught the first glimpse of the big cat, standing in the top of the tree, about 50 feet up, was what closely resembled a telephone lineman. Standing with
his rear feet holding the trunk, his head in the V of a branch, and front legs pushing away from the tree.
I was in total awe. I had never seen a Mountain Lion this close before. They are truly an awesome creature. One of Mother
Nature true wonders. Such power and grace, is rarely matched in North American big game. I rushed over to a ledge that would afford me the chance to get REALLY close to this beautiful cat. I
scrambled to within 15 feet of this golden giant. I took several pictures, he growled and hissed his opposition to my presence in his territory. This magnificent animal, a king in his range, so
stealth like in his environment that few ever see more than a track, and I'm standing face to face with him. What an awesome animal! I had a true sense of his power and grace. He decided
that he had let me look long enough and started down the tree. 
Reaching the bottom he found that the dogs had grown in numbers and they were not going to let him get
away. With dogs hot on his trail he treed again about 50 yards away in another cottonwood. I hurried over to another ledge to within 20 feet and with my trusty Ruger, single six 22 mag ended the chase. As I climbed
down the ledge to the bottom of the tree, I was in total disbelief. This cat was huge. To a person that has not had the experience all I can say is WOW... His front paws measured
five 1/2 inches across. The Tom measured 6'11" from the tip of his nose to the end of tail. Weighing in at 145 lb. and being extremely limber he proved to be more of a challenge to pack out than anticipated.
More pictures, laughs and thank you were exchanged, dogs and cat were loaded up, and the chase for this season ended
successfully this time. He is not a record book Tom by the record book standards, but to me he has been the trophy of my lifetime. The chase, the thrill, the friendship shared with dog and
man, all are feelings that I'll never forget.
So as the season for me has ended, the planning for the next chase is already in motion. I await the summers passing, time
to spend working with dogs and gear. Learning more about the beautiful creature, his environment, habits and traits, and time for me to become more knowledgeable in the handling and
training of my dogs. Because I know that as the days grow hot, they will once again grow cool and crisp. The snow will again fall from the sky, turning this wonderful hunting ground white and
fresh, but I'll be warm, for the thrill of the chase is burning. Soon the hounds will be crying and the chase will again be on.
The Trail Master, © 1996-99 All Rights Reserved
See the Taxidermy process for having my cougar done into a full body mount! Click Here
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