http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/MountainLions/MtLionseasonstatus.htm

About 1/3 of the total licenses were sold for this years Black Hills Mt. Lion Season as in the previous 2 years. This is because there are less "Chance Hunters" in the woods, hunting Elk & Deer. This should mean that the hunters out there are real Cougar Callers and not just lucky. This should also mean that the hunters are more educated in the whole spirit of why the Mt. Lion season was put in place, to thin the Hills of Male lions that have a larger home range and are more territorial. Having less hunters in the woods, doesn't seem to have slowed down the harvest of females. I spent a couple of days out there earlier this month and after a long hike and seeing no game, I probably would have pulled the trigger on anything that stepped in front of my .223 (maybe not a 46 pounder), however we are 10 days into the season and there are already 7 females killed, with a limit of 15 females, I'm sure the season will be over long before I get back out to that part of the state. Perhaps some of the Animal Rights people in the paper (Rapid City Journal) are correct, the rules may need to be more defined and perhaps the hunting meathods need to be revisited. I do however love the January season, as many of the trails are closed to motorized vehicles and it makes for a peaceful time in the woods. When we fill out our surveys this spring, let us all re-visit why the season was put in place and think of creative ways to lead the GF&P into making our lives more enjoyable.