Cougar hunting

[Buck Rub Jr]

I plan to go cougar hunting with my pops and some people this winter, I saw a ton of sign hiking around last year and we've always known thy they're up there. It seems like they're starting to put a good dent in the deer population which has fueled my fire a little more to go get one. We're planning on using a fawn/deer in distress call, we have a doe decoy that we're thinking about using as well. We found tracks in two separate areas and a decently fresh cougar kill in another, having never hunted cougar before, any suggestions on if I should try and set up by where the kill was or just where we find tracks? Anything helps!

[KFhunter]

electronic caller?

[Buck Rub Jr]

electronic caller?

Yep, don't feel comfortable trying to call a cat right to me

[jasnt]

I would check out rainshadows site. I love reading threw his call in story's

[KFhunter]

1) hide the Ecaller, make sure the cat can't see it until it's right on top of it. I messed this up a few times and had a cat just sit down and watch the caller, fixated on the decoy.  forget the decoy.  You don't want the cat to be able to see anything. 


2) Don't move a muscle! don't even blink!  I messed this up a few times when a cat busted me when I moved my head *just a tad* to see what button I wanted to push next on the caller.  Amazing how little movement they can catch.


3) When your setting up take a trail that hides your approach,  sound won't matter so much as hiding your outline.  Don't skyline yourself or walk in the open.   (ya, I messed that up too) 

4) hunt below the cat, don't try to pull one up hill.  Pull them down to you and watch above the Ecaller.  Call below rocky spines that drop into deer habitat.

5) don't give up!  (I haven't messed that up yet    )

[jasnt]

  great advice!

[Buck Rub Jr]

I would check out rainshadows site. I love reading threw his call in story's

will do! Thank you!

[Buck Rub Jr]

1) hide the Ecaller, make sure the cat can't see it until it's right on top of it. I messed this up a few times and had a cat just sit down and watch the caller, fixated on the decoy.  forget the decoy.  You don't want the cat to be able to see anything. 


2) Don't move a muscle! don't even blink!  I messed this up a few times when a cat busted me when I moved my head *just a tad* to see what button I wanted to push next on the caller.  Amazing how little movement they can catch.


3) When your setting up take a trail that hides your approach,  sound won't matter so much as hiding your outline.  Don't skyline yourself or walk in the open.   (ya, I messed that up too) 

4) hunt below the cat, don't try to pull one up hill.  Pull them down to you and watch above the Ecaller.  Call below rocky spines that drop into deer habitat.

5) don't give up!  (I haven't messed that up yet    )

Thank you very much for the info!! It will definitely help!!

[rainshadow1]

Keep us posted! 

[Limhangerslayer]

If you know a cat is in the area, stay as long calling in one spot, then stay fifteen more minutes.  A buddy and I made this mistake yesterday.  We got too jumpy, left the spot we started made a loop to go after a pack of coyotes we passed up cause we were trying to kill the lion in that spot.  Made it just below where we were calling the cat from after no luck finding the coyotes and low and behold here is a cat track in our tracks we made walking in from the truck.  Back tracked him to where he crossed ten yards in front of my truck.  He is sticking more to private land and I was hunting with the landowner so we should have another chance at him.  Good luck, hope you get him.

[Buck Rub Jr]

If you know a cat is in the area, stay as long calling in one spot, then stay fifteen more minutes.  A buddy and I made this mistake yesterday.  We got too jumpy, left the spot we started made a loop to go after a pack of coyotes we passed up cause we were trying to kill the lion in that spot.  Made it just below where we were calling the cat from after no luck finding the coyotes and low and behold here is a cat track in our tracks we made walking in from the truck.  Back tracked him to where he crossed ten yards in front of my truck.  He is sticking more to private land and I was hunting with the landowner so we should have another chance at him.  Good luck, hope you get him.

will do! Theyre smart animals, hope you get him!! Post pics if you do!

[Tracker0721]

I've called in a cougar when trying for coyotes. He stayed about 150 out across a field but it still got my heart racing. Never new that was one way to hunt em. I might have to try it next year.

[Toptwo]

1) hide the Ecaller, make sure the cat can't see it until it's right on top of it. I messed this up a few times and had a cat just sit down and watch the caller, fixated on the decoy.  forget the decoy.  You don't want the cat to be able to see anything. 


2) Don't move a muscle! don't even blink!  I messed this up a few times when a cat busted me when I moved my head *just a tad* to see what button I wanted to push next on the caller.  Amazing how little movement they can catch.


3) When your setting up take a trail that hides your approach,  sound won't matter so much as hiding your outline.  Don't skyline yourself or walk in the open.   (ya, I messed that up too) 

4) hunt below the cat, don't try to pull one up hill.  Pull them down to you and watch above the Ecaller.  Call below rocky spines that drop into deer habitat.

5) don't give up!  (I haven't messed that up yet    )

  All of this is GREAT advice, thanks for taking the time!

[MADMAX]

Done it

 50 yds and 1 shot to the head with the mini 14 and dead kitty

I used a mouth call and a feather

big time rush

[jackmaster]

i have called in a couple using raishadows tactics, except i didnt close the deal on the cats, i think i get to impatient and move to much, i think next time i am gonna get as far away from the ecaller as possible and get up in a tree. a buddy of mine was huntn out of a tree stand for deer and had been sitting there for a couple hours when all the sudden he notices a cat sleeping in the sun, cat had been there the whole time... except he smoked the deer killer 

[Buck Rub Jr]

i have called in a couple using raishadows tactics, except i didnt close the deal on the cats, i think i get to impatient and move to much, i think next time i am gonna get as far away from the ecaller as possible and get up in a tree. a buddy of mine was huntn out of a tree stand for deer and had been sitting there for a couple hours when all the sudden he notices a cat sleeping in the sun, cat had been there the whole time... except he smoked the deer killer 

That's what I'm worried about happening with me, I don't like sitting still for a long time. We'll see what happens I guess! Good luck to you!

[Buck Rub Jr]

Done it

 50 yds and 1 shot to the head with the mini 14 and dead kitty

I used a mouth call and a feather

big time rush

I can imagine, how long were you calling for?

[MADMAX]

Called for about one hour, my story is attached
she was a big girl
7 ft 2" 110 lb female, made a great rug and tasty in the crock pot

[Buck Rub Jr]

Called for about one hour, my story is attached
she was a big girl
7 ft 2" 110 lb female, made a great rug and tasty in the crock pot

Sweet deal! Sounds like it was a good time!

[rainshadow1]

I killed one at 2 minutes. And I had one's toes in the scope at 90+ minutes. You can't predict.

[Firedogg]

 If you have a tag it's unethical not to try and fill it.   

[Buck Rub Jr]

I killed one at 2 minutes. And I had one's toes in the scope at 90+ minutes. You can't predict.

I'll just have to put my patience to the test!

[Buck Rub Jr]

If you have a tag it's unethical not to try and fill it.   

[bearpaw]

We or some of our hunters have accidentally called in several when turkey calling in the spring. Sometimes you don't see them until they are less than 20 yards, other times you see them farther (if you are looking in the right direction).

One time I spent a full week (dawn till dusk) trying to get a cougar with an electronic caller, we called in all types of birds and coyotes, but no cats.

You just never know when one will come so be prepared to spend a lot of time if needed. You will probably not call in a cougar unless you are in an area they frequent. Cougar are territorial so hunt in areas where you have seen fresh cougar tracks.

Another method is to walk them down by following fresh cougar tracks, I know a guy who has killed 3 this way.

[Blacktail135]

 If you're into reading books and want to be amazed at patience while hunting cats read Jim Corbett's "Man-eaters of Kumaon". That man was a hunter!

[rainshadow1]

Another method is to walk them down by following fresh cougar tracks, I know a guy who has killed 3 this way.

If you're in shape, and you have some woods skills and good equipment... wait for a cold (low) lite snow..... and DO this!

My opinion, this is absolutely the ultimate North American fair chase hunt!

I'm not built for this, never have been... but I have a son who will be able to walk the legs off a goat in a few years... I'll be encouraging him to try!

[Buck Rub Jr]

We or some of our hunters have accidentally called in several when turkey calling in the spring. Sometimes you don't see them until they are less than 20 yards, other times you see them farther (if you are looking in the right direction).

One time I spent a full week (dawn till dusk) trying to get a cougar with an electronic caller, we called in all types of birds and coyotes, but no cats.

You just never know when one will come so be prepared to spend a lot of time if needed. You will probably not call in a cougar unless you are in an area they frequent. Cougar are territorial so hunt in areas where you have seen fresh cougar tracks.

Another method is to walk them down by following fresh cougar tracks, I know a guy who has killed 3 this way.

Sweet! Thanks! I'm almost positive that nobody hunts cougars at all where we are an we always see tons of sign especially in the snow. I figure that all the free ranging cattle up there might be a little appealing to the cats along with all the wild game. I think they're doing a number on the deer population.

[Buck Rub Jr]

If you're into reading books and want to be amazed at patience while hunting cats read Jim Corbett's "Man-eaters of Kumaon". That man was a hunter!

I'll check it out! Can never beat a good book!

[BOWHUNTER45]

In the last few weeks I have cut sets of tracks ...Was it because I was just lucky or is there more cats ...my opinion MORE CATS ! Here is the biggest of the two !

[Buck Rub Jr]

Another method is to walk them down by following fresh cougar tracks, I know a guy who has killed 3 this way.

If you're in shape, and you have some woods skills and good equipment... wait for a cold (low) lite snow..... and DO this!

My opinion, this is absolutely the ultimate North American fair chase hunt!

I'm not built for this, never have been... but I have a son who will be able to walk the legs off a goat in a few years... I'll be encouraging him to try!

I'd definitely be capable of doing that! It sounds like a blast! I just don't know if my dad's knees could take it but if I ever go up with my buddy I'd definitely be all for it, sounds like it'd get some juices flowing!!

[Buck Rub Jr]

In the last few weeks I have cut sets of tracks ...Was it because I was just lucky or is there more cats ...my opinion MORE CATS ! Here is the biggest of the two !

Keep your eyes peeled too many kitties out!