Where the control of mountain-lions is essential, the principal means
employed is the use of trained hounds. Kentucky fox hounds and a cross
between the Walker hound and the bloodhound have been found most
satisfactory for trailing mountain-lions, though any good dog may tree
one. The hunter must keep up with the pack, however, for a mountain-lion
that fights at bay instead of treeing, may kill all the dogs. When it
chooses to fight, it uses teeth and claws, backed by powerful neck and
shoulder muscles, in a telling way.
The use of poisons in mountain-lion control is not recommended. Hunting
or trapping is more satisfactory, and it is unsafe to expose poisons on
ranges where hunting dogs are being used.
Under certain conditions mountain-lions can easily be caught in traps of
the sizes known as Nos. 14 and 4½. (Fig. 1.) Although some persons oppose
the use of such traps as inhumane, no better or more practical device is
yet available.