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HISTORY:Wileyarroll and Mike Laughlin (USDFW ADC) #6619724
09/18/19 03:08 PM
09/18/19 03:08 PM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 759
new york
H
henpecked1 Offline OP
trapper
henpecked1  Offline OP
trapper
H

Joined: May 2018
Posts: 759
new york
Mike and I were on the phone talking about lions and Wiley Carroll came up (he and Mike were good friends). Mike sent this information and photos to be shared with the trapping community, I hope you all enjoy it. If you have any additional questions Mike did post his contact info. Be patient as he is still tough as nails.


Wiley Carroll- Legendary Mountain Lion Hunter- Nevada

You hear the new breed of today’s mountain lion hunter’s in Nevada whining that there are no lions left to catch and they need a good snow cover to find a track. This is a poor hunter’s excuse as to why they cannot catch a lion. No snow and no tracks.
In the days of old, before snow machines, 4- wheelers, and two way radios, there were men like Wiley Carroll who took to the Nevada mountains with his horse, dogs and a warm coat. I happen to know this because I was there.
Wiley Carroll started out his mountain lion hunting career along the Deschutes River in Central Oregon. Wiley caught his first lion with his dogs when he was a teenager. He spent his early years learning his trade and then he was drafted into the Army. Wiley spent his military time with the Army’s 85th Infantry Regiments 10th Mountain Division. The unit's specialty involved fighting effectively in harsh conditions and they were one of the first U. S. military units to enter Germany in World War II. Wiley was a packer and worked with Army mules.
After his military tour, he went to work for the famous lion hunters of Arizona- the Lee Brothers. He also hunted jaguar and trapped Mexican wolves in Old Mexico with the Lee Brothers.
After his tour with the Lees, Wiley set out to establish his own reputation as a lion hunter. In 1951, the Nevada Fish and Game Department offered Wiley a fulltime job catching lions. Wiley and his hounds caught lions on dry ground from the southern deserts of Nevada to the high Mountains of Northeastern Nevada. Terrain or ground conditions made no difference to Wiley and his dogs. If the lions were there, Wiley could catch them.
Wiley held his position with Nevada Fish and Game for the next twenty years. During this time, Wiley ran up a record of lions caught with his dogs that has stood for many years. Wiley hauled his horse and dogs in a flatbed pickup with horse rack and did all his hunting by horseback or on foot. He camped out on the sheep and cattle ranges of Nevada with sheepherders and cowboys and laid out many nights under a tree with his dogs for warmth on an old lion track in order to be able to start out early the next day, trailing this cat. Like the majority of the old-time lion hunters, Wiley stuck on a track like glue until the job was done. No one I know today lays out on a lion track anymore. Most of today’s hunters give up, go home to their warm beds, and look for another fresh track the following day. Wiley Carroll was a true Nevada legend.
The lions are still here. You just have to have hunters who have the knowledge and tenacity to catch them.

Post Script:
Wiley would have loved email, Facebook and the internet. Every week or so we used to get a big manila envelope full of newspaper clippings and copies and notes. Wiley loved to keep informed and in touch. He wrote a monthly column in “Trapper & Predator Caller” during the years of high fur prices. He also wrote many “Handy Hints” that were published in “Western Horseman” magazine and books including "History of American Lion Hunting", "A Corral Full of Cat Sets" and "Trapping with Wiley Carroll." He was born in 1921 and passed away in 2003. Wiley was a challenge to supervise, but he was a true legend

Vintage photos courtesy of the late Wiley Carroll.

James ”Mike” Laughlin
Retired: Supervisory Wildlife Biologist

Bachelor Science Degree – Wildlife Biology – Arizona State University; Tempe; Arizona
31 years working in nine Western states; Mexico, Provinces of Canada
U.S Department of Agriculture & U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

P.O. Box 28-1807
Lamoille, Nevada 89828
775-385-4107
mikelaughlin@hotmail.com





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Last edited by Wolfdog91; 03/16/21 01:49 AM.
Re: Wiley Carroll and Mike Laughlin (USDFW ADC) [Re: henpecked1] #6619818
09/18/19 05:28 PM
09/18/19 05:28 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,968
Peoria County Illinois
Larry Baer Offline
trapper
Larry Baer  Offline
trapper

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,968
Peoria County Illinois
Thank you. Our younger trappers probably never read any of his article in The Trapper. They were very interesting. He gave lure recipes often. Typically the would start with something like '' take the brains or three deer and the liver of one them and rot them to a paste in a warm place.


Just passin through
Re: Wiley Carroll and Mike Laughlin (USDFW ADC) [Re: Larry Baer] #6619959
09/18/19 08:17 PM
09/18/19 08:17 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,717
Maine
M
Mac Offline
trapper
Mac  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,717
Maine
Thanks for sharing this henpecked1 .
Loved his column, and greatly enjoyed his books.
Wrote him once to ask something, which I cannot recall. He wrote a letter back and shared some really great information about making a simple set that has worked great for me.

Really enjoy the stuff you have been sharing.
mac



Re: Wiley Carroll and Mike Laughlin (USDFW ADC) [Re: henpecked1] #6619966
09/18/19 08:32 PM
09/18/19 08:32 PM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 3,083
Ks
Flint Hill fur Offline
trapper
Flint Hill fur  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 3,083
Ks
Great post

Re: Wiley Carroll and Mike Laughlin (USDFW ADC) [Re: henpecked1] #6619982
09/18/19 08:52 PM
09/18/19 08:52 PM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,954
RI / MN
C
Cameron Kelsey Offline
trapper
Cameron Kelsey  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,954
RI / MN
Thanks for sharing. I always enjoyed Wiley's columns in "Trapper and Predator Caller", and "Full Cry" magazine. He had his own unique writing style that was really entertaining. A true legend.


CWO4, SC, US Navy
Re: Wiley Carroll and Mike Laughlin (USDFW ADC) [Re: henpecked1] #6619983
09/18/19 08:53 PM
09/18/19 08:53 PM
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 723
Burton, Michigan
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Mousey Trapper Offline
trapper
Mousey Trapper  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: May 2008
Posts: 723
Burton, Michigan
What year did his book "A CORRAL FLL OF CAT SETS" cum out.

Re: Wiley Carroll and Mike Laughlin (USDFW ADC) [Re: henpecked1] #6620073
09/18/19 10:29 PM
09/18/19 10:29 PM
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,712
NW Mo
M
Michael Lippold Offline
trapper
Michael Lippold  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,712
NW Mo
Thank you for sharing!

Re: Wiley Carroll and Mike Laughlin (USDFW ADC) [Re: henpecked1] #6620193
09/19/19 07:38 AM
09/19/19 07:38 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,817
central arkansas
T
the Blak Spot Offline
trapper
the Blak Spot  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,817
central arkansas
Nice!


the just shall live by faith

member FTA, ATA, EAFT
1776 - the year we told a tyrant we weren't to be under a dictator
Caveat ater macula
Re: Wiley Carroll and Mike Laughlin (USDFW ADC) [Re: henpecked1] #6620267
09/19/19 08:59 AM
09/19/19 08:59 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,960
Northern Nevada
B
Bob Offline
trapper
Bob  Offline
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B

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,960
Northern Nevada
There’s a good chance he chased lions on my grandpas ranch in gabbs, Nevada when I was a little kid. If grandpa was still alive I’d ask him. Heck I may have even met Wiley as a little guy


"I have two guns, one for each of ya."
Re: Wiley Carroll and Mike Laughlin (USDFW ADC) [Re: henpecked1] #6620299
09/19/19 10:08 AM
09/19/19 10:08 AM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 759
new york
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henpecked1 Offline OP
trapper
henpecked1  Offline OP
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 759
new york
Bob you should talk to Mike Laughlin, you would enjoy the time. thanks all who enjoy these posts. I will check on the date for a Corral Full of Cats, I think early 80's.....I beleive the book may still be available with Sterling or F&T.... I will check that also. One other item Mike said Wiley liked trapping down near the Mercury test site. He like the wild horses there.

Re: Wiley Carroll and Mike Laughlin (USDFW ADC) [Re: henpecked1] #6620348
09/19/19 11:25 AM
09/19/19 11:25 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
trapper
The Beav  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
I was at a NTA convention years ago and Mr. Carroll did coyote demo. He placed his bait In a old soup can then stumped It flat and then buried It behind a vic 3n. A very Interesting man to say the least.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Wiley Carroll and Mike Laughlin (USDFW ADC) [Re: henpecked1] #6620454
09/19/19 01:46 PM
09/19/19 01:46 PM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 759
new york
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henpecked1 Offline OP
trapper
henpecked1  Offline OP
trapper
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Joined: May 2018
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new york
Mike, commented that the Wolf and Coyote Harding book was issued as the training manual back in the 20's & 30's, when you got your badge.

Re: Wiley Carroll and Mike Laughlin (USDFW ADC) [Re: henpecked1] #6621322
09/20/19 02:14 PM
09/20/19 02:14 PM
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6,672
lea co new mexico
W
wayne52 Offline
Crusty "Old" Wolfer
wayne52  Offline
Crusty "Old" Wolfer
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6,672
lea co new mexico
Thanks for sharing. True wolfer right there


God didn't say it would be easy. He just said it would be.

www.derricks-nm.com

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Re: Wiley Carroll and Mike Laughlin (USDFW ADC) [Re: henpecked1] #6621324
09/20/19 02:15 PM
09/20/19 02:15 PM
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6,672
lea co new mexico
W
wayne52 Offline
Crusty "Old" Wolfer
wayne52  Offline
Crusty "Old" Wolfer
W

Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6,672
lea co new mexico
Thanks for sharing. True wolfer right there


God didn't say it would be easy. He just said it would be.

www.derricks-nm.com

Like
us on facebook
Re: Wiley Carroll and Mike Laughlin (USDFW ADC) [Re: henpecked1] #6621414
09/20/19 04:48 PM
09/20/19 04:48 PM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 759
new york
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henpecked1 Offline OP
trapper
henpecked1  Offline OP
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 759
new york
I will keep posting as Mike see fit to share his memories. We will see how it evolves.

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