Hey Trantor, not only did you more than likely see a lion it is just that they are very secretive and mainly like to stay out of sight. The Lee brothers made a living hunting and killing Lions in Arizona and New Mexico for years. When I was still in the military I hunted three different times in Arizona with dogs for lions. Had a great time and treed several lions including one male that was over nine feet and approximately 175 pounds.Besides even if some guys went up to look for tracks, most people today can't tell a lion track from a Coyote track. Two years ago I got called for a "Problem Lion" that had crossed a snow covered road. I loaded up the dogs and was at the spot in approximately three hours from the time the tracks were spotted. However since Bear season was over I didn't run and tree this young bear that probably weighed about 100 pounds
.I have hunted all my life (over 50 years) and have been able to actually see, without the aid of dogs, a grand total of two Lions. Both were actively attempting to put a lot of distance between them and me. I have on occasion actually poked them with a stick to make them jump out of a tree so we could run and tree them again. They are not that aggressive against humans if they can run, besides that they are one of the most beautiful creatures in the wild. Well in my humble opinion anyway.
Rant over. catfish