Cougar Tips

[7t9cobra]

No snow here yet, so I've made probably 50 cold stands between sept. 1st and rifle deer season. No cougars yet. couple coyotes and a bobcat came in so far. I'll be back at it this week now that the rifle guys are done. Called in a nice cougar in July. Who would've thought, not only do deer read the rule books, but apparently the cougars get a copy every year too.

[Rainier10]

Here's a tip, Swakane , mills canyon side near the top.  Cat tracks all over the morning after fresh snow.

[jasnt]

Yesterday I got on fresh tracks first thing in the morning.  I think I may have bumped him as he went straight as cats can to the river, crossed it and up the other side.  I bee lined it for the truck and drove to the other side of the property (hour walk and 20 min drive) then packed in the mile and a half till I was on the hill above where the cat headed up.   I set up in a draw and called for an hour. Thought I heard a few whistles but wasn’t sure if it was a woodpecker, As I headed out I see I called in the cougar and never seen it.  It sat 100 yards from the call and watched, then walked away on my trail in.     Prob my last chance at a cougar this year in 117 anyway. Season almost always closes Jan 1st. 
In the 14 miles I walked the last 2 days I did not see one single moose track. This property is normally full of moose!

[crowinghen]

Anyone ever tried baiting lions? It is legal and I have a cat I am trying to get off one of my properties.  Currently have a dead calf hung in a tree. The cat seems to appear consistently on the trail cam about every three weeks, although he has put a hammering on the deer, so less deer now to draw him.

We are doing an experiment- not with bait, but with a scent rumored to attract cats. Watching a couple spots with the game cams.

So far it is promising. Got the big cougar ( that we already know about), some bobcats, coyotes and even deer checking it out- the cougar came by at 10 in the morning 

[skagitsteel]

Anyone ever tried baiting lions? It is legal and I have a cat I am trying to get off one of my properties.  Currently have a dead calf hung in a tree. The cat seems to appear consistently on the trail cam about every three weeks, although he has put a hammering on the deer, so less deer now to draw him.

We are doing an experiment- not with bait, but with a scent rumored to attract cats. Watching a couple spots with the game cams.

So far it is promising. Got the big cougar ( that we already know about), some bobcats, coyotes and even deer checking it out- the cougar came by at 10 in the morning 

Are you willing to share what it is?

[bowhunterforever]

Anyone ever tried baiting lions? It is legal and I have a cat I am trying to get off one of my properties.  Currently have a dead calf hung in a tree. The cat seems to appear consistently on the trail cam about every three weeks, although he has put a hammering on the deer, so less deer now to draw him.

We are doing an experiment- not with bait, but with a scent rumored to attract cats. Watching a couple spots with the game cams.

So far it is promising. Got the big cougar ( that we already know about), some bobcats, coyotes and even deer checking it out- the cougar came by at 10 in the morning 

Are you willing to share what it is?

please share

[7t9cobra]

Is it catnip? I've seen a lot of clips of cougars in captivity react the same to a housecat on catnip. I took a container of catnip and made one gallon of tea with it. If i leave a drop on the floor my cat will find it. I personally don't believe catnip will lure in a cat, but my intention is to spray a bunch around near the caller to possibly distract a cougar if it doesn't lure it in. I haven't had the chance to use it yet. Ended up tagging a cat this year and don't need it until next year but I might try it in september on some cold stands.

[jasnt]

Bumping.  Deer season is about over. Time for chasing tail

[TheStovePipeKid]

I'm waiting for some snow so I can learn to cut tracks.

[jrebel]

Lets get this thread going again.  I need to figure out how to kill a few cats.  So far it has been a great read. 

Out deer hunting this last week and had a cat vocalize.  It went on for about 2-3 minutes and then silence.  It was during a windstorm which I thought was weird.  Me and my son locked and loaded and b-lined for the sound being we could move in absolute silence.  Never found it.  Sat up and called for a bit but the wind was just to much.....so we called it quits. 

I need to figure this out....I have way to many cats in my area. 

[rainshadow1]

Lets get this thread going again.  I need to figure out how to kill a few cats.  So far it has been a great read. 

Out deer hunting this last week and had a cat vocalize.  It went on for about 2-3 minutes and then silence.  It was during a windstorm which I thought was weird.  Me and my son locked and loaded and b-lined for the sound being we could move in absolute silence.  Never found it.  Sat up and called for a bit but the wind was just to much.....so we called it quits. 

I need to figure this out....I have way to many cats in my area.

Had that happen… twice.

First time was heat caterwauling, I wasn’t prepared do deal with it, and she/they sensed my presence from a ridiculously long distance and went quiet. (Immediately responding with lion whistles would have been the only chance.)

Second time was just as I stepped out of the rig there were two calling aggressively at each other, likely territorially that time. I set up to call back at them but gave up because I was just educating them. I couldn’t get away from the rig because Alex was in a car seat and would cry every time I tried to move out of sight! (He’s graduating high school this year, so that was awhile ago!) Pretty sure they knew what/where/possibly even who I was every second on that one, they just didn’t care, they were intent on tearing each other a new one.

Extremely tricky to get a sight picture on a vocal cat. My opinion is, the best option is to stalk in on them… but how often do humans stealth in on a lion?!?! So stalking in under the cover of lion whistles. That’s my theory for approaching a vocal cat. (Hope I get another chance to try it someday!)

[dilleytech]

Anyone getting out on these cold days? I’ll be looking for tracks tomorrow. Snows about knee deep and it should be under 20 degrees. Plan to just track one down if I find fresh tracks. Southern Washington.

[hunter399]

Anyone getting out on these cold days? I’ll be looking for tracks tomorrow. Snows about knee deep and it should be under 20 degrees. Plan to just track one down if I find fresh tracks. Southern Washington.

I've been thinking about it, but 10 degrees is the high and in the negative degrees in the mourning. That's pretty cold.

[rainshadow1]

Yeah, if YOU are prepared for the cold and potentially being stuck in it, it's a great time to try for them, they're hungry!

[dilleytech]

Yeah, if YOU are prepared for the cold and potentially being stuck in it, it's a great time to try for them, they're hungry!

Oh walking around in temps in the teens is no problem. Nothing better then cold walks.