cougars sighting. what would you do?

[Blsum]

So this past Saturday I took my buddy out to an area to try and get him a deer. We walked into a clear cut sneaking along glassing for deer. We work up onto this hill that over looks part of the cut. We just got to the spot we wanted to glass from and my buddy pulls up his binos. All of a sudden he says "Holy $#!+ its a cougar". I have an archery deer tag so I wasnt deer hunting. But I do have a bear and cougar tag. So I had my rifle with me as well. As soon as he saw the car he went into shock. I asked him were is it. How far. Give me a landmark. All the while he is freaking out. He's hunting with his old 300 savage with open sights. He lifts his gun and gets on it but doesnt feel comfortable and asked to use my gun. Im still looking trying to find the cat. At this time I spot it and I throw my gun up. As soon as I get the scope on it it bolts. Never to be seen again. We looked and looked and looked. Moved around a bit to see if we could find it. My buddy even shot one round from his handgun to see if we could jump it out of the grass, thinking it might of just crouched down. My question is should we have gone back to the area larer that afternoon and tryed calling the spot or should we give it some time. Im thinking that cat is miles away by now.

[CAMPMEAT]

I would of called then. Kinda like, now or never.......

[Elkstuffer]

Cougars have what they call a "home range". He's probably in the area still. I'd go do some calling with a fawn in distress.

[Soady]

As soon as he saw the car he went into shock. I asked him were is it. How far. Give me a landmark. All the while he is freaking out.

I am assuming you meant cat in that quote. If not then leave him at the car and go after the cat! If you meant he saw the cat and freaked then I would say give him a good solid slap up side the head to snap him out of the shock! If that don't work get a new hunting partner! You have my number and you know I am pretty calm.

Some new eye glasses for you might be in order as well since you had trouble locating the cat, at least you both knew where the rig was parked.  

[splitshot]

  I agree with soady.  hunters are not to freak out until something is down.  get a grip.  calm and cool.  getting excited got you guys tag soup.   mike w

[Soady]

Blsum experience with cats but another chance at a second one tends to shoot one full of adrenalin. I can assure you he was full on alert looking for that kitty and once he had eyes and crosshairs on it, that  was one lucky kitty. He has the knowledge to give one a dirt nap, his buddy on the other hand  got a good lesson on how to remain calm, that's how we all learned.
Good luck guys!  Go get um!

[Blsum]

My buddy was the one who spotted the cat. He doesnt have a ton of hunting experience. Hopefully he learned something from this. Because for the rest of the day I kept telling him "NEVER HESITATE ON A CAT" (as long as you know the seasons open). That being said when I did see it I could only see the face.  It was looking at us from behind a tree.  When you can see for probably 120 or so yards in the clear cut and the trees are about 8-10 ft tall. Its kind of hard to find something very fast. Esspecially since he didnt give me any kind of direction or land mark to try and find it. Other then the general direction he was looking. Took me a sec but I spotted it. If the cat had sat for a sec more it would of been dead.

[Soady]

If the cat had sat for a sec more it would of been dead.