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

[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!