Cougar Archery Poll

[luvtohnt]

I think there are more cougars out there than any biolgist team can count and estimate.

First of all here is some work in progress for cougars. If we required biologist to do actuall population counts instead of comparitive analysis for population numbers then our hunting licenses would be thousands of dollars each!!
http://projectcat.net/index.html

with that being said, i remember a few years back i was visiting a certain wildlife park near eatonville and we came to the cougar pen.  the cougars were hiding pretty good that day and the "cougar expert" that was there couldn't find them, finally we found them and my wife commented about how small they were. the "expert" says you won't find any bigger than this. so i told him just a few days ago i saw one that was probably twice the size of the big tom they have. he indirectly called me a liar, so i showed him the picture on the digital camera of me holding him(cougar season was in), he looked at me and says to me.......YOU'VE SEEN A WILD COUGAR? I WISH I WOULD SEE ONE............ i thought this guy was a "expert"

Anyone who works in a "park" can give themselves a title of expert, but don't necessarily have the proper training to be an expert.

Now the reason for this closure is female harvest is too high. If we continue to harvest at the rate we do then eventually all the cats will be gone. I don't like the idea better but right now it is our only option. I personally think the best management would be to bring back the hounds. Because it controls harvest statistics far better than open or restricted seasons do. The only problem would be to convince Seattle that this is OK!! If only we could figure out how to piggy back this in on a bill that would pass with flying colors!!

Brandon

[PolarBear]

Got one from my treestand while waiting for a big buck to show.  After I stuck it, I thought that it was going to come up the tree and visit me.

[lamar_hunter]

well if they never shut down using hounds they wouldnt have that problem.

[Aneoakleaf]

WOW Saylean, you stirred up the bee's nest!
Your chances for getting a cat with a bow will increase if you actualy persur the cat. I think if you get anywhere around Mt. Adams and spend some time calling you can call one in. The cat I called in was the 2nd one I have shot in 10 years . The first one came in to my cow elk calls. The one last year came up the trail in my tracks. It was screaming on the ridge above my stand that was just 6 ft. up in the tree. I made a choice to call it in and have the element of surprise on my side. I shot it at 5 yards. It was 6 ft. 2 in. female . If I could do it so can you if you want it bad enough. I like cougar steaks!
I have heard of 3 other people hearing or seeing a couger last year and my husband and I saw 2 run accross the road together.
Yes there's a ton of cats out there and the biologists are sitting in the truck drinking coffie. 

[bowhunterforever]

This new rule sucks!

[BULLZ-i]

Never a cougar with my bow, but nailed a good sized female bobcat a couple years back.  makes for a great full body mount.

[Pathfinder101]

Got one from my treestand while waiting for a big buck to show.  After I stuck it, I thought that it was going to come up the tree and visit me.

This guy I met had just shot one at 13 yards (face to face) with his bow.  He said he hit it a little far back and it took him 3 hours to get the nerve to go into the brush looking for it.

[7mag.]

Got one from my treestand while waiting for a big buck to show.  After I stuck it, I thought that it was going to come up the tree and visit me.

This guy I met had just shot one at 13 yards (face to face) with his bow.  He said he hit it a little far back and it took him 3 hours to get the nerve to go into the brush looking for it.

Wounded kitty, no thanks.

[Pathfinder101]

Got one from my treestand while waiting for a big buck to show.  After I stuck it, I thought that it was going to come up the tree and visit me.

This guy I met had just shot one at 13 yards (face to face) with his bow.  He said he hit it a little far back and it took him 3 hours to get the nerve to go into the brush looking for it.

Wounded kitty, no thanks.


Yeah, no kidding.  I am pretty sure I would have gone home, gotten a half dozen buddies, a LOT of firepower (modern-type), and THEN gone to look for my kitty....

[videoman]

Great poll.  Send to the WDFW bio's

[PolarBear]

I was lucky, after the cat that I stuck did brodies for about a minute she finally piled up only 35 yards away in plain view.  I had a good eye on her as I was coming out of the tree and all the way up to her. 

[lamar_hunter]

hmm i think if it was me she would have gotten an extra arrow lol

[Intruder]

Never killed a cat myself but there was a photo in Spokane Sportsmans of a guy who (at least in the photo it look this way) killed 1 w/ a long bow by trailing it in the snow.

Gotta be pretty looooong odds I would think.

[saylean]

WOW Saylean, you stirred up the bee's nest!
Your chances for getting a cat with a bow will increase if you actualy persur the cat. I think if you get anywhere around Mt. Adams and spend some time calling you can call one in. The cat I called in was the 2nd one I have shot in 10 years . The first one came in to my cow elk calls. The one last year came up the trail in my tracks. It was screaming on the ridge above my stand that was just 6 ft. up in the tree. I made a choice to call it in and have the element of surprise on my side. I shot it at 5 yards. It was 6 ft. 2 in. female . If I could do it so can you if you want it bad enough. I like cougar steaks!
I have heard of 3 other people hearing or seeing a couger last year and my husband and I saw 2 run accross the road together.
Yes there's a ton of cats out there and the biologists are sitting in the truck drinking coffie. 

I guess so huh Aneoakleaf. While I dont agree with the new reg, it is the new reg and I guess will just make it all that much sweeter if/when I bag a cougar. I do enough calling, I will either bag one, or it will bag me.