Little Rock – A deer hunter shot and killed a 148-pound male mountain lion Saturday morning, November 8th, east of Hermitage in Bradley County.

  It’s the first time a mountain lion has been killed in Arkansas since 1975 in Logan County.

  The hunter, Douglas W. Ramer, 62, of Bastrop, Louisiana, told wildlife officers the mountain lion was moving toward his deer stand and he felt threatened. According to Arkansas Game and Fish Commission regulations, non-game wildlife (except migratory birds and endangered species) that present a reasonable threat to people or property may be shot during daylight hours or trapped without a depredation permit.

  Ramer, who was on private property, reported the incident to wildlife officers Wednesday November 12th. He has not been charged with violating regulations, although officers are continuing to investigate the incident.

  The carcass was given to AGFC biologists. Hair from the mountain lion will be sent to Wildlife Genetics Laboratory in Missoula, Montana, for DNA testing, which often can reveal an animal’s area of birth.

  Mountain lions also known as pumas and cougars lived throughout Arkansas until about 1920. The AGFC offered bounties and hired trappers to control predators during 1927-29. At least 255 wolves and 523 bobcats were killed, but no mountain lions were taken.

  Five sightings of mountain lions in Arkansas have been confirmed in the last five years, although a breeding population has not been verified. A few mountain lion sightings in Missouri, Oklahoma and Louisiana also have been confirmed in recent years.

  A mountain lion was killed in Montgomery County in 1949 and another in Ashley County in 1969. In late 1998, a team from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock observed tracks; feces and a deer kill from a free-ranging mountain lion across Hot Spring, Garland and Pulaski counties.

  For more information or news about what’s happening in Arkansas visit their site at http://www.agfc.com .

  They were old, that was for sure. Their laces were frayed at the ends, and the formerly velvety-soft leather around the ankle cuffs was beginning to stiffen and crack. The rubber lugs on the soles were almost worn smooth; a few of the lacing hooks had popped off. They’d definitely seen a lot of adventures; adventures that they often reminisced about with great pride as they sat quietly on the floor of the closet in which they resided.

  Righty, as the Bossman liked to call him, loved to go traipsing through the woods on a crisp, clear morning. However, his brother Lefty preferred to relax on a boat in the middle of a tranquil lake with the water shimmering lightly from the rays of the mid-day sun. Either way, they both greatly enjoyed the smell of fresh air and the feeling of being surrounded by nature, but they always tried to convince each other that their favorite activity was the better choice. Righty would spin together exciting tales of slinking into the forest with the Bossman in the early hours of the morning until they reached his deer stand or tracking a wounded buck into the brush. Sometimes he told of the rocky slopes they’ve climbed or the cool mountain streams they’ve waded through. The stories were always thrilling and intense, but Lefty would often interject, claiming that the best parts about their adventures with the Bossman were the moments in between the exciting activities. He would then go on to explain to Righty how peaceful and calming it is to relax in the deer stand or rest next to a babbling brook nestled in between two hills. The two brothers would often get into disagreements, like the one they were in today.

  “You’re wrong, Lefty,” said Righty, exasperated to be having this conversation again. “Life is short, so it should be spent having as many adventures as possible. I can’t believe you still don’t understand this.”

  “I understand it perfectly,” Lefty replied. “I would just rather spend my time doing something that makes me happy, like sitting quietly and enjoying the great outdoors.”

  “How can you like relaxing more than exploring and experiencing new things?” Righty asked incredulously. “Maybe you just haven’t had a life-changing experience yet. I remember mine. It was the first time the Bossman took us hunting with him, and as we stood over the deer he killed, I realized that I had helped him. We had carried him through the woods to his stand, and then through the weeds and brush as we tracked the deer. I was so proud of myself, and I knew that I would never again be satisfied again with just sitting around doing nothing.”

  “I know what you mean, Righty,” answered Lefty. “I’ve had one of those life-changing experiences you mentioned. Mine came the first time the Bossman took us fishing at the lake. We sat quietly on the boat listening to the bird’s sing, with the pungent odor of fish emanating from the livewell, when I suddenly realized how peaceful it was and how much you could learn about the environment simply by stopping and observing. I think you get too caught up in trying to fill your life with excitement, Righty. You could just as easily live life to the fullest by taking a little time to sit back and enjoy everything nature has to offer.”

  “Maybe you’re right,” said Righty thoughtfully. “Maybe I should slow down once in a while. We’re getting old; we don’t have many adventures left, and I don’t want to reach the end of my life and realize I never stepped back and took a good look around me. The next time we go out, I’ll try to focus a little less on the frenzy of doing activities and a little more on relaxing and observing.”

  “Well, since you’ve agreed to compromise, I guess I could compromise, too. It would probably do me good to have a little more excitement in my life, rather than constantly relaxing and lying around.” Lefty paused and thought for a moment, and then he said, “The next adventure the Bossman takes us on, I’ll make an effort to enjoy the activities we’ll do and the places we’ll go.”

  Righty and Lefty agreed on their compromise, eager for the opportunity to live up to the promise they each made. Until then, the two boots would have to sit patiently on the floor of the closet, waiting excitedly for their next big adventure.

  Ever wonder if those batteries in the bottom of the junk drawer, your back pack or tackle box are good or bad? Here’s a quick method to determine if they are worth keeping or recycling.

  Hold the battery about an inch above a solid surface with the negative end down, the end without the “nub”, and drop it. A charged battery will land with a thud and then fall over or it might land upright. A discharged battery will bounce a couple of times and fall over. Try it with a known dead and charged battery so you’ll know what to look and listen for.

  This works with all sizes of cylindrical shaped alkaline batteries but not the square 9 volt size. The reason it works? It’s most likely because of the change in density of the electrolyte of a discharged battery.

  With all of the electronic devices used now days, the average American uses 30 to 50 disposable batteries per year. Please make sure to recycle them. Most hardware, appliance and lumber yards have recycling bins for your old batteries. Your local grocery store may also have one so drop off your dead batteries when you visit these places. Also a lot of communities have recycling days where you can drop off your old appliances, electronics and surprise, old batteries. So do your part to help out. It’s free and easy!