My son shot a cougar today, I’m looking for some advice

[Moe the Sleaze]

My son had the good fortune to kill a cougar today.  We are seeking some advice.
The Cougar has been gutted and is hanging on a gamepole at our hunting camp. We are in the NE corner, and temperatures are well below freezing. Should we be concerned with the carcass freezing? We are aware of the wdfw reporting and hide-sealing requirements, so he is going to call the hotline tomorrow.
We hope to have a rug made, and he would also like to keep the meat. One of our questions is whether we can manage the skinning ourselves, or would we be better off leaving that to a professional? He has contacted one taxi, who told him he would skin it if he did not want the meat, but that if he wanted the meat he should skin it himself.
So we are not sure how to proceed. How quickly do we need to get this animal processed, and does anyone have any recommendations for a taxi to help us?

[Iveexcaped3]

If you decide to skin it yourself then id just make sure to leave enough “meat” on the hide. The taxi can always scrape that off. Leave the skull feet and tail for him to handle. Just make sure to cut down the fur to reduce the amount of fur you pull out.

[Cougartail]

Don't skin it frozen. It is far to difficult.

[Goosegos]

Take your time.  Good knives leave paws and claws on it.    Skull too. It can warm a bit to pull it easier.

[jrebel]

A quick google search on proper skinning for a rug and the rest is easy.   If you’ve ever skinned a bear for a rug, I’d have to believe it is the same. 

Pretty awesome he got a cat….pictures would be great. 

[MADMAX]

Nice job
They’re delicious

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8zEfYbsrr0

[Moe the Sleaze]

A couple pics

[pashok23]

Wow, thats awesome, congrats on a nice cat 

[HighlandLofts]

It's always nice when someone eliminates a large predator.
When it comes to feline most you can have my portion.
Same with canine meat. I,m good there too.

[jdb]

Your son has excellent taste in rifles

[boneaddict]

Congratulations! Far more exciting than a little whitetail buck hanging from the pole

[hunter399]

Heck ya👍
Deer hunting should improve next year in your spot.👍

[bmc02]

awesome! from what I've seen there is no shortage of cougar in NE wa! I'm thinking of giving up deer and just focusing on cougar...

when you find a taxi let us know where you take it. I'm not sure best way to handle a cougar either. at this point I'd just be happy with killing one, so everything after is just a bonus...

[Boss .300 winmag]

Nicely done, I’d like to read the story.

[fishngamereaper]

Did you call down to Advantage Taxi near Devenport. Easy guys to work with.

Cool cat.

[bornhunter]

When I got my cat two years ago I just opened the belly enough to get the guts out. Next day to wdfw then straight to the taxi. I didnt want the meat so my taxi did the skinning and had a waiting list of guys who wanted the meat.

[pianoman9701]

Nice cat!

[C-Money]

Congratulations!!

[bearhunter99]

Congrats!  As others have said I would leave the paws, tail and head attached to the hide before you take it to the taxidermist.  The local taxi was great when we got ours and he skinned it and let us know when he was finished so we could come back and grab the carcass for butchering.  He said he would rather skin it for us to make sure the cuts were in the right place and to protect against holes in the hide.

Opinions vary but as far as I am concerned cougar meat is the best wild game meat I have ever had.

[powderbounder]

Great job! Very nice cat.

[Katmai Guy]

Very Cool! Congrats!

[Rigby416]

Congrats on bagging a nice cat.  I CONCUR the meat is some of the best you will ever eat.  I'm jealous!

[bearpaw]

WDFW will want to remove a tooth and they will need to attach a seal to the hide. The sooner you get the cat skinned the better, then you can let the carcass freeze. Either drop the cat off at a taxidermist before it gets frozen so they can skin it or skin it yourself.

If you put a stick in the mouth to hold the mouth open that will make getting a tooth easier too. Remember: If the head freezes WDFW cannot even access the tooth or get it out. So either skin the cat and then keep the hide (with head, tail. and paws attached) from freezing or put the whole animal in your truck or tent to try and keep it from freezing until WDFW can remove a tooth and seal the hide.

If you are near Colville you could probably get Dark Timber Taxidermy to skin it for you or you could probably call Stevens County Sherriff dispatch and request an on duty wildlife officer to seal the cat before it freezes. I would think you could call Sherriff dispatch in any county and request an on duty wildlife officer to meet and seal your cat before it freezes. Another option is driving to Region 1 wildlife headquarters in Spokane, you can google the address.

[Threewolves]

First find another taxidermist. You want the meat. One of the preferred meats of the mountain men.
Do it like this

Sent from my SM-A426U using Tapatalk

[MADMAX]

 

[washingtonmuley]

Contact another Taxidermist asap.

[JakeLand]

Best cat taxidermist is Phil Soucy in Libby Montana period . If you want a cat done right take it to him it’s worth the time and effort

[jamesjett]

Congrats to your son!!  It will make a beautiful mount!