Cougar Down

[JODakota]

Wow where to begin? So today I finished up with work today early with one thing in mind, to go bear hunting. I am fairly new to the state, this being my first full hunting season to participate in. The only other big game animal I have shot in this state was a muley in 2010, while was on leave. So after work, I and my coworker take off to a fairly new area that we think holds bear. We were both pretty eager to get outso we made haste and took off to the spot. Around 5:15 pm we hit the backroads and slow down. I start looking out in the fields because theresa pretty healthy deer population. Well I spot a two point and stop to look. As I am sitting there looking, I look a little more to my left. I stop and at first I go to my friend, "brah there's a deer...no its a coyote, oh S^#t its cat"!!!!! No further that 30 yards is a cat just sitting there staring at this buck. Then it looks right at us. So I look at my buddy and tell him, "lets slowly get outof the truck (to get our rifles) and put a little sneak on him." So we get out and as soon as the doors clicked this cat is on us. At first, it started coming in our direction, which made me a little nervous. Then all of a sudden a fire was lit under this cats ass and it took off. Reaching for the rifle case I am fumbling to grab it and get it loaded. As I am doing what I feel likea million times at once I am also running to get off the road and find a spot to lay down. I saw a nice little patch, kicked out the legs on the bipod and was trying to get this cat in the glass. Finally, I spot it running like thunder up on the the ridge about, 350 yards out. Just as the cougar was about to disappear over the ridge, BOOM, that 7mm spoke and every critter in that valley stopped. I look and see that cougar do a leap and the flop. Now in my head im like holy S#!t, did that just happen. Now this thing is pissed doing its death circle and finally it stopped just long enough for me to take another shot. I heard the whap of the second bullet  and saw the hit through my scope, right in the vitals. By this point my blood is pumping 900 miles an hour. All I could think about was the revenge I just got on their kind (I had one put the sneak on me in april during turkey season and just about left me with some full shorts). I called up buddy Jim AKA Woodchuckand I have to say, he is one hell of a guy. He skinned that cat and our buddy Terry lent out a helping hand with letting me hang it over night. Jim got a hold of a biologist, taxidermist, and a warden to make sure we did this by the book. Their the best group of guys. Thanks Jim. This definitly was the last beautiful beast I thought I would run into today. It will definitely be a life long memory that I was able to share with my friends, and my wonderful wife who puts up with all of the crazy things that I get myself into.







Not a giant cat, but definitely my favorite trophy to date. it measured 6'2" from nose to tail I 6"2 230. It was a great day.

[bobcat]

Congratulations! That's awesome. Was it a male or female?

[JODakota]

Female...and found out she was pregant with twins.

[wall of wood camp]

Congrats thanks for knocking back the cat population by three. Those things give me the hebejebees ever since one put the stalk on me and he now resides on my wall.

[RadSav]

Poor little puddy cat.  Never hurt nobody

Took out three at once and saved yourself a buck for later.  Job well done

[ellensburgpo]

That's awsome! Gives me hope that some day I'll see one hunting in the wheat.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Good looking cat. 

If it was you and your buddy that call me this evening about skinning it out I'm sorry I didn't call you back.  The phone never rang on my end it just went straight to voice mail.  I didn't see I had a message until 2:30am.

[Lunchbox1981]

Cool Congrats!

[Idahocougar]

  Congrats!

[Woodchuck]

Good looking cat. 

If it was you and your buddy that call me this evening about skinning it out I'm sorry I didn't call you back.  The phone never rang on my end it just went straight to voice mail.  I didn't see I had a message until 2:30am.

Guilty as charged, I never have skinned one and did not want to be the one to screw his trophy up but hope we got it right.
Congrats to you my friend, thanks for letting me get my hands dirty. 

[Jason]

Congrats on a nice cat!!

[CAMPMEAT]

How friggin' lucky. Get all 3 stuffed. I'm jealous to beat hell !! I've seen 15 cougars and never have shot one, yet.
Good writeup, nice cat.

[bearpaw]

You did the deer population a great favor, congrats on getting 3 cats in one. 

[cedarriver]

 Congrats! Nice looking cat!

[Woodchuck]

Now can I bust your chops about being a low down road hunter?