We never win anything. So, when we bought 10 sweepstakes tickets from WTA on a whim (ironically, after Joe had already booked a mountain lion hunt in Wyoming), we figured it was just a donation to a good cause. Then came the call that changed everything.
Joe was at the office when an unknown number kept calling. After rejecting it once, he answered the second call, thinking it was related to work. The caller mentioned he was from WTA, but Joe cut him off, thinking it was a sales pitch. “No, no, I’m not interested, thank you, have a good day,” and hung up.
Then came the text with a photo of their computer screen showing our ticket purchase. That’s when it hit us. We won! Joe called back immediately, and if anyone heard that recording, well, let’s just say you got unfiltered Wisconsin enthusiasm, complete with colorful language. We couldn’t believe it. We’d actually won!
Watch the Video of Joe’s Name Being Chosen
The Perfect Transfer
Since Joe had already booked a Wyoming lion hunt and had previously taken a mountain lion in Colorado, we decided to transfer the winning hunt to Ashley. As hunters who live off venison, bear meat from our northern Wisconsin property, and beef from Ashley’s parents’ farm, this was a chance to add something completely new to our experience.
Chasing Winter
Originally set to go in January, we had to postpone when the weather turned unseasonably warm. Weather is super important for this kind of hunt. We were obsessively checking weather apps, seeing temperatures in the 60s, thinking there was no way we’d find a cat in those conditions. When we finally got the green light and flew into Provo, it was t-shirt weather at the airport. Our Wisconsin brains couldn’t compute how we’d find a mountain lion in such warm weather.
Then Payden texted that they’d caught a cat the day before and cut tracks again that morning. Suddenly, things felt possible. The revelation came when we drove up the mountain the next day. Down in the valley, it was 60 degrees. Up top, it was full-on winter. As flatlanders from Wisconsin, driving up into a completely different world at elevation was really eye-opening.
Expectations Versus Reality
We had discussed the hunt and I’d prepared Ashley for the realities of mountain lion hunting: “Just so you know, this could mean lots of days finding nothing. We might walk away empty-handed.” That mental preparation made what happened next even more incredible.
During the first morning, within three and a half hours, Payden, Rustin, and Cole had each cut different tracks. They reconvened to decide which made the most sense based on direction and terrain. One headed to private land, another looked small, but the third looked promising.
Watching these guys and their dogs work was amazing. They’d drive past tracks and instantly identify them. “That’s elk.” “That’s bobcat.” Meanwhile, we’re craning our necks backward, saying, “Hey, there was a track back there!” Their ability to distinguish not just species but tom versus female tracks at highway speeds was mind-blowing. Rustin showed us the hand measurement trick, using your middle finger knuckle to gauge track width for determining sex.
The Chase
We had side-by-sides, one snowmobile, and our feet. According to OnX, we traveled about a mile and a half from where we parked to where the cat was treed. The terrain was rough. These cats live in some seriously challenging spots!
Cresting the ridge and seeing all the dogs barking at the tree was surreal. From our approach angle, we couldn’t see the cat until we circled around the tree. Then we saw it. So many emotions hit at once. The cat was beautiful and it was amazing what the dogs had accomplished. The whole system worked together flawlessly. Part of us wanted to slow everything down, to take it in, but another part was focused on making a good shot. It was overwhelming in the best way.
Ashley used Payden’s .243 (much simpler than dealing with airline paperwork for our own rifles). And with one shot, we had our mountain lion.
Lessons Learned
We decided on a full-body wall mount for our Wisconsin home. As for the meat, we passed. Coming from a background of bear hunting in northern Wisconsin and wolf hunting in northern Canada, we’d been taught, “We don’t eat dog or cat.”
Then we listened to Joe Rogan’s podcast with Cam Hanes and Adam Greentree, where they spent an hour discussing mountain lion meat being some of the best they’d ever had. Now we’re kicking ourselves for not trying it. Next time!
The whole experience, from cutting tracks to the tree, took about five hours. We joked with Payden and his crew that we didn’t even get a chance to know them before it was over. But those five hours created memories we’ll cherish forever.
Why You Should Go
We’re trying to hit all 50 states with our three kids and had just returned from California before this hunt. Life’s about trying new experiences; that’s how you gain perspective. Don’t be afraid to try something new. Some hunts might not seem interesting at first, but you never know what you might love until you try it.
As for the sweepstakes? Buy the tickets! Worst case, with WTA’s Bonus Bucks program, you’re essentially putting money toward a future hunt. Best case? You end up like us, in the Utah mountains, experiencing one of hunting’s most unique pursuits.
Working with WTA has been fantastic. From that first shocking phone call to hunting with Payden and his crew, everyone’s been professional and passionate about what they do. This Wisconsin couple couldn’t have asked for a better experience mountain lion hunting.
We’d do it again in a heartbeat. In fact, with Joe heading to Wyoming for his booked mountain lion hunt next year, Ashley’s already eyeing more sweepstakes entries. Sometimes the best hunts come from unexpected wins, and sometimes the best decision is passing that win on to someone you love.
Contact WTA to enter their sweepstakes or book your own mountain lion adventure. As we learned, you never know when you might be the one getting that life-changing phone call.
