Scouting before opener - bear, cougar?

[wafisherman]

I'm a new hunter.  Besides hunting a bit with my dad as a kid, I have not hunted solo as an adult.  Lifetime salmon\steelhead fisherman and outdoorsman though.  Did a hunt with my cousin last year in Idaho where he helped me get into a nice 4x4 mule to help boost my confidence.  Now it is my turn to do it alone in WA.

I'm bringing my 10yr old with me to the north central region for Mulies.  I'll be heading out Thursday and we'll hike in 4-6 miles and set up our base camp.  We'll spend Thurs night through Friday night scouting and hoping to maybe pop a few grouse and maybe get a shot at bear, cougar, yote.  I know what to do with a wolf...

Here are my newbie questions:

1) grouse - would love to roast one over the fire at camp.  I have a 22 revolver, an open sight 10/22, and a scoped marlin 22 that is a little bigger.  First off, do I want to risk spooking deer in the area just for a grouse?  Is 22 the right choice?  Don't want to pack the heavy 20guage in the back country...  I'm leaning toward either the revolver or the 10\22.

2) Coyotes - leave where it drops.  Just cleaning out the vermin.

3) Cougar - not expecting to see one, but if I happen to get a shot at one, what the heck would I do with it assuming I'll be deer hunting for a few more days?

4) Bear - same question as above.  Bear would be one I'd like to keep the meat for sausage though.  Say I shoot a bear Thurs\Fri, but don't get a dear until Sunday.  Just isn't adding up to me.  Seems like I'm leaning toward not taking the shot since I'm primarily there for deer??

Anyway, I appreciate any insights from those of you with more experience in this stuff.  I'm just looking for a good father son outing and starting some new traditions.  A deer to bring home will just be icing on the cake. 

[furiouzgeorge]

I shoot an open sight Marlin .22. Shoot sub-sonic and your .22 LR won't be much louder than a pellet gun. I'm not sure if you can shoot those from a revolver. I'd leave the coyotes alone...my but the less time you spend looking at coyotes, the higher the chances of seeing deer.

[snowpack]

for #3, there is a time requirement for getting the hide sealed after killing...so you'd need to figure that into how it would cut into the remaining time of the hunt.

[wafisherman]

Yeah, I'm thinking it is possible that I would have to choose to end the hunt early and take a bear or cat, or just not take the shot.

I have sub-sonic for the 22, so should be good to go there.  Though I was surprised how loud they were when I tested them out.  More like a fire cracker pop.  Would still carry far in the back country I think.  They shoot fine from the revolver.

Yeah, i'm not going to go out of my way for a coyote or anything.  Just focused on looking for deer and deer sign and figuring out where I'll position myself for first thing Saturday morning when I bag my big buck as the clock strikes 6:40am 

Then I get to experience the joy of boning and packing out a deer between my 10yr old and I.  Will be a tough problem to have should it come about...

[Curly]

I think if I were out there and saw a cougar, I'd shoot it and pack it out and forget about deer hunting.  You likely will not get many opportunities to take a cougar, so you should take it when you get the chance.  Cougar would be a great trophy and I hear the meat is excellent.

As far as bears go, I would pass on a shot at a bear since you will likely have many chances in your hunting career for taking bears.

 

[MC37493]

I use cci quiet 22 when im hunting for other things but still want to take grouse if i see them, they are just as quiet or maybe even a tad quieter then an air rifle

[scottr]

First I think it is great you are getting your kid into hunting, we need to pass this on to the next generation but I do have some questions and thoughts you may want to consider as you make plans.

Can your 10 YO handle a 4-6 mile hike? Is he packing any gear or are you carrying it all? What preparations have you done with him if there is an emergency (you or he fall and break an ankle)?

Marlin 22 vs 22 pistol? do you want to carry 2 or more guns? What are you doing with the Marlin rifle when you go stalk for deer with your main deer rifle? Unless your son has his hunter safety & license I don't think he can carry it for you. 

If you shoot a cougar or bear I'd say your hunt is on hold until you can get that animal out for processing. What are your plans for getting any harvested animals out with with your son along?

I have a son the same age and all these things have run through my mind as I think about taking him out. At this point he has only come out with me on day hunts and it is definitely at his pace and ability, not mine.

[blacktailcody]

First I think it is great you are getting your kid into hunting, we need to pass this on to the next generation but I do have some questions and thoughts you may want to consider as you make plans.

Can your 10 YO handle a 4-6 mile hike? Is he packing any gear or are you carrying it all? What preparations have you done with him if there is an emergency (you or he fall and break an ankle)?

Marlin 22 vs 22 pistol? do you want to carry 2 or more guns? What are you doing with the Marlin rifle when you go stalk for deer with your main deer rifle? Unless your son has his hunter safety & license I dob't think he can carry it for you. 

If you shoot a cougar or bear I'd say your hunt is on hold until you can get that animal out for processing. What are your plans for getting any harvested animals out with with your son along?

I have a son the same age and all these things have run through my mind as I think about taking him out. At this point he has only come out with me on day hunts and it is definitely at his pace and ability, not mine.

 

[blacktailcody]

I think if I were out there and saw a cougar, I'd shoot it and pack it out and forget about deer hunting.  You likely will not get many opportunities to take a cougar, so you should take it when you get the chance.  Cougar would be a great trophy and I hear the meat is excellent.

As far as bears go, I would pass on a shot at a bear since you will likely have many chances in your hunting career for taking bears.

 

[wafisherman]

First I think it is great you are getting your kid into hunting, we need to pass this on to the next generation but I do have some questions and thoughts you may want to consider as you make plans.

Can your 10 YO handle a 4-6 mile hike? Is he packing any gear or are you carrying it all? What preparations have you done with him if there is an emergency (you or he fall and break an ankle)?

Marlin 22 vs 22 pistol? do you want to carry 2 or more guns? What are you doing with the Marlin rifle when you go stalk for deer with your main deer rifle? Unless your son has his hunter safety & license I don't think he can carry it for you. 

If you shoot a cougar or bear I'd say your hunt is on hold until you can get that animal out for processing. What are your plans for getting any harvested animals out with with your son along?

I have a son the same age and all these things have run through my mind as I think about taking him out. At this point he has only come out with me on day hunts and it is definitely at his pace and ability, not mine.

Thanks for the feedback and good questions.

I have 8 kids.  5 adopted.  This is the youngest of my 3 biological sons.  He was the most eager to go, so I want to encourage that enthusiasm.  This week he and I had a blast fishing the Skykomish and I love seeing him take interest in the outdoors. We have been talking about various emergency scenarios and plans.  Practicing his fire building skills, and basic outdoor survival.  He'll have his own pack with the bulk of the load being his own cloths and sleeping bag.  He'll do fine with that.  He's also been playing football for the last 3 weeks and the coach has really been working them hard.  So that will also help in the fitness area.

I have been taking young kids hiking, camping, fishing, backpacking, etc for years.  So I'm pretty good at planning a trip that is realistic and tailored to suit their skills and abilities - keeping it fun, but challenging at the same time.  That said, I know this trip is going to push BOTH of us and really test us in many ways.  That is part of the fun, the challenge, and the reward.

If we get our deer, we'll bone it out and pack out the meat and the head.   I'll have him pack what gear he can handle, and plan to leave him at the truck with gear and deer while I hoof it back to camp and bring back the rest of the gear.  That is my current thinking, but subject to change as I think about it more and hear from others.

[Crunch14]

Between my Dad, Uncle and I we've shot a crap-ton of grouse with FMJ in .308 or .30-06.  It doesn't spook Muley's in our experience if it's only a round or two.  2 weekends ago I popped a grouse with my .308 and saw 4 Doe 10 minutes later.

[wafisherman]

Between my Dad, Uncle and I we've shot a crap-ton of grouse with FMJ in .308 or .30-06.  It doesn't spook Muley's in our experience if it's only a round or two.  2 weekends ago I popped a grouse with my .308 and saw 4 Doe 10 minutes later.

Good food for thought...  I recall watching the reaction of a few does to my 270 going off last year when I was hunting in Idaho.  One just bent down and took a bite of grass before they both just kinda wandered off.  I'll see if I have any FMJ in 270.  Don't think so.  I may just carry the revolver in my pack.  Most grouse I've seen have been a rock throw away, so a hit with the pistol and my CCI sub-sonic 22 LR rounds should be doable.

[Crunch14]

My handgun of choice in the woods is a Ruger GP100.  The cylinder has 3 .357 200GrnLHC for critter protection and 3 .38FMJ.  If I see a bird close just flip the cylinder to the .38.  On the otherhand you could just use your rifle and shoot them in the head to not blow them to pieces... I've done that plenty of times if I forgot or couldn't get any FMJ.

Seen quite a few Blue Grouse fly or run off after a hit from a .22, unless it was in the head of course.


Whatever your decision, good luck ou and the kids... and most of all; have fun!

[wafisherman]

My handgun of choice in the woods is a Ruger GP100.  The cylinder has 3 .357 200GrnLHC for critter protection and 3 .38FMJ.  If I see a bird close just flip the cylinder to the .38.  On the otherhand you could just use your rifle and shoot them in the head to not blow them to pieces... I've done that plenty of times if I forgot or couldn't get any FMJ.

Seen quite a few Blue Grouse fly or run off after a hit from a .22, unless it was in the head of course.


Whatever your decision, good luck ou and the kids... and most of all; have fun!