Yep I’m an arm chair expert alright, at least I’m not on here telling lies just hoping somebody will believe them. 20 years ago we knew we had mountain lions in damn near every county in Texas but you being the expert probably already knew that. Next you’re going to say you’ve seen Chupacabra’s and swear you have pictures. Stop digging!
The problem is, even avid hunters such as yourself only get out in the woods a limited number of days per year. Myself, I live in the woods, literally. I own a 160 acre timber farm. I have one neighbor right across the county road from me, but on three other sides, I'm surrounded by thousands of acres of timberland. My road to my house from the county road is about 1/8th mile long through the woods. My road down to my shop is about 1/4 mile long through the woods. I can't go anywhere on my property without being in the woods. In the past 40 years, some of the ridiculous statements that the fish and game "experts" have told me were:
1. "You will never see feral hogs up here this far from the river." (Umm..Hmmm)
2. "There are no bears here. What you saw was a big black hog." (UhHuh.. Never mind that they have been stocking them in Louisiana 10 miles away for decades.)
3. "There are no cougars in east Texas. I don't know what that could be in that picture." (Mmmm..Yeah)
And, the icing on the cake:
4. "There are no black jaguars/panthers in Texas. I don't know what you and all those oil company personnel and timber cruisers who spend all day everyday in the woods are seeing, but it isn't that. Now, if you will excuse me while I drive back to town and kick back in my air-conditioned office. I probably won't be making the rounds this weekend. I'll be throwing a steak on the grill in my backyard and enjoying the great outdoors."