Stalking a pack of cougars?

[TMortensen]

Over the weekend I was late buck hunting with my dad on the south side of Mt Adams and we came across some cat tracks. 4 separate tracks all together. I started to follow them hoping I'd get a chance at one, but then I started second guessing my decision to go after 4 fury balls of fury, big teeth and razor blades! So I backed out. What would you do?

[jrebel]

There cats....if they were fresh I would have followed them.  Worst case scenario you could start barking....cats don't like dogs .   I assume you had a rifle???  That also acts as a great deterrent against cat attacks.   

[pianoman9701]

I would guess a mother and kittens. Unshootable by law, right? Cougars aren't normally a "pack" type critter unless a couple of siblings goes out away from mom together. 

[10thmountainarcher]

I would guess a mother and kittens. Unshootable by law, right? Cougars are normally a "pack" type critter unless a couple of siblings goes out away from mom together. 

Only if the kittens had spots.

[pianoman9701]

Right.

[rainshadow1]

They lose their spots usually at about 4 - 6 months. They're mottled 'til 9 or so (debatable). They're killing deer by then. They're not aggressive typically, but young and dumb, and defensive Mamma... you never know. I'd have followed, just to try to catch up and observe. If I caught them and they were grown cubs, I'd have picked off one of them and left Mamma. (Orphaned sub adults can be really bad news, especially if you're near livestock or neighborhoods.)

[bigbeamhunter]

We had the same thing in our canyon not to long ago and they weren't kittens the game warden told me they have been hunting like lions in that area.
And that also is south of Adams

[rainshadow1]

Also, they stay with Mamma 'til they're about 2... full growed for a long time by then.

[jackmaster]

They lose their spots usually at about 4 - 6 months. They're mottled 'til 9 or so (debatable). They're killing deer by then. They're not aggressive typically, but young and dumb, and defensive Mamma... you never know. I'd have followed, just to try to catch up and observe. If I caught them and they were grown cubs, I'd have picked off one of them and left Mamma. (Orphaned sub adults can be really bad news, especially if you're near livestock or neighborhoods.)

it would have been fun to boot to.... its fun especially when your a kid to get on tracks and go to town, and the stuff you can learn along the way is worth it in itself, kinda off topic but its also a great way to learn deer, try to track a deer through timber, it aint easy but it can damn sure make you good the better you get at it, it will also teach you how to pay attention and not get lost 

[woodman]

I would have tried to see them as I have in the past. You maybe could have shot one or just got a picture like the one that I took a couple of years ago. I think that they would have just tried to avoid you though and just disappear.

I never have tried to post a link to a previous thread but will try now.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,87571.msg1098170.html#msg1098170

It was posted under Virtual Campfire - Do you ever wonder whats watching you out there? (cougar)

« on: November 26, 2011, 07:49:34 PM »

[boneaddict]

Last batch of four I ran on foot, with snowshoes.   Mother ditched the three younger cats in one of the most amazing stealth escapes I have tracked.  Completely fooled them.  They milled about then treed in about a 100 yard square area in different trees, all three of them.   I continued after mom.  An hour later treed her. 

[HighCountryHunter88]

how fresh were the tracks? remember if they are traveling they could be 3 ridges over overnight.