Cougars in Entiat/Slide ridge

[xX Let ER Rip Xx]

Any guys ever have any encounters with these critters out there? I had one over the weekend, which resulted in loss of an animal.

[xX Let ER Rip Xx]

Let’s just say I had the holy $& scared outta me when this encounter happened.

[elkrack]

Plenty of tracks up there! You just gonna leave us hanging without the story?!

[Fletch]

In the 80's there was a hound  hunting outfitter that guided in that area.  Had wall tents set up near Ramona Park.  The migration pattern brought the cats right to him as the cats followed the buffet line. 

[jackelope]

We're gonna need to hear some more details of this one.

[Quackaddict]

Plenty of tracks up there! You just gonna leave us hanging without the story?!

 

[xX Let ER Rip Xx]

So I made a shot on a deer, it was a little far back, so I decided to give it a bit to expire and didn’t want to spook it by trailing the animal, so after a while of waiting I decided to go see where it had went to. I found where the blood started, and was in the middle of tracking the animal, I spotted the deer about 30 yds ahead of me, I looked down to check my footing, as I was doing this I heard some thrashing around and as I looked up the cougar had ran out of the brush and hammered the deer! I just about $&!? my pants when this happened, I fell down and was trying to go backwards as fast as I could!! I have only seen these critters through the headlights of my truck and one other time in the Winston unit, but never have seen one while I was actively hunting. At that point I yelled at it hoping to scare the animal off, but that didn’t work. I thought about shooting it, but decided against that, I’ve seen what house cats do to mice and birds and didn’t want to be that for supper, so I let it have a nice meal. I will never forget this as long as I live! I have always heard of guys seeing them in the woods. And have heard of guys even killing one while calling elk. This was something that made me uneasy all the way back to my rig. It was pretty dam spooky!!

[CoryTDF]

So I made a shot on a deer, it was a little far back, so I decided to give it a bit to expire and didn’t want to spook it by trailing the animal, so after a while of waiting I decided to go see where it had went to. I found where the blood started, and was in the middle of tracking the animal, I spotted the deer about 30 yds ahead of me, I looked down to check my footing, as I was doing this I heard some thrashing around and as I looked up the cougar had ran out of the brush and hammered the deer! I just about $&!? my pants when this happened, I fell down and was trying to go backwards as fast as I could!! I have only seen these critters through the headlights of my truck and one other time in the Winston unit, but never have seen one while I was actively hunting. At that point I yelled at it hoping to scare the animal off, but that didn’t work. I thought about shooting it, but decided against that, I’ve seen what house cats do to mice and birds and didn’t want to be that for supper, so I let it have a nice meal. I will never forget this as long as I live! I have always heard of guys seeing them in the woods. And have heard of guys even killing one while calling elk. This was something that made me uneasy all the way back to my rig. It was pretty dam spooky!!

I'll be the first to say it. Should have shot the dang cat!

[elkrack]

Why!!! This is almost a dream come true. A preoccupied cat deserves an arrow through the pump house🤦🏻‍♂️

[Rainier10]

Wow, I think I would have shot the cat and turned the whole mess into my taxidermist for a full mount of the whole thing.

[xX Let ER Rip Xx]

Without a tag for one in my pocket....I couldn’t really do that. Plus when you’re in the midst of that happening your thoughts aren’t always clear and concise...... there was a lot of what ifs going through my head at that time.

[xX Let ER Rip Xx]

Just sayin.... 

[elkrack]

Without a tag for one in my pocket....I couldn’t really do that. Plus when you’re in the midst of that happening your thoughts aren’t always clear and concise...... there was a lot of what ifs going through my head at that time.

Well that makes more sense! Next time buy the combo and kill the cougar 

[Rainier10]

Without a tag for one in my pocket....I couldn’t really do that. Plus when you’re in the midst of that happening your thoughts aren’t always clear and concise...... there was a lot of what ifs going through my head at that time.

Totally get that.  I know a guy that didn't have a tag and just thought he would put someone else's tag on it.  Not a good idea.


I teach hunter ed and tell everyone to buy the combo elk deer bear cougar, you never know when you are going to have an opportunity and you don't want to miss the chance because you didn't have a tag.

Good job doing the right thing.

[OutHouse]

Was it a nice deer? Could be an argument that once harvested, the deer was your property and you were protecting your property and preventing waste of the animal. Might be a stretch but you did the right thing.

[xX Let ER Rip Xx]

It was a pretty decent 3x4....... in my mind it was a good one. I was about 1.5, maybe 2 miles from my truck. So I was pretty uneasy all the way back there. If I had a cougar tag I might have shot it, but still all those what if’s were running through my head.

[xX Let ER Rip Xx]

When I spotted it I front of me, he wasn’t completely expired yet, but when that cat hammered the deer it hit it pretty hard and actually rolled the deer. There’s some force behind those animals that’s for sure!!! Made me think......!!

[Alchase]

If you can't shoot it, break out the phone and video that bad boy!

LOL

Cool experience either way.

[buckfvr]

Lost opportunity........

[OutHouse]

It was a pretty decent 3x4....... in my mind it was a good one. I was about 1.5, maybe 2 miles from my truck. So I was pretty uneasy all the way back there. If I had a cougar tag I might have shot it, but still all those what if’s were running through my head.

That's a great deer. Any harvested deer is a good deer IMO. Hard to say what I'd do in that situation with no tag. Try to scare it off? Of course then you have to field dress and pack it out with the cat still in the area. Imagine looking up every second while gutting..I might pass on that risk!

[NOCK NOCK]

Are you going to go back???.....look for the antlers....should be very close to where you left it. 

[huntnphool]

Are you going to go back???.....look for the antlers....should be very close to where you left it.

 +1, since you shot it it should be tagged regardless how bad the cougar worked it over.

[HillHound]

That’s a tuff one. You did shoot it but you did not kill it, the cougar did. So I don’t know that I would’ve gave it up that easy but I don’t think I would tag it if I was unable to get it backI guess the lesson learned and make sure you’re buying your cougar tag every year. I buy them religiously so I would not have had to made the choice. I would have shot the cougar off the top of the deer and then had an awesome taxidermy bill when I was done

[JakeLand]

Are you going to go back???.....look for the antlers....should be very close to where you left it.

 +1, since you shot it it should be tagged regardless how bad the cougar worked it over.

tag it even though a cat stole ummmm NO ! That makes zero sense

[BKMFR]

Go to town get cougar tag and go watch deer, he would come back more than likely to his fresh kill.... If patient probably could of had them both.

[TheStovePipeKid]

I had a cougar come in to my turkey setup in the fall a few years back. Spooked me pretty good just like you were saying. Only $5 more to add cougar with small game. Needless to say I don't hunt without a cougar tag in my pocket anymore.

[jackelope]

The OP asked me to lock his thread.