Cougar

[luvtohnt]

Or maybe we as hunters need to learn to read the regs every year because there are always changes made11

Brandon

[whacker1]

I'm surprised they didn't make bear archery only for the month of September as well.  Maybe they did, I have to admit I have't scrutinized the new regs yet.

I didn't see anything regarding bear by archery during archery deer and elk seasons.

I understand the intent of doing what they have done with Cougars, but the number of Cougar's taken from the population will be less under the new system than in year's prior.  overall the number of Cougars in the state must by significantly higher than prior to the removal of baiting and dogs several years ago.  I can't think that this will help bring the Cougar population in check.

Oh well, I guess if there are less cougars taken in the early seasons, it will be more likely for me to see one during the muzzleloader and modern seasons.  Sorry, but this is the only positive I see out of the change.

[boneaddict]

BIggest hit I see are the legit predator hunters that are calling bear in the fall.  You can often bring in a cat.  I guess you will have to call with abow at your side.....but then what...can you have a rifle and a bow if you are legitimately hunting cats and bear, or do you choose...then are you suspect for carrying a bow for predators during an archery elk and deer season, but really you are hunting bear and cats.  I'm just being hypothetical as I will have my bow and if I see a cat, he is toast. 

[7mag.]

You have to choose before you leave the truck, what you are hunting and with what weapon.

[luvtohnt]

whacker1,
It is hard to do population estimations on a predominately nocturnal animal. They figure their population from a method using female harvest numbers. So essentially the more females killed the lower the population is. There has to be some kind of scientific correlation or they would not use this method. All it means is that the cat population will plateau and maybe climb a little in the next few years and then maybe we could bring the dogs back since it is proof that boot hunting is more devastating than hounds on the population.

 

BIggest hit I see are the legit predator hunters that are calling bear in the fall.  You can often bring in a cat.  I guess you will have to call with abow at your side.....but then what...can you have a rifle and a bow if you are legitimately hunting cats and bear, or do you choose...then are you suspect for carrying a bow for predators during an archery elk and deer season, but really you are hunting bear and cats.  I'm just being hypothetical as I will have my bow and if I see a cat, he is toast. 

Just use your bow for both!!

Brandon

[boneaddict]

Plan too.  Wolves will thin out some cats if that makes you feel any better about their population. 

[bearpaw]

That's Baiting

I would consider boneaddict's last comment to be baiting, you are just baiting us into a new controversial discussion..............LOL

[bearpaw]

OK Bait Taken....

During the park study on cats, not that most of us don't already suspect this, but through the wolf feces samples taken in the park area, there is now conclusive evidence that wolves do indeed feast on everything they can get there teeth into, including cats and bear....but do not expect that to be reported or written about anytime soon in the media.

Another interesting tidbit, by monitoring wildlife movement via telemetry collars on many different animals, it has been observed that when wolves move into a drainage, everything else begins moving out in every direction......I would assume to put distance between themselves and the wolves.

Sadly....wolves wouldn't be so bad if they were managed as promised in the beginning....our friends to the north get along with them, but they are managed and not alowed to reproduce to unacceptable population levels....definitely shows the AR's agenda.

Right now wolves are pretty hungry in central Idaho due to overpopulation in the area, that's why they are showing up everywhere else looking for food.