Is it possible( I think likely) that the real reason for the decline in kill numbers for the recent South Dakota Puma hunt is that the last several years the quota has been to high and the "Cats" are starting a downward population slide?????? .............This, rather than the "weather excuse" which state biologists always seem to "trot out" when one of their hunting season kill totals is not met

http://www.kotatv.com/news/south-dakota-news/mountain-lion-harvest-down-from-previous-years/32158470#.VR7XSGBxEoM.mailto

Mountain Lion harvest down from previous years

Unseasonably warm temperatures and low snowfall are possible factors

RAPID CITY, S.D. -

The hunting season is over but sportsmen did 'not' get the lion's share this year.

MORE FROM KOTA TERRITORY

• Mountain lion hunts come up short this season
• More mountain lions killed as season nears end
• Three mountain lions killed last week in South Dakota

Mountain lion harvest season ended Tuesday and the official numbers are in.
Hunters took down 43 cats, 10 fewer than last year.
Outdoor Campus West wildlife biologist Steve Griffin says less snow this year helped hunters find lion tracks but official data is not yet processed.

"We haven't analyzed the data but the hunters that did harvest lions were using the same methods that were used in the past," he said "And with snow or without snow, the methods still work and generally they were calling lions in."

Still hungry for more hunting? Spring archery turkey season opens this weekend and firearm season begins next week. Each season runs through May 17th.