KTKA

Topeka — A Kansas legislator Monday urged passage of a bill to allow hunting of mountain lions.

Rep. Mitch Holmes, R-St. John, said mountain lion sightings are increasing — endangering livestock and farmers.

“If I shoot one, I don’t want to be in trouble for it,” Holmes told the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

But Chris Tymeson, chief counsel for state Wildlife and Parks, said there was no law against shooting a mountain lion on personal property.

“If you want to protect your property or yourself, you can do so,” Tymeson said.

But, he said, it’s illegal to possess a mountain lion carcass. That’s so people don’t actively hunt mountain lions and create what one legislator called a “UFO-type circus atmosphere.”

Tymeson said a live mountain lion was confirmed last year in Trego County, but most sightings were unconfirmed.

Rep. Don Hineman, R-Dighton, said current law was adequate for self-protection. He added, “To some extent they (mountain lions) are doing us a service by helping keep the deer population under control.”

Holmes also added the hunting of wolves to his bill because he said it was just a matter of time before they return to Kansas. But Tymeson said wolves are protected by federal law, and at this point are not in Kansas.