Is unintended predator response a concern? Cougar/Bear

[Grizzle]

Hey guys just wondering about calling coyotes in Cougar/Bear habitat.  Just getting into hunting coyotes and everyone I see (pictures, talking to buddies, videos, etc) is out hunting in big wide open spaces.

What precautions should/can be taken to responsibly lower the risks?  Maybe the answer is its just stupid to do predator calling in or near heavy woods where large predators are known to lurk.  I don't want to be the butt of those "stupidest hunter" or "hunter becomes the hunted" tales.

"AP - North Bend WA - Area hunter is maimed by <insert large animal> because he stupidly went out in the woods and mimiced the sound of a distressed rabbit. Found near the man's boots was slightly used foxpro with teeth marks in it."

[1bowhunter1]

 

[rasbo]

yep! better be ready for close encounters of all the furry kind

[ICEMAN]

Livin' on the edge!

Sort of comes with the territory.

[MADMAX]

Always have tags that you need (cougar) and have your back covered by heavy brush whenever possible and shoot str8

here's a source of good predator info

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php

[Bofire]

 :)Anything that comes to the call is intended. Thats my story and I'm stickin to it!
Carl

[WAcoyotehunter]

Put your back against a big tree or rock and take a good look around every so often.  A friend called a lion in this fall while coyote calling, so it can happen, but I have not been so lucky yet. 

[Timberstalker]

I cant wait

[AWS]

I carry the cat and bear tag with me and use a 25-204 or 250 Sav when calling in country with large critters.  I hunt for the fur so I'm not calling in seasons that there is no  large cat seeason and the bears are sleeping most of the time.

AWS

[Big10gauge]

That's what makes it fun, It's even more fun to do it in the dark!! You definitely want to sit with your back covered. The old timers used to have a pitchfork pointed back over their shoulders since a cat usually tries to jump on a person's back 

[gasman]

Have a buddy wit you facing the opposite direction and carry a back up gun like a pistol or a shot gun, and have them ready if you need them.

[saylean]

Back against a stump...be careful...bring a friend if you can..

I call by myself all the time in Western Wa...

Bring your tags...I am considering some pepper spray to add to my gear......not sold on the idea yet...so I carry my .45 instead....

[Kain]

you could always use an e-caller if you dont want them in you lap. 

[rasbo]

I wonder if I had a pic of iceman glued to the back of my head if that would keep me safe from behind?

[billythekidrock]

iceman...head...behind?

Do we need to revisit the pole/pole, hole/hole issue again? lol

[ICEMAN]

Careful where you wear that pic, you might get shot....Ive got a few guys I cuffed a few years ago that dont like me very much....

Then again, maybe you will finally make some friends if they dont see your mug?  

[rasbo]

I was hoping it would keep the predators off me..you might be right the only friend I have cant see... btkr exit only for me

[GEARHEAD]

Lol, was a concern for me once. the first year that i got into calling yotes, i call in the palouse but live in the wet side, i decided to give the woods 20 miles south of packwood a try. didn't even think about anything other than yotes when i started. however one minute into it, i realized i was ringing a dinner bell, and i was the super. i wedged myself into a half burned tree, to protect my flanks, and kept at it. but after 5 minutes i was too paranoid to carry on so got the hell outa there.

[rainshadow1]

Air horn!

Seriously, I'd use the e-call to begin with. Barks, howls, etc. If that didn't work, I'd make my presence known. If that didn't work then you've got a whole different scenario going, know the law concerning self defense.

[FrankDown]

In India the guys that work inthe forest have eyes painted onthe backs of their helmets, as tigers most often come upon them from the rear. 

You can try wearing this backwards.

[rasbo]

In India the guys that work inthe forest have eyes painted onthe backs of their helmets, as tigers most often come upon them from the rear. 

You can try wearing this backwards.

ahh so they do have a mask of iceman!!!  :chuckle:I think hes gonna cuff me next time we pull killbilly out

[ICEMAN]

Lol, was a concern for me once. the first year that i got into calling yotes, i call in the palouse but live in the wet side, i decided to give the woods 20 miles south of packwood a try. didn't even think about anything other than yotes when i started. however one minute into it, i realized i was ringing a dinner bell, and i was the super. i wedged myself into a half burned tree, to protect my flanks, and kept at it. but after 5 minutes i was too paranoid to carry on so got the hell outa there.

Gearhead, funny. Reminds me of the time I took my 8 year old son with me one morning for yote. I start with the rabbit distress at first light, and after about 20 seconds, my son (eyes as big as saucers) reaches over and grabs my arm and says "Dad....you are going to get us killed!"   I still crack up at the thought of it!


Rasbo; Frankdowns picture doesnt look like me at all, remember.....my flattop sticks up, not down!

[blessed]

Good Morning boys,
When I go predator hunting I use a feather,or fur hide ...toilet paper strip if I forgot the other... I hang it out away from me about 25-35 yards so it will move in the wind. I put deer scent on it. Then when a predator comes in  it usually will go to the moving object and I might have a chance to see it before it sees me.  I like being up in a stand but predator hunting must be more mobile because you might have 10 set ups before you see anything. That doesn't mean you didn't call anything in. Stand up at the end of each set and spend a couple minutes looking around.
I start each set with brush crashing to get the attention of the animals in the area and along with the calling kick dirt and brush a bit. (like there's a struggle going on) 
Stay at each spot for a minimum of 20 min. and I try to stay one hr. at each spot. Remember... the predator that comes in thinks YOU have HIS rabbit!
pack a pistol for close encounters!   oh, put cover scent on your boots when you enter the woods
Go Get them!!

[blessed]

That's what makes it fun, It's even more fun to do it in the dark!! You definitely want to sit with your back covered. The old timers used to have a pitchfork pointed back over their shoulders since a cat usually tries to jump on a person's back 

yeah...when our son Dan was in highschool he and his buddies were always doing something stupid for fun so I took them   I took them out one night and showed them what fun was

[deaddog]

To hell with the big cats, with Rasbo and Iceman in the woods  my back is for sure going up against a big rock.  :chuckle:Them boys aint right.

[buckhorn2]

Be careful of what you put on your head I read where a caller had a fur hat on and got hit by a golden eagle thinking he was a rabbit.

[rasbo]

Be careful of what you put on your head I read where a caller had a fur hat on and got hit by a golden eagle thinking he was a rabbit.

I had the wind from a golden bout take mine off,he flew about 6inches over me...

[rasbo]

To hell with the big cats, with Rasbo and Iceman in the woods  my back is for sure going up against a big rock.  :chuckle:Them boys aint right.

hey! I resemble that statement   hows the doggin goin...My bones are healed says the surgeon...Now just alot of therapy..Thats some good news at the rasbo camp

[deaddog]

To hell with the big cats, with Rasbo and Iceman in the woods  my back is for sure going up against a big rock.  :chuckle:Them boys aint right.

hey! I resemble that statement   hows the doggin goin...My bones are healed says the surgeon...Now just alot of therapy..Thats some good news at the rasbo camp

Sounds like a few short walks to the stand would be some great therapy and yes its getting very good down here, the dogs are in the rut, you gota get down here soon rasbo.

[demontang]

I have called in a bear this last summer but it was only once. You should stay alert to whats around you because they sure dont make any noise when they are coming in.

[atomicjoe23]

I was concerned about this also. . .especially since where I've been hunting is near heavy cover and the owner that wants  me to get rid of her "problem 'yotes" (killing her ducks, geese, and chickens) told me they had spotted black bear and cougar in the vicinity. . .of course she didn't tell me that until after the first night and I had already spent the whole time basically out in the open ringing the dinner bell!!!

Now I put my back against something big and solid!!!

[saylean]

I have called in a bear this last summer but it was only once. You should stay alert to whats around you because they sure dont make any noise when they are coming in.

Very true demon...had a bear coming in last fall...only saw him briefly, never did hear  him....he was on a full run up the road

[Bofire]

Or else they come in tearing the *censored* out of things breaking stuff up, coughing and snorting!!! sometimes you can hear bears breathing.
I dont know which one is scarier!!
Carl

[rasbo]

they will pop their teeth,and got a low moaning growl sounds like an old starter,drool pouring out of the mouth,,hair standing straight up.and at ten feet they all look big .

[skybusterbo]

Be careful of what you put on your head I read where a caller had a fur hat on and got hit by a golden eagle thinking he was a rabbit.

I used to have a hat with a rattlesnake bandanna on it. A hawk just about took my head off one time. Scared the sh@t out of me.

[Jeremy S]

I'm still new to predator calling and have yet to call anything in. I have actually been focusing on calling in bears and due to the dense brush around the area I was hunting, an ambush was a real concern. I felt best with a friend near by, but something solid behind you, keeping your lookout (front and behind), along with a good side arm should keep you fairly protected.