2015 Idaho Panhandle Cougar

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I went out this weekend hoping to tag a nice mulie with my bow and came home with this guy!  I missed a nice buck 3 times with my bow, back to the range for me.  On the drive out I saw this guy in the middle of the road!  He ran up the hillside and  I parked the truck, grabbed my rifle and we up the hillside to see if he was still close.  He was at 30 yds looking back at the road so I made a quick shot and put him down.  Its been 15 years since I have seen a cougar in the wild so I was pretty excited to have actually put a tag on one.  He is 4.5 feet long, probably 90lbs, and 2-3 years old. 

I am planning on getting a rug made out of it and getting the meat turned into sausage.  Any other suggestion on the meat are greatly appreciated, I have heard that sausage is the best way to go but open to other ideas. 

[Eli346]

That's a neat trophy shot. Good job!

[kellama2001]

Congrats! I'm jealous, I'd LOVE to nab a big cat! I read an article from Steve Rinella called The Merits of Lion Meat where they took the cougar meat & simmered it in water until it fell off the bones, then chunked it up & put it in tangy bbq sauce. Said its better than pulled pork once you get it tender. I hope to try it out someday! Enjoy!

[Natures Way]

Congrats! nice looking cat.

[300rum]

Did you put your Deer tag on him?

[bearhunter99]

Cougar meat is delicious!  We steaked out a lot of the one we  had.  I wouldn't turn the whole thing into sausage! 

Congrats on an elusive animal!

[Idahocougar]

Keep the back straps for sure and steak them. I made the mistake of giving mine away and only keeping the back straps. That won't happen again.

[jasnt]

Congrats.  +1 on steaking out some of that cat. Specially 2-3 year old

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Who would have known cougar steaks are good?!  I will do that. 

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Did you put your Deer tag on him?

No, I had a cougar tag.  I actually have a lot of them laying around!

[hunting4sanity]

Congratulations! I'd love to get a cougar someday, only been real close one time while archery hunting - one of the years I saved a few $ by not buying a tag to have "just in case."

[Mark251]

Congratulations!  Great looking cat 

[USMC86]

Congratulations on a wonderful trophy. I shot an old one in NV a few years ago and was very surprised at the meat quality.  Lion loin is excellent- think pork loin recipes and you will be fine.  We cubed it for shish kebabs, made white chili, and did some stir fry.  I was surprised at the number of yuppie friends that wanted to try it out of curiosity during a cookout we had....everyone seemed to like it and it gave them something to talk about at work. The only watch out would be that it can a little chewy and dry- like pork- if you use dry cooking methods or cook to long.  Anything wet and you'll be fine.

[MLBowhunting]

Congrats on a great lion.  Well done

[ebusa]

Congrats! nothing like the rush when you get a cougar down!