Giant Queen On My Thursday Sick Day Banzai Trip

[highside74]

I was about 2 or so hours in of moving, sitting, calling repeat when I caught movement just above and slightly to my right while looking through my 10x42s. I've never had 8x42 but can understand why guys like them in the woods. Brought my glass down to get my rifle and couldn't find the cat where I was looking. Turned out it was further out than I thought becuase of the binos. Grabbed the binos and looking some more. This time I pick a land mark and use my eyes. 80 or 90 out and cautiously moving through the trees down straight for me. At about 60 or so the cat turns heading to the left and stops behind some trees and brush with no shot. I think it was trying to figure out its next move and it seemed like forever. I'm trying so hard to hold still no big movements. It came out and still no good shot but I think it is now trying to get the wind and pinpoint where its next meal is. Quartering to slightly and still moving to my left at about 40 or 50 yards I tell myself much further and it might go south so I take the slight quarter shot and put it through the front edge of its front shoulder and out behind it's off shoulder. A twirl and the cat was curled up in less than 10 yards and dead in no time. What the crap just happened?

[actionshooter]

Nice!

[highside74]

I cautiously walk over after a few minutes and give it a poke. Holy crap I just shot a nice cat I tell myself out loud. What an amazing animal. Teeth, Claws, fir. Big and heathly. I flipped it over and start to look at it some more and I'm like where it its junk? I'm feeling and looking and I'm like holy crap this is a huge female, I just saved a lot of deer and elk! I grab my phone to get some pics but the area isn't the greatest so I drag it down the ridge where I see a nice rock and a place I think I can stage my phone for timed hero shots. After the picture session, that actually was an adventure all on it's own because trying to hit the timer pick up this cat and have it look good after a few times this boy was tired and it took more than a few to get it right. Lol.  I put as small of a cut as I could to gut her because I didn't want to hurt anything for the taxidermist. I was a little overly cautious at that point. I then started my drag down the ridge. Some snow some dirt some holy crap hold on a second and finally a belt around her front paws for a bit of control away from my feet, we made it back to my rig. I couldn't wait to get to cell service and make phone calls to my boys and wife and brother and friends. You get the drift lots of calls and texts. I made a call to Black River and he was very kind but declined to take my work because he was full til next fall and he didn't want to put me 2 years out and create a backlog for himself for next years work. What a nice guy. He said Cedar River was an option so I called them and they were 2 years out and way out of my budget so I called Peter's. Fred has done work for me in the past and I knew he was trying to slow down but I hoped he would have room for me. He loves cats and was excited to hear about my success. I told him I shot a giant female and what I thought it weighed and at first he wanted to quiz me about the anatomy of the cat. I said I was sure it was a female and that I would bring it by soon. I drove to my buddies house to show him and his dad and they were blown away. Then home to show the family. Man was this awesome. I owe my buddies friend a huge steak dinner the next time he is on our side of the mountains.

[Stein]

Enough teasing already...

[highside74]

And now the payoff. Thanks for coming along with me. I had fun reliving my adventure.

For reference I'm 6'4 245 ish well maybe 255 but whose counting be quiet.

Fred said it is the biggest female he has ever had in his shop.

[Igottanewknee]

Great story. Very nice cat!!

[full choke]

Great looking cat! 

Congratulations!

[Mtnwalker]

Awesome, what en exciting day!

[highside74]

Oh and who knew a female cougar is called a queen? You don't have to answer but I had no idea. Had to look it up on The Google.

[Turner89]

Right on sweet cat   great write up.

[Stein]

Great cat, every time I see the hug shot I think back to the "my deer came back alive and attacked me" thread....

[bearhunter99]

Great looking cat and great story!  Thank you for sharing!

[elkrack]

Way too cool! Congrats. Definitely helped the elk and deer in that area

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Heck of a cat!!!! Congrats!!!!

[blackveltbowhunter]

Stud cat!!