The case of a mountain lion’s tail being cut off and taken after the animal was killed, possibly illegally, in Montana has even seasoned experts baffled.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) announced on Tuesday that a mountain lion was found dead and wrapped in a tarp near mile marker 3 on the Troy Mine Road south of Troy, Montana.
The animal’s head and tail had been cut off and taken.
Since mountain lion hunting season is ongoing in that area, it’s not yet clear if the animal was killed illegally, FWP game warden Sawyer Johnson told Cowboy State Daily.
Why The Tail?
Even if the mountain lion was killed legally in a designated hunting area, taking parts of the carcass and then abandoning the rest without reporting it to FWP is illegal.
Mountain lion hunting regulations in Montana are similar to those in Wyoming, insofar as hunters are not required to keep meat from the animals, Johnson said.
But they aren’t allowed to discard the animal’s heads or hides in the field. Mountain lion heads and hides must be checked in with FWP, so the agency can verify and track mountain lion kills, he added.
The mountain lion’s sex and other details of the case could not be released, because the matter is still under investigation, Johnson said.
He said it would make sense for somebody to take the animal’s head since mountain lion skulls are sometimes kept as trophies.
But he has no idea why somebody would make off with the tail.
“I’m not aware that there’s any particular demand for mountain lion parts on the black market,” he said.
Retired Warden, Seasoned Hunter Also Perplexed
Other experts told Cowboy State Daily that they were also stumped as to why somebody stole the mountain lion’s tail.
“I have no clue. That’s the weirdest shit I’ve ever heard of,” said seasoned hunter Doug Boykin.
Boykin is a houndsman – or a hunter who uses hounds to pursue and tree mountain lions – who has hunted mountain lions for decades in Wyoming and other states.
“We’ve treed several cats over the years that had shorter tails than they should have had” perhaps from old injuries, Boykin said.
But he never heard of anybody cutting off a mountain lion’s tail and keeping it.
“What would you use the tail for?” he said. “Maybe it’s some kind of poacher’s signature.”
Retired Wyoming Game and Fish warden Benge Brown said he thinks it’s “weird” that somebody would keep a mountain lion tail.
He said he can’t recall any cases of that happening during his tenure as a game warden and doesn’t think a mountain lion’s tail would have any value on the black market for wildlife parts.
Somebody just might have thought the tail was appealing, he speculated.
“Their tails are somewhat remarkable. They’re long and they’re kind of big and stout,” Brown said.
Retired federal game warden Tim Eicher likewise said that he never heard of any cases of people taking mountain lion tails or trying to sell them illegally.
“That’s a new one for me,” he said.
Possible Reward For Tips
Johnson said FWP is seeking tips on the case. Anyone with information can call 406-291-6539. Callers may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.
Contact Mark Heinz at mark@cowboystatedaily.com
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
