Close call, I think I need a bigger gun!!!!!!

[IBspoiled]

Went cat hunting yesterday.  Found tons of tracks, like I was in kitty playland.  Some had blood in them, I assumed a fresh kill must be close by.  Spent some time looking for the kill, but wasn't able to locate it.  Did a couple of calling setups, but was only successful calling in timber tigers (squirrels)!  Working my way back to the truck, got busted leaving the call area.    About 40 yards off the road, he was waiting.  Saw him when he took off, he was big!  Went up to confirm it was a cat, and found his tracks, nice big track.  I need a bigger gun, my 223 isn't big enough!      I upgraded my ammo to 75 grain hollow points, but wondering after seeing how big this cat was if I need more.  Here are a few pictures of the tracks we were finding and my wife in her snowshoes.  Deep snow this year. 

[Jason]

Wow you were close!!..Good luck on getting him!!

[bobcat]

That's awesome that you at least called one in and saw it.

I think your 223 is fine for cats.

[Okanagan]

Great pics!

FWIW we have found blood in many lion tracks.  They fight each other a lot and leave terrific wounds.  Sustained blood in tracks is more likely from an injury to the cat than from left over blood from his kill.

[IBspoiled]

I was wondering if It could be an injury, but thought there might be a kill nearby.

[Jaques Bonet]

I have Killed two Lions an used a 243 with 100 grain Nosler partitions , think 243 or 30-30 win would be a little more insurance if you were to have an encounter with a big cat. Now go get him.

[IBspoiled]

My only other gun is my 300win mag and i dont really want big holes in the hide. I tend to be a little trigger happy and shoot untill its not moving anymore

[JLS]

Your .223 is fine.  Focus on shot placement.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Good findings! .338 might be your friend........

[deerslyr]

I've known a number of cats to fall to a 22 mag. I think your 223 will be just fine.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Pretty easy animal to kill for their size - thin skin and don't seem to shake off a wound like other big game species.  Usually a hit cougar doesn't go far, even with a sublethal wound.

[Duckslayer89]

That's a cool experience especially since you were out after them. What kind of call do you suggest?

[jasnt]

Congrats!   Get back up there and get him

[coachcw]

I'd be  pretty confident with a hornady 75 bthp... FMJ not so much.

[jasnt]

I'd be  pretty confident with a hornady 75 bthp... FMJ not so much.

[IBspoiled]

Yup that's exactly what I'm shooting, hoping not to leave an exit hole

[Vortectoy]

What were you calling with? 

[NOCK NOCK]

FWIW...Shot this cat with a .280, 140grain factory load  @ 70 yards. Shot placement was dead center front shoulder-broadside animal, bullet was found between meat and hide on exit side....impressed on how well this animal took a bullet. Yes he dropped instantly, but have seen much more exit damage on multiple deer with the same setup.
A well placed .22 cal will do the trick......but why risk losing a critter with a smaller caliber? 

[MADMAX]

.223 is plenty

trust me, placement is everything
1 in the head and its over

[bobcat]

I don't think a cougar is going to walk away from a 75 grain hollow point out of a .223. But no need to head shoot. In fact, I wouldn't want to destroy the skull so I would avoid hitting the head. Any hit in the front half of the body would do the job, as long as it's a reasonable distance and not 400 yards away where the velocity has been significantly diminished.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

That's a cool experience especially since you were out after them. What kind of call do you suggest?

What were you calling with? 

[IBspoiled]

He is using an ICOtech GC350 we uploaded a few of cougar sounds to it, but mainly distress calls.  Ib's wife. 

[Okanagan]

Shot placement on a treed lion is easy, and old time hound men often used a .22 pistol when I was a kid.  A called lion is a different story:  No choice on what shot angle the cat gives you, often through a hole in brush, soft footed animal extremely difficult to track without snow and/or a good blood trail.  One that my son killed with a .30 180 grain Corelokt had a plugged up exit and was hard to find even with a bit of patchy snow and it only went 50 yards.

Our mileage varies but I prefer an exit hole when calling lions.  I'm using 95 grain Nosler Partitions in a .243 for lion calling, hoping to stay away from major bone and so avoid a huge exit hole, but definitely want an exit to increase chances of a blood trail.  It is each hunter's choice and mine is a trade-off not for everybody.   

   

[idaho guy]

 
           We used a 22-250 on treed lions all the time. If you take out the lungs it is not going anywhere. I upped the caliber when my friends dad shot a really nice Tom with a 22-250 and got away-looked like good shot placement. My father in law always tells me they used 22 pistols when they were hound hunting but I don't see the point. If I was calling one in I would up your caliber a little since your are likely to get a quick shot. Yes a 223 will get the job done but why risk it? Don't worry about the hole that's what your taxidermist is for! any decent taxidermist can sew it up. I shot one yesterday out of a tree with a 45-70! yes that is way overkill but its the only open sight rifle I have and I hate scopes when crawling through  the brush chasing hounds.           

[idaho guy]

Cat from yesterday

[idaho guy]

Better picture good Jo calling one in looks like a
Nice one at lest from the picture of the track

[idaho guy]

good job calling one in not good jo!

[pd]

Idaho Guy, that's a great Kiddy Kat!

[MADMAX]

cool
nice cat

[idaho guy]

thanks! 

[IBspoiled]

Wow nice kitty,Idaho guy and thanx for your input on firepower

[idaho guy]

  the 45-70 did not damage the hide but its is still way overkill!

[threemcbrides]

Nice job! I know the feeling is amazing. I was extremely lucky before Christmas and shot one with my muzzle loader. I didn't call it in. I was lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time. Still can't believe I got it. I'll post pics later if I can figure out how to upload them.

Again, Congrats!

[Duckslayer89]

Nice job! I know the feeling is amazing. I was extremely lucky before Christmas and shot one with my muzzle loader. I didn't call it in. I was lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time. Still can't believe I got it. I'll post pics later if I can figure out how to upload them.

Again, Congrats!

Were you in Kapowsin Hancock when you shot it? I was talking to a security guard up there today and he told me someone got one with a muzzleloader this year. Sounded like they had just gotten out of their truck to start hunting and saw two together.

[threemcbrides]

Yes, that was me. I originally thought it was a female with an older cub since there was two of them. When I took it in to get it sealed, the biologist told me it was a male, which explains why it was so big. He thinks it was a male with a female. I tried to upload a photo here, but it doesn't look like it worked. I'll see if I can get one of my buddies to help me get one up.

[idaho guy]

 

[Duckslayer89]

Yes, that was me. I originally thought it was a female with an older cub since there was two of them. When I took it in to get it sealed, the biologist told me it was a male, which explains why it was so big. He thinks it was a male with a female. I tried to upload a photo here, but it doesn't look like it worked. I'll see if I can get one of my buddies to help me get one up.

That's awesome. Way to help with the predator control up there. I'd like to see that picture! Did you get a deer with your muzzleloader?

[threemcbrides]

Not with my muzzle loader, but I got a nice doe with my bow. I had my best year ever. I also got a chocolate bear during the spring bear hunt with my rifle.  I got the trifecta out of there this year using all 3 weapons. I doubt I can top it.

[JakeLand]

That cat is awesome! I need to hunt lions where you are it's on the bucket list