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Poll

Have you seen a cougar while hunting?

Yes, Not Killed-no shot opportunity
52 (40%)
Yes, killed it
6 (4.6%)
No, didnt have a tag
6 (4.6%)
No, have never seen a cougar while out hunting.
48 (36.9%)
Both, have seen multiple AND killed 1+  while also not killing some
18 (13.8%)

Total Members Voted: 130

Voting closed: November 28, 2023, 05:29:06 AM

Author Topic: Cougar sighting poll  (Read 5102 times)

Offline MAVsled

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Re: Cougar sighting poll
« Reply #15 on: November 21, 2023, 02:34:42 PM »
1968 through 1989, it was rare to spot a cougar. Only saw one cougar during that time.

...not anymore...
Fresh elk tracks abounded and yes, cat tracks in snow. Sometimes following the elk tracks.
Eastern elk season 2023, saw momma & 2 yearlings run across the logging road in the headlights.
On day 3, saw a young looking mtn lion up on the rockslide's edge, 200 yards away.

Day 5, came within 90' of a Huge tom cat as I crested a knob hill. It saw me about same time I saw him, bounded off and gone in 2 jumps. Had some big cajónes back there between the rear legs.

2024 will find me with a cougar tag in pocket. There're just too many cats, have to do something.
I hear, read that mtn lion meat is great table fare, so justifies taking in my book.

Offline wadu1

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Re: Cougar sighting poll
« Reply #16 on: November 21, 2023, 02:51:59 PM »
I've seen 7 or 8 on Vancouver Island while hunting bear/deer. Two near Swan Lake south of Republic. One in Covington crossed the road going into a subdivision. Saw one get whacked by a car on Tiger Mountain. 
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Offline doubletall

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Re: Cougar sighting poll
« Reply #17 on: November 27, 2023, 11:07:16 AM »
I've only seen one other than game cam pictures on my property.  It was during modern deer this year.  I'd been sitting on a log for about a half hour.  When I stood up to move on I looked behind me and there was a cougar staring at me about 25 yards away.  I have a tag but by the time I got the gun up he was gone.

Offline CackleBird98

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Re: Cougar sighting poll
« Reply #18 on: November 27, 2023, 12:45:22 PM »
Have seen 4.  1 pair of yearlings while tagging along on a buddies muzzy deer hunt, 400 yards, but we didnt have a rifle on hand.  1 ran across the road in front of me while out scouting a couple years back, and last year, opener of rifle elk, i smacked one at about 150 yards, but could never find it.  Been considering going up a few times this winter specifically to look for one.  Would be awesome to get one

Offline dilleytech

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Re: Cougar sighting poll
« Reply #19 on: November 29, 2023, 01:27:22 PM »
I missed the poll but also seen multiple and killed 2

Offline Sir5Lboy

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Re: Cougar sighting poll
« Reply #20 on: November 29, 2023, 01:30:10 PM »
Had a female and two kittens at the base of me tree stand opening morning


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Offline fly-by

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Re: Cougar sighting poll
« Reply #21 on: November 29, 2023, 01:57:49 PM »
Missed the poll.  First one I saw was September 2015, the cat in my avatar.  Since that time I've seen 9 more on 5 separate occasions and have kept decent notes.  2 sightings involved a pair of juveniles, one was a female and 2 juveniles.  A couple seen while driving, two while on foot grouse hunting. In 2012 I was followed while x-c skiing but only saw the tracks on my way back down the hill.
« Last Edit: November 29, 2023, 02:19:43 PM by fly-by »

Offline bigmacc

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Re: Cougar sighting poll
« Reply #22 on: November 29, 2023, 02:55:36 PM »
Missed the poll.  First one I saw was September 2015, the cat in my avatar.  Since that time I've seen 9 more on 5 separate occasions and have kept decent notes.  2 sightings involved a pair of juveniles, one was a female and 2 juveniles.  A couple seen while driving, two while on foot grouse hunting. In 2012 I was followed while x-c skiing but only saw the tracks on my way back down the hill.
Yep, we have a cougar problem in this state and it’s only been getting worse since the 90,s. Depending on what part of the state your in, it varies regarding impact on herds. The correlation of growing predator numbers and the deflation of the country’s largest migrating mule deer herd (Methow herd, pre 90,s) is not a coincidence. My opinion.

Offline NOCK NOCK

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Re: Cougar sighting poll
« Reply #23 on: November 29, 2023, 02:57:50 PM »
Crazy how many some have seen.
I spend ALOT of time in the hills and in the last 40 years have only seen 2. What’s ur secret?
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Offline pickardjw

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Re: Cougar sighting poll
« Reply #24 on: November 29, 2023, 03:03:00 PM »
I'd love to get on one this winter. Planning on a couple dedicated trips at least but not sure if I'm in high density areas.

Did see 4-5 bobcat kittens near Colville a few years back.

Offline ducks4days

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Re: Cougar sighting poll
« Reply #25 on: November 29, 2023, 03:04:45 PM »
I got stalked by one while turkey hunting near the Klickitat river

Called one in while bear hunting in August

Only seen one while it was legal to shoot, and it was gone in a few seconds
What country can preserve it's liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon & pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants.

Offline Griiz

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Re: Cougar sighting poll
« Reply #26 on: November 29, 2023, 03:07:16 PM »
I saw one in the 90s, shot one with a muzzleloader in early 2000s and have see a couple since then. Have seen them on both sides of the state.

Offline bigmacc

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Re: Cougar sighting poll
« Reply #27 on: November 30, 2023, 11:57:45 AM »
I just talked with a buddy who spent Thanksgiving with his in-laws over in the Methow, Thanks giving morning while bringing wood in from the woodshed something caught his eye, he turned and looked to see 2 cougars about 40 yards away looking at him over the top of a water trough! By the time he got to a rifle(in the house) both were gone. Happened up Rendezvous.

Offline bigmacc

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Re: Cougar sighting poll
« Reply #28 on: November 30, 2023, 12:01:48 PM »
Crazy how many some have seen.
I spend ALOT of time in the hills and in the last 40 years have only seen 2. What’s ur secret?
I don’t know where fly-by is seeing all of them but there’s no shortage of them in the Methow.

 


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