The DEC folks always seem to pooh-pooh reports of mountain lions, even when there are pictures, tracks, etc. We were delivering some horses to a ranch out near Albany way a couple of years ago where they were having problems with one, and heard one that night. Bone chilling sound. I would not want to confront one of those, even well armed. They are ambush predators, you might not know they were there till they were on you.
Out in Arizona I was 4 wheeling near a friends camp and went down in the dry river bed, away from the other folks. A few minutes along, I noticed large paw prints on the ground and decided it was time to turn around and rejoin the group before I met the owner.
25-06 is a nice caliber. A little more punch and reach than a .243, but not too much recoil. Both are nice medium calibers.
Two legged doe - The Most Dangerous Game?
