Cougar populations in Washington?

[gottatree]

I took part in a lion study for the state of Oregon a few years back. The southern Oregon biologists that we worked with would openly admit cougar studies are flawed. There is very little known about them, I have treeed two mature tom's and a female of the same kill. Hmm, according to the bugs (biologists) that would never happen. I have spent the majority of my life running these animals. I have a great respect for these animals as I have seen more than most people will in ten lifetimes.
  The state's normaly under estimate the populations by approx. 20-30 percent, according to the Oregon biologists. I spend a lot of time in the woods, hunting and keeping my dogs in shape. I spend on average 10-12 days a month in Oregon running my dogs. When the snow fly's we see a lot of lion tracks and we would have no problem running two a day. The population is not declining, we just need some current studies. When the bounty was still on them the hound hunter's would go weeks before they cut a track to run. The population has been on the increse since then.

[Houndhunter]

i need to move outa state, lion has to be my favortie thing to run

[Kain]

Age Specific morlality Rates

Adults 10%
Kittens-26%
Adults 12%
Overall 32%
Kittens 28%
Overall 30%
Overall 26-28%
Overall-12%

https://research.wsulibs.wsu.edu:8443/dspace/bitstream/2376/1033/1/v76%20p15%20Keister%20Jr.%20and%20Van%20Dyke.PDF

This particular study says the highest overall mortality rate is 32%  I think I have that covered in my math with 20% for adults and the rest in kittens.  The average litter size is 2.4  I will read the rest of the study and redo the math.

[Kain]

Ok I read the study but it is for you smarter types to really understand. I did pull out the basic numbers though.
 
Estimated population 1900-2100 (kittens excluded)
Female/Male ratio 50/50. Could be higher males in Washington do to more females being harvested. But with only ~200 cats being harvested and an estimate of 60% of those being female the difference would only be ~20 less females than males from the year before. 
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/management/2009-2015/final_game_management_plan_2009-2015.pdf Page 85

So out of 950-1050 females 75% would breeding age. 
712.5-787.5 females with an annual pregnancy rate of 63%.  448.9-496.1 females will have an average of 2.4 kittens.
That is 1077-1191 new kittens.
Adjusted for mortality of 31% (this includes the kittens dieing due to the mother dieing) would be 743-822 new kittens in a year.

[blindpig]

http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/cougars.htm

"Thats 120,000-175,000 deer or elk per year.


Kill them on sight, I say.

[Deer and elk hunting will be much better if we thin them out a little.

[Houndhunter]

i think we need to thin out all are predators, not just lions. i would just like a chance at some animals that get time to grow and i dont see that happening as much anymore