WDFW Cougar Season Updates

[JimmyHoffa]

This year WDFW is trying a new cougar season approach.  A general followed by the late season.  The late season closes on March 31 or when harvest objective is met--whichever is first.  (Supposedly there aren't enough cougars or they are being overharvested.. )
Here's the linky:  http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/cougar/
They will update weekly, and so far it looks like every GMU is still open.

[Jingles]

Don't know how often they are going to update this but according to the 2012 - 2013 hunting regs there is a number you can call in whenever you get ready to go hunting and see if any of the areas have been Closed. I understand there have already been 2 taken in the 218 GMU, hopefully a 3rd by the end of the coming weekend

[Rainier10]

Sweet, does anyone know if you can hunt cougars over bait?  Say a deer rib cage and leg bones that are left after butchering.  Typically we hunt coyotes near an area that locals dump there game bones.  I was thinking it might work to bait in a cougar in an area I have seen tracks before.

[JimmyHoffa]

Sweet, does anyone know if you can hunt cougars over bait?  Say a deer rib cage and leg bones that are left after butchering.  Typically we hunt coyotes near an area that locals dump there game bones.  I was thinking it might work to bait in a cougar in an area I have seen tracks before.

Yes, legal to bait cougars.

[bearpaw]

Sweet, does anyone know if you can hunt cougars over bait?  Say a deer rib cage and leg bones that are left after butchering.  Typically we hunt coyotes near an area that locals dump there game bones.  I was thinking it might work to bait in a cougar in an area I have seen tracks before.

Yes, legal to bait cougars.

Yes it's legal to bait, but don't move any roadkill wildllife, that's not legal. Just trying to be helpful!

[400out]

I think I would just rather call,  baiting could make for a long wait 

[bearpaw]

I think I would just rather call,  baiting could make for a long wait 

Just check your bait every couple days and when it gets visited then start hunting it.

[Rainier10]

I was thinking of working the area around the bait of all predators, coyotes, bobcat and cougar.  Mainly coyotes but if a cougar came in I wanted to make sure I wasn't going to be in hot water.

Thanks for the info.

[bearpaw]

you are golden as long as your bait is legal

[BOWHUNTER45]

The Dept. has spun out of control    11 TO 15 in the area I live ...good luck trying to kill 11 to 15 ...But the good thing about it is , it will stay open the  whole hunting season ...

[adamR]

It's to bad they don't have a column for current harvest... It would be ncie to know how many have been killed in a specific gmu so far

[flysar]

Thank you for the link... I called the number about 2 hours ago and the current recording stated the season was open until Dec 31st.

Good luck to all!

[deaner]

wow, this link just completely changed my plans.   said 121 is open, harvest guideline of 5.   im certain the regs pamphlet said harvest guideline 2.   thought for sure unit would be closed as i have heard of 3 that have been taken there.        looks like its time go go buy some snowshoes!

[fair-chase]

Several areas are being closed on January 15th. Only 4 days left for many of the Eastern Washington GMU's.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/jan1113a/

[bearpaw]

The HO numbers were so ridiculously low it's no wonder they are closing early.