Exciting evening after work today!

[jasnt]

Decided to do a little predator hunting today after work. Didn't have much time so I didn't go far. Set up just above the bottom of a large hill that has a creek coming down the edge. Was expecting a coyote so I started with snowshoe hare. After a few cycles I switched to jackrabbit frenzy (from tony Stewart) after few cycles I figure it's been 20 min so I did some cougar whistles. Imediatly some deer bust off the hill to my right and in to the creek bottom. I wait 10 min then start the cougar in heat and let it play. 5 min in to it I hear something coming down the hill but my view is blocked by a large rock out cropping. It comes down all the way to just behind the rock and it's maybe 20 yards away(cougar in heats playing on repeat) It's directly up wind of me and I can hear it panting.  I'm thinking it's going to step out any sec but after a min or two it pause the call. Then play one whistle. It whistles back. I'm excited even tho it sounds young. Im thinking it's going to step out any min so I give it some time. The smell hits me and takes me back to my last cougar harvest.  I'm thinking it's going to give me a shot when it whistles again and I realize I'm still on pause so I give it one more whistle and it starts to shuffle around a bit. I'm sure it couldn't see my caller but it still dosent show it's self( call is below us both in a thick but short hawthorn.   I switch back to cougar in heat and after a min I get a meow!  By now my heart is pounding and I'm notice how hard I'm gripping my shotgun. I relax a bit but then I hear it move again(everything is crunchy) this time it's headed away but side hilling it not up. It stops again just short of my view and sits there for a few min. I give it one more whistle and it slowly heads right back up the hill.   At first I was flustered but after a min or two I was excited again. Awesome exp to say the least. Just had to share.

[lokidog]

   The only one I've been near, with a weapon, had three cubs with it.   

[Widgeondeke]

Sounds exciting, bet your adrenaline was peaked. 

[jasnt]

  The only one I've been near, with a weapon, had three cubs with it.   

bummer.  We have lots of cougar around here!

[jasnt]

Sounds exciting, bet your adrenaline was peaked. 

was very high I'm still buzzed about it   Can't wait till my next encounter. Hope fully it will end with a cat on the ground called in.

[lokidog]

Good luck, I'd love to get another chance at one.

[jasnt]

Good luck, I'd love to get another chance at one.

thanks. I hope you do

[jasnt]

I'm still super excited about last night. Headed out again today to try another area I've seen a lot of cat sign. I'll take pics of the stand and suroundings this time and check back here with results.  Cold calling is tough but it does work sometimes

[pianoman9701]

Sounds great. What fun!