460 Cougar down

[fly-by]

Did a little bear calling yesterday, broken up by walking a few roads for grouse. Third set of the day, around 4pm, looked promising.  It was a dead end road (I can see all the way to the end, no chance anyone is around) with a steep clearcut on one side,  and a creek with a bet of old growth and a band of 5yr old reprod on the other.  I expected a bear to be on the creek side so hid the caller in the far side ditch, aimed at the creek.  Took a seat 75 yards dead downwind and started a fawn distress call.  Within 5 minutes a bear poked its nose through the brush, looking for the fawn.  He's obscured by a big slash pile and won't commit to crossing the road. No shot presents itself and I try messing with the volume, pausing, etc..   The bear disappears.  I gave it another 30 minutes and decided to call it a day. 
Walking up to retrieve the caller I have an eye on the brush to the right, just in case the bear is still around.  Approaching the slash pile that ruined the shot at the bear, I see a cougar crouched at the base, looking at me.  Apparently he had ghosted in while I was preoccupied with the bear.  At about 7 yards even 4x is too much magnification, but he didn't move so I was able to get off a quick shot.  He had a WDFW tag in the ear so he may have some history.

[TheSkyBuster]

They are sneaky critters. 
Good job. 

[Skyvalhunter]

Looks like a good tree farm cat.

[jasnt]

Congrats! And an earing too boot

[BullMagnet76]

That is awesome, Congrats!!!!!

[Watimberghost]

Nice work!

[go4steelhd]

That's cool!

[MADMAX]

Nice job

[notellumcreek]

Awesome! 7 yds and cougar crouched  pucker factor would have been high for me! Way to save some deer and elk 

[CAMPMEAT]

Very nice job.....

[DOUBLELUNG]

I see your banded duck and raise you an ear-tagged cougar!

[Jharristealth]

Nice work! Cat population is way too high in 460 unit. Glad you were able to put a dent in that.   

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

 

[XAFSSGT]

Awesome! 7 yds and cougar crouched  pucker factor would have been high for me! Way to save some deer and elk 

 

I would have crapped my pants just to relieve some stress.   

[lokidog]

I see your banded duck and raise you an ear-tagged cougar!

 

Nice job on the kitty!