Cougar hunting or hunted?

[jennabug]

I've been seriously considering trying for cougar (and/or bear) this year and I keep wondering about the likelihood of being hunted myself. I've tried browsing past topics about cougar hunting and have read the following:
1. Cougar hunting is not effective without dogs.
2. You've got to be in great shape to even consider chasing cats. (how great of shape?)
3. The likelihood of finding a cougar is extremely small.
4. Cats sneaking up on hunters

I'm still a newbie hunter, so I'm wondering how realistic any of these thoughts are before I devote a bunch of time to it. But also have been watching the game camera threads and seeing how the animal populations are changing from ungulates to predators.  And if hunting should continue, I should be working on predators too, right? Doing a guided trip is definitely not in the budget this year.

Thoughts?

[92xj]

1. false
2. the better shape you are the better, but not a requirement
3. true
4. worry about that about as much as worrying about lightning hitting you or a tree falling on you.  That worry level is only yours to determine. I worry zero about it.

For you, and in-state cougar hunting, wait till the snow flies, cut a track on the road in the blues and start following it and see what happens.  If not winter hunting them, glass, glass and glass some more. or road hunt and get stupid lucky and see one cross in front of you.
Or...find a dead animal and sit on it waiting for a cougar to come check it out.
Don't get your hopes up on finding or killing one though, but enjoy the outdoors while doing this.

[jennabug]

1. false
2. the better shape you are the better, but not a requirement
3. true
4. worry about that about as much as worrying about lightning hitting you or a tree falling on you.  That worry level is only yours to determine. I worry zero about it.

For you, and in-state cougar hunting, wait till the snow flies, cut a track on the road in the blues and start following it and see what happens.  If not winter hunting them, glass, glass and glass some more. or road hunt and get stupid lucky and see one cross in front of you.
Or...find a dead animal and sit on it waiting for a cougar to come check it out.
Don't get your hopes up on finding or killing one though, but enjoy the outdoors while doing this.

Awesome, That's what my gut has been telling me, but not having any predator hunters in my circle had me questioning everything. There's so much information out there (some conflicting) it is overwhelming! Thank you.

[92xj]

And that's coming from someone who has never killed one, but has seen them and gone out for the soul purpose to try and kill one. Everyone will have something different to say on the internet. Best thing for you to do is just hit the blues and start navigating.

For bears, find food source. Spring time grass and greens, late summer to fall berries, right before winter, grubs, animal kills and any sort of berry or fruit hanging on before the frost.

[BearCreekCookBook]

All good advice so far.
Find the elk herd and you can expect a cat to be close.
They like high vantage points and rocky ridges.
Learn the difference between cat and dog tracks & scat.
They tend to sleep most of the day away in trees so 1st and last hour of the day are prime time.
They tend to follow a circuit that can take between 7-21 days depending on kills etc.
Cats are crazy tuned in and curious so expect 100 cats to see you before you see 1 of them.
Persistence pays, just don't hold your breath.
Good luck and post pictures if you get one of those monsters.

[boneaddict]

ITs very difficult to kill a cat without the use of dogs, unless you are a great predator caller.  Generally speaking, you become the hunted when calling them in. 

To run a cat without hounds, track them down, you have to be in great shape.

Just running into a cat is becoming more and more frequent.  It didnt use to be like that.

as far as being hunted.  Well, again calling for elk or something like that can certainly increase your odds of bringing in the predators.  Ive brought in cats, wolves and a grizz by calling for elk and moose.

(I've killed multiple cats)

[92xj]

Ahhh.. I totally forgot about the calling them in aspect!
Dumb.

Include that with your glassing and see what happens.

[Jonathan_S]

I've spent months of my life trying to cut fresh tracks in the snow and call cats.  Nothing wrong with trying but don't expect a lot of action.

I've called one in that I'm aware of.  Snuck in through 100 yards of open timber to about 30 yards, couldn't get it in the scope and it evaporated.  Wish I'd brought open sights that day. Major pucker factor to see that cat on the prowl in my direction.

Most of the cats I've known to be killed without dogs, were just killed by folks hunting coyotes or deer/elk.

[Rainier10]

Pretty much everything I was going to say has been said already.

I learned a ton about cats this past year on a guided trip with Bearpaw outfitters.  We hunted in Idaho with hounds.  There is a ton of down time to ask questions and learn.  If you can afford a guided hunt with dogs I would highly suggest it.  After our hunt I am motivated to try boot hunting this year when the snow flies.  I think the odds are low for success but I think they are significantly higher with the knowledge I gained from hunting last year with Bearpaw.

[jackelope]

Talk to @flyguide  about walking a cougar down. Pretty sure he'll verify a good fitness level will be a requirement.

https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,40671.msg490430.html#msg490430

[Bob33]

http://www.mountainlion.org/us/wa/library/WA-R-Martorello-Beausoleil-2003-ABSTRACT-Characteristics-of-Cougar-Harvest-with-and-Without-the-Use-of-Dogs.pdf

[quadrafire]

All the boot hunting cats that I've known taken were actually taken from treestand deer hunters.
If you have deer/elk/turkey/shed hunted etc. Then you have already been "hunted" stalked/seen by the cats.

Kinda spooky to think about isn't it?...........

[hunter399]

Bears and cats are afraid of you ,more than you are of them.
With that said your biggest worry of being attacked is a mom kitty or moma bear with cubs .

[Katmai Guy]

When in the budget, buy an electronic caller and decoy. This limits movement immensely  over hand calling. Position the caller to draw the cats attention away from you.  Get ready for some fun, relax and goodluck.

[724wd]

All the boot hunting cats that I've known taken were actually taken from treestand deer hunters.
If you have deer/elk/turkey/shed hunted etc. Then you have already been "hunted" stalked/seen by the cats.

Kinda spooky to think about isn't it?...........

Don't forget us ground blind hunters! 

My cat was "blind" luck. archery deer hunting, near dark, it likely saw my movement as i stuck my head out the window of the blind as I prepared to head out and came in to investigate. I stuck it at 7 yards and it ran 40 before dying.

https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,218828.msg2911333.html#msg2911333