Think I came upon a very fresh mountain lion track on a ranch im trapping on.
#1- Any opinion on id'ing a lion track? It's over 4" long, and definitely not a canine.
#2- If it is, any advice on sets, strategies, etc?

I really want to trap a lion, especially since this may be the last year we can lion trap in NM, plus I'm sure the ranchers would like to see him gone.
Keep in mind, this is in an area less than 2 miles from the city limits in the NM desert/plains. No trees taller than a 10 feet, and pretty flat.

Heres what a track will look like.

hard to get a set in front of one. here today and gone tomorrow. may not return for a couple months. may stick around a couple weeks also. Need a good strong trap with that ridiculous jaw spread limit n.m. has. What ever set works for you to catch bobcats will catch lions. Set your trap back a little further. guiding should not be right up tight to the trap like with a bobcat. lion will just step over all of it. Make your spot wider with the trap pan in a low spot and centered between the guiding.

Yep, that's the track!

Appreciate the info!

I’ve never targeted lions before do get incidentals on my bobcat line every season. An expose walkthrough (or you can cover it if you feel like slowing down your set making and increase the chances of something not going right) work great. I’ve caught and held them in everything form 1-3/4 sized traps, and up to #3 sleepy creek double longsprings. Even though I’ve held them in the smaller traps, I’ve also lost them in smaller traps (which is why I use smaller traps). Any #3dls will hold them fine as well as MB650s. That size or bigger would be best.