Tracking Cats

[archery288]

Do you think it is possible to catch a fresh track in the snow and track down the cat and tree it - on foot? 

Or has anyone tracked down cats without dogs or been successful without the use of hounds?

[Craig]

I know a guy that cut some fresh tracks and followed them for a while then set up and called it in and shot it.

[rainshadow1]

Read Lloyd Bebe's book, find it on the Olympic Game Farm website. He was one of the best Cougar hunters ever, back in the days of the bounties. He mostly used dogs. Since then, during and after all the disney stuff he did, he's spent days at a time in the mountains following cougars, just to observe them. He never says how long it took to catch up to them, but he's done it several times.  He's an old man now, and hasn't hunted for many years to my knowledge, but I still consider him one of the best Cougar men in history. Easy, no. For him maybe, he's killed hundreds, and tamed and trained dozens. But even for a guy who doesn't know Cougars like pets, it can be done.

[Cougeyes]

I know to guys that did it once, followed the tracks out not more that 400 yards and they stopped at the base of a tree, looked up and there was the cat, it was a young one though.

[boneaddict]

I've tracked down several.  One I treed and couldn't see it in a mistletoe broom.  One I treed three kittens and went after mom.  One I put a 30-30 slug into on the run and I couldn't follow the blood trail because it went into a bunch of cliffrock in deep snow and it was just plain suicide to follow.  This was after I walked underneath it three times trying to sort out its tracks.  It dropped out of the tree behind me a mere second after I figured out she was in the tree above me.

[archery288]

well it sounds like it can be done! And I don't know if I want a cat jumpin out of a tree at me!! haha guess I will have to give it a try!

[boneaddict]

You have to be in incredible shape if there is much snow on the ground.

[Cougeyes]

Or it will eventually put you in incredible shape, but I agree it'll wear you out really fast if you're not in that great of shape to begin with.

[billythekidrock]

Saw some bob tracks this morning. They were from yesterday and right next to them were human tracks. Some one was on them already.

[archery288]

the being in shape part is the least of my worries! haha I work out daily and run as well - I live for hunting! I can't wait to get out next week and see if I can come up with one!

[Houndhunter]

i think runnin a cat can be done if the trial is hot, them things got no lungs

[Rufous]

I have tracked one down through a couple canyons and over a couple ridges and finally saw it 400 yards away and was able to make a killing shot. It was indeed a workout. Rufous.

[boneaddict]

 :chuckle:You are right about the lungs if you have hounds.  They don't come into play whatsoever when tracking one.  There is no way you can push them hard enough on two legs to tire them out. 

[archery288]

yeah I would agree with this statement! I don't think I could run fast enough in a foot or two of snow to run one of them down and out of breath! I would be the one out of breath first! haha And besides that, on a dead run through the snow, no way would my eyes work quick enough to follow the tracks!

[Houndhunter]

well from what ive seen though, if your right on there tail they'll tree pretty quick, they dont like to run far when somethins close to them. so say you cross really fresh tracks i think you'd have a chance at treeing it, but i dont know i've never thought of running after a lion before