The wish of an equal bear/cougar opener

[duckmen1]

Well this is a topic we have all discussed in various ways. Wishing cougar season opened the same as bear season. If that was the case I would be posting a cougar harvest of a nice tom. But instead you get a live pic. Decided to set up a stand for bear and call for 1 hour then make a run to another spot over the hill to glass for last hour. 5 minutes into the stand a cougar was coming in and very commited. Big tom and when he locked in on the caller meaning me he was not about to let that meal get away. I quit calling but he stayed alert coming in closer.  I stood up waving and looking as big as I could. He stayed and in fact crept closer. So started talking and still not backing down. So started yelling at it. After a few minutes he just started walking around and kind of away without any fear. So I made my move out of there. Awesome encounter. I got to watch the cougar for a very long time and it is the most I have ever gotten to see from a big kitty in the wild. Over the years a lot of bobcat encounters and one other cougar called in that I just saw his face for a second at 25 yards. But this was the real deal. Super majestic looking. One of my favorite experiences.

[Dan-o]

Wow.

Epic encounter with a big cat.

[ducks4days]

Calling in august always risks bringing in a cat you need to let walk. I wonder what harvest rates would look like if we just traded April in the late hunt for august.

[boneaddict]

Serious cat.   You must be doing something right!   

[hunter399]

That's why I haven't used calling yet.
You encountered my biggest fear,calling in an animal you can't shoot.
Man that sucks,but pretty awesome.

August 1 opener would be nice.

[ASHQUACK]

Is he collared? Looks like a transmitter on the top of his neck.

[Timberstalker]

Giant.
Thanks for sharing.

[boneaddict]

Cougar should also be year around by the way if there is no hounds or equal to coyotes.   

[Mxracer532]

This is a border line shoot able encounter depending on the yardage. If he kept coming closer after trying everything to get him to move on and he still saw you as a meal, you were in fear for your life = a dead cat. 

[raydog]

Cool, I hope you find him in Sept.

What sounds were you running if you dont mind me asking? I spent quite a few days last winter trying to do what you just did.

[snake]

gotta send it

[duckmen1]

Is he collared? Looks like a transmitter on the top of his neck.

Yes he is collared. Would be awesome to hear the history on that cat.

[duckmen1]

Cool, I hope you find him in Sept.

What sounds were you running if you dont mind me asking? I spent quite a few days last winter trying to do what you just did.

It was a mix between a rabbit distress and a fawn distress. I was adjusting reed pressure a bit to change the volume, intensity and diversity to my calling sequence. And it worked well. In fact a little too well. It was unfortunate on the bear stand though as it happened so early on in the sequence and I knew some bears were in the area. But an amazing experience. I can say as far as calling bears goes. It can work and has worked for me a number of times over the years but in order for it to work it usually takes a lot of dedication to calling throughout the season and can say for most people they are probably better off just hunting food sources over calling for success. But it has its place and time as does every technique.

[O. Nerka]

Is he collared? Looks like a transmitter on the top of his neck.

Yes he is collared. Would be awesome to hear the history on that cat.

There is no guarantee you get a response but you should contact your local WDFW biologist and maybe they'd be willing to share some info with you.

[ElkTacos]

That's why I haven't used calling yet.
You encountered my biggest fear,calling in an animal you can't shoot.
Man that sucks,but pretty awesome.

August 1 opener would be nice.

It’s hard to argue what you said here. I was initially on this same train of thought but changed my mind. To me I decided it was worth it to either harvest a bear, have a good encounter or if a cougar comes in learn something more about the elusive cats.

Of course the best thing would be an Aug 1 start date for cats but in the meantime I’m going to use the tool of calling when appropriate to try to up my odds of bagging a bear.

[hunter399]

That's why I haven't used calling yet.
You encountered my biggest fear,calling in an animal you can't shoot.
Man that sucks,but pretty awesome.

August 1 opener would be nice.

It’s hard to argue what you said here. I was initially on this same train of thought but changed my mind. To me I decided it was worth it to either harvest a bear, have a good encounter or if a cougar comes in learn something more about the elusive cats.

Of course the best thing would be an Aug 1 start date for cats but in the meantime I’m going to use the tool of calling when appropriate to try to up my odds of bagging a bear.

I have done a few calling sets,since I made that comment.
Haven't called in anything,no bear,coyote,bobcat,or cougar.
Nada.
Even did one today,after I pulled some cams I had in a area.
But will admit that area is pretty bad,just from pics or lack of pics.
Probably not the best spot. But I was there,already spent gas to get there to take my cams down. So figured I'd give it a go.

I spent 2hours calling off and on,down in a creek area.
Just no luck I guess.
It just works out like that sometimes.
I'll keep trying,but calling bears ,or anything lately isn't working for me.

[ElkTacos]

[/quote] Haven't called in anything,no bear,coyote,bobcat,or cougar.
[/quote]

I didn’t want to educate a cougar in an area I hunt. So like you I wasn’t calling but now like you I’m going for it. I figured the odds of educating one weren’t that high and I of course would want a bear so that was the deciding factor.

After a number of sits without results I’ve decided to just pick a number, if I can do 50 sits in my area with bear activity, one will get curious or make a mistake.

The reality is each of my sits has been 45 minutes. I’m not sure if the math works in terms of having enough time this season to get to 50 sits but that’s what I’m shooting for.

I expect to learn a lot. Right now I’m trying to focus on the calling set up itself and the wind. I figure if I get those things right and improve them, the other details are still important but those two factors combined with quality of area have to be doing all of the heavy lifting in terms of results. I switched to an e-caller and it gets the sounds and calling aspect right.

I do hope to call this in, ideally after opener!

[Bucks2Ducks]

Unfortunately there is a better chance of this state closing cougar and bear seasons altogether 

[hunter399]

Haven't called in anything,no bear,coyote,bobcat,or cougar.
[/quote]

I didn’t want to educate a cougar in an area I hunt. So like you I wasn’t calling but now like you I’m going for it. I figured the odds of educating one weren’t that high and I of course would want a bear so that was the deciding factor.

After a number of sits without results I’ve decided to just pick a number, if I can do 50 sits in my area with bear activity, one will get curious or make a mistake.

The reality is each of my sits has been 45 minutes. I’m not sure if the math works in terms of having enough time this season to get to 50 sits but that’s what I’m shooting for.

I expect to learn a lot. Right now I’m trying to focus on the calling set up itself and the wind. I figure if I get those things right and improve them, the other details are still important but those two factors combined with quality of area have to be doing all of the heavy lifting in terms of results. I switched to an e-caller and it gets the sounds and calling aspect right.

I do hope to call this in, ideally after opener!
[/quote]
Heck ya.
Left the foxpro at home today,walked a few miles in a gated area this morning.sitting on a clear cut now as I write this.
Over here on the desert side of the state.
It's so hot,many animals are moving at nite I suspect.

Just wanted to say that looks like one really fat cat.
Hope you nail him,looks like a good one.

[pianoman9701]

You showed great restraint in not killing that cat. If he'd kept coming toward me, he'd have been shot in the face.

[buckfvr]

Instead of hoping the bear makes a mistake, make sure you dont.  Scent control, hunting the wind, and motion management address issues that will get you busted and you wont even know it.

That or rely purely on luck.

[hunter399]

Instead of hoping the bear makes a mistake, make sure you dont.  Scent control, hunting the wind, and motion management address issues that will get you busted and you wont even know it.

That or rely purely on luck.

That is great advise👍

[ElkTacos]

Instead of hoping the bear makes a mistake, make sure you dont.  Scent control, hunting the wind, and motion management address issues that will get you busted and you wont even know it.

That or rely purely on luck.

You’re obviously right about all of that, and that’s a great way of approaching it. Certainly working to keep those things in check.

[hunter399]

Instead of hoping the bear makes a mistake, make sure you dont.  Scent control, hunting the wind, and motion management address issues that will get you busted and you wont even know it.

That or rely purely on luck.

You’re obviously right about all of that, and that’s a great way of approaching it. Certainly working to keep those things in check.

Still that's a nice looking cat.
All you need to do is call to that sucker when it's hungry.
If you don't get him after the opening,come back when it's winter.
They are always hungry when it's cold.

Man I hope you see it,and get that fat cat.👍

[wolfbait]

Cougar should also be year around by the way if there is no hounds or equal to coyotes.

 

[duckmen1]

Cougar should also be year around by the way if there is no hounds or equal to coyotes.

 

I agree but from the sound of it our commision may have some other ideas. I am in shock that one of the members on the board during the last meeting says there is no harvest report data on bears. Funny takes me 5 seconds to not only pull bear harvest reports up but cougar too. And they made comments about wdfw not collecting cougar harvest info too.  They are twisting everything to fit an agenda. They said most bears harvested are 4 years or less. And that will make the population unsustainable. Funny how they don't say that about blacktail when most are shot 2.5 years or less. But what they leave out is animals get smarter with age and that is one reason older bears don't get shot. Just like deer. There are plenty of old mature bucks. They are old because they are smart. Plus they pick and choose info. And say things like there are no studies in Washington on predator harvest on population objectives. Then bring up predator/prey project and the effect predators have on ungulates. But leave out a valuble piece of the puzzle. If you are gonna colar mule deer you should colar yearlings/fawns too to show how the most vulberable die from predation. But of course that don't dit the agenda either.

Anyways yall know this stuff. Sorry for the rant. We all agree we need more of a season on cougar. No doubt. Can't wait for it to open this year and hope to see many cougars fall this year before any possible changes in the future.

[duckmen1]

After deciding against going out to a spot this morning and doing an evening hunt elsewhere this showed up at spot A. I would have been within a couple hundred yards set up to call. Big time bummer. But not out yet. With cougars traveling mostly at night headed out for the evening hunt to try to get lucky. It is the year of the cougars. I know bears are in the area too. At least earlier in the year and had seen prior cougar tracks. So fingers crossed for something to show.

[hunter399]

After deciding against going out to a spot this morning and doing an evening hunt elsewhere this showed up at spot A. I would have been within a couple hundred yards set up to call. Big time bummer. But not out yet. With cougars traveling mostly at night headed out for the evening hunt to try to get lucky. It is the year of the cougars. I know bears are in the area too. At least earlier in the year and had seen prior cougar tracks. So fingers crossed for something to show.

Looks like a good one.
Hopefully you can patch together right place/right time.
Good luck.👍

[duckmen1]

Did a setup for an hour and 15 minute. Nothing in the basin below. Took a look over the back side of the ridge. Didn't see anything. When coming back around the corner spotted a bear that came in silent and was above my setup. Dropped onto the bipod at 200 yards and ready to go. Took a quick scan around the bear and sure enough it had cubs. So they went on their way for another day in a few years. Good experience.

[ducks4days]

Did a setup for an hour and 15 minute. Nothing in the basin below. Took a look over the back side of the ridge. Didn't see anything. When coming back around the corner spotted a bear that came in silent and was above my setup. Dropped onto the bipod at 200 yards and ready to go. Took a quick scan around the bear and sure enough it had cubs. So they went on their way for another day in a few years. Good experience.

Good on you overcoming the drive and waiting to see cubs.