Panthers in Mississippi?

[Don Miller]

I was talking to a fellow today that said he had seen a panther on his property south of Holcomb. He seemed to be pretty convenced of what he saw. I told him that I thought that there had never been a confirmed sighting of a panther in Mississippi. Am I right or are there panthers in this state?

[Greenhead22]

The big deal is over "black" panthers. There are some panthers or cougars that have migrated from florida into ms in small numbers. The chances of a black panther/cougar is like 1:250,000 or something like that. There have been several sightings but the mdwfp wants no part of them. If you kill one to prove it....$10,000 fine and 3-5 yrs in the fed pen. Dad has seen 2 in his life.

[B-80]

Pretty certain I saw one in the Big Black River bottom around the Bovina area about 7-8 years ago. Got an uncle that claims he saw one as well about 3/4 of a mile from where I had my little encounter. It was about 150-200 yards off in a bean field... But I got a good look.... It was something to see now!!! I guess there's always the chance that it was something else, but I would've bet a pocket full of money on what I saw.

[Spoonallard]

Saw one west of Holcomb once. Can't say for sure if it was black or not. Happened too quick. Left a hell of a track. We talked about this Don. Saw it on the Deloach place. Been told they see one every year or so out there.

[Don Miller]

This is what I am talking about. There seems to be too many numerous sightings for there not to be any of them confirmed.

[H20 Fowl]

I without question saw one while bow hunting at askew wma last year. I can not tell you how majestic it was. It came withen 30 yards. I dont think I have ever sit so still for so long in my life. I called MDWFP, but they paid me no attention.

[bigwater]

don one night many moons ago while i was a student (haa haa ha ha) at MSU.. we had stayed up all night drinkin beer and such... someone got the idea that we should go ridin down on the refuge....

well i was doin the navigain that night along with dubby, we decided that we (we had a bunch of topwater whores with us) would take "our friens" not only to the refuge but to "EWOK VILLAGE" as well...

EWOK VILLAGE is part of the vast forest south of the refuge that is owned by a certain landowner who owns most of east miss..

anyway we were ridin down some loggin rodes when this big black figure lept right out in the road and then lept again an was goonnnee!!!!!!

the first thang i axed dubbie was if had spiked my beer with something.. he said hell no but did ya just see a panther jump cross the rd.. i said i did.. and that was my first an only sighting of a panther..
if u wanna here the rest of the story will have to go to the duk hole gang...

[dukbum]

i had a feeling dat ole big farter would have a sighten of a panther or sum black alley cat

wut wuz her name? BIG BERTHA?

IAM READY TO READ "the rest of the story"

[bigwater]

dude she's hoottttttttttttttt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[QUACKERS]

BIG you sure that wasnt that big black gal Charice that flew out of the back and over the hood of the truck when dubby slammed on brakes to avoid hitting a deer

[weimhunter]

I saw one in clay county about 12 years ago. I was deer hunting in the Kilgore Hills area. It was going threw some cut over. We where bow hunting, so, no, I did not get to shoot.

[turkeyman]

you have a better chance of seeing a bear

[SWAG]

Confirmed cougar/mountain lion DNA in Louisiana found just recently. Their Dept. of Wildlife was also asking for evidence of panther sightings (picture, foot prints, scat, trail cam photos, etc.). Some biologist saw one, found some scat near by, had it DNA tested, confirmed existance. Think I read something about dog hair in the scat. Look on MDWFP forums for the topic.

[duck_nutt]

never seen one........
and I live 9 miles south of holcomb...

[Double R 2]

I was talking to a fellow today that said he had seen a panther on his property south of Holcomb. He seemed to be pretty convenced of what he saw. I told him that I thought that there had never been a confirmed sighting of a panther in Mississippi. Am I right or are there panthers in this state?

I've seen pictures of pad prints and tree scratchings north of Holcombe, closer to Payne. Here's what I heard: there was a fella east of Grenada some time ago that used to take in pet cats that had outgrown there cuteness and needed a new home...he danged near went broke feeding them chickens, lost his marriage over it, the works...turned them out and people still report seeing them, their tracks or other markings from time to time.