Idaho Cougar Bait (Watch your Back) Pic Heavy

[Bearhunter]

The Adrenaline rush that you get after being stalked and hunted within a leaping distance from one of the top Predators in the wild, is undescribable even after it happens.  Heres what happened to me while chasing elk in the wild of Idaho during the 2009 September archery season...…..


   My hunting Partner Richard (DIC) Teply and I got up early as usually, ate a quick breakfast and where on the road to a predetermined location were we planned on spending the day elk hunting.  Morning came and gone without any close encounters, so we moved into a favorite area of ours for the afternoon hunt.  After about a 30 minute hike into an area that the elk love to hang in during the rut, we took a stand.  We checked the wind put up the Montana cow elk decoy got Dic the shooter down wind of me and the decoy and I started the 45 to 60 minute cow calling sequence that we like to do to intice rut crazed bulls within bow range.
   The morning thermals were steady perfect for the setup.  A very nice sounding bull fired off about 5 minutes into the calling sequence, so I keep at it.  Over the next 20 to 30minutes the bull keep responding but was not advancing in on us.  I was about to call it quits a little early and head in on the bugling bull.  Then I thought about what happens so many times how as soon as you standup all you see is ass and horns running away being usually a satelite or raghorn bull that was kicked out of the heard and looking for lone cows.  So I keep at it, about 30minutes into it a, Timber tiger (chimpmunk) starts chirping away.  I didn’t think to much of it because normally the bulls don’t come in from up wind.  I check behind me a couple times, but there was never nothing there.  I continued calling for about another ten minutes and that is when a strange uncomfortable sensation hit me…….

   You can say that I am now a beiliever in the sixth sense or the god lord watching over my shoulder which ever it may be.  The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and I vividly remember and will never forget the thought that came threw my head, something told me to turnaround and look behind you with great detail.  The next few seconds after turning and focusing in on a spot behind me were in slow motion like right before a car wreck or near death experience.  I was now looking into the eyes of a Big wild blood thirsty Tom cougar at a mear 15yards aways haunched and ready to spring for an attack.  I had to take a double take, yup sure enough he was there heart pounding and all.  


In one swift yet smooth motion I rotated around and drew my bow.  I remember thinking this cat is either gonna fight or flight, so I needed to get an arrow in him and quick.  The pin settled in my trigger finger found its home the squeeze began and all I seen and heard was a snap and whack, I had just successfully lodged my arrow in a tree after hitting some brush upon arrow flight.  The Cat didn’t flinch he just keep staring me down with those piercing eyes.  Withing 5 seconds I had another arrow knocked drawn and settled in on the cat and already on its way.  This time the arrow made it threw the brush and with the cat quartering towards me it hit a little further back than I would have wanted.  He cartwheeled into the air and was up over the small ridge and out of sight in a mere flash.


I sat there motion less recaping what had just happened, the shakes soon came on along with the holy *censored*s, I couldnt beilieve it.  Dic hollars from down below me, what did you Shoot?  I tell him a cougar, and Im pretty sure he was a big Tom.  Dic couldn’t believe it either.  We talked and recaped about what had just happened took a couple pictures and then hit the blood trail.
 
Blood was hard to find at first but once we found it the tracking was easy.   We followed for around 300 yards and came to a spot were we had jumped him out of a bed in the ferns.  By now it was getting close to dark and we made the decision to come back first thing in the morning.  It was a restless night to say the least especially after such a adrenaline pumping experience.

Morning finally came and we were headed back out to go find the cat.  We brought Dics German Short haired pointer (Max) along to help us out on the bloodtrail if needed.  Off into the thick brush we go looking for a cat that we hope is by now dead.  I continued on down the old grade were we left off at.  Max had different plans and drags Dic up the hill into the thick brush by his leash.  Shortly there after Dic hollars out found him, and the hooting a hollering and celebrating begins!  Good old Maxy found the cat within about a minute of looking.


When I first put my hands on the big boy I was a little surprised to find that he still had a lot of body heat and he hadn’t rigged up yet.  Unbelieveable to think back to the night before and relize we were about 20 yards from him and he was still alive.  I would estimate that he had only been dead 1 to 2 hours prior to use finding him.  He had laid there all night pulled the arrow out bit it in half and finally died a slow death.  My respect goes to ONE TOUGH ELK KILLING CAT.  Estimated weight around 130lbs.






On this trip I was also fortunate enough to harvest my bull elk after a very exciting rut crazed hunt.  We were working a big bull, when this 5x3 Raghorn had enough and came charging in to take us the “cows” away.  With Dics expert calling it was enough to bring this guy in to about 12 yards and I put the arrow were it needed to be.  One big crash, a 40 yard blood trail, a round of high fives and the work began.  We had a 1.5 mile pack out, and my full respect goes to my Elk hunting partner Richard Teply.  Dic is 71years old and was by my side every step of the way packing meat.  He is as hardcore of an Elk hunter as they come!





   
On a side note:  We found a dead calf elk within about 10 yards of were the cat crossed an old grade during his dieing flee.  We also found a pile of old bones in his bedding area, it looked like he had been killing elk in that immediate area for the last year or two.  Last year in this same area I had an encounter with a low profile animal tearing off threw the brush.  I was only able to catch a glimpse of movement and was unable to identify the critter, but Ive got a sneaking hunch it was this old boy!!!


Once I fill my late season blacktail tag I will put my 4 state hunting quest photo/story essay together for you guys.  Its been a dam good season but a long one for my wife and kids........

[Caseyd]

Nice job.

I probably would of crapped myself after the thought of the cat about having you for dinner.

[Special T]

Atta boy! We look forward to hearing about the rest of your adventure!

[Pathfinder101]

Holy cow!  Great pics and great story!  Congrats...on surviving

[runamuk]

Awesome story... great pics...and wow....congrats

[Alan K]

Great story and pictures, I enjoyed the read!  I've always watched my back when still hunting, never going more than a few minutes without checking.  I dread the day I turn around and one of those cats is sitting there!

[Small_Savage]

Holy Crap!  That cat weighs more than I do!

[carpsniperg2]

wow that is some great photos and the cats i have been around have been around 120-130 that cat is bigger i would put him in the 150lb range wow great lookin cat and elk congrats

[Kain]

Gotta listen to that sixth sense while in the woods.  I am a firm believer although I have never seen anything to back it up.  Great story and very nice cat and bull.

[HunterJim]

Sweeeeet!  Very nice story and pics.  Gotta love the dog too!  Looks the same as my old Suzy-Q who died of cancer about 4 years ago.

[lewy]

Wow! I would say that cat is bigger than you think as well......

[Bronson]

sa-weeeeet!  Nice story and pics.  congrats....on both staying alive and getting an elk and cat! 

[Emptyhanded]

Hell of a story man! Congrats!

[shoot-em-dead]

What a story and I cant wait till you post the next one. I know that sixth sense feeling. I got it once so I looked in the direction my gut told me. Looked everywhere for about 5 min and nothing. Then I walked about ten feet and got it again. I turned and watched again for another 5 min. I decided to get out of there so I turned to go up the hill back to the truck and something took off downhill. I never did see it.

[MichaelJ]

Awesome job!!!!  Definitely jealous you've had a helluva season thats for sure!

Michael

[Hillbilly270]

i would of  my pants for sure on that one.  How tall are you for perspective?  that is a damn nice cat....nice elk too.  congrats, and congrats for not shatting yourself.   

[JackOfAllTrades]

You can say that I am now a beiliever in the sixth sense or the god lord watching over my shoulder which ever it may be.  The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and I vividly remember and will never forget the thought that came threw my head, something told me to turnaround and look behind you with great detail.

OK, call me scaredy cat in the back country if you want. But I've had that feeling before. Didn't have quite the same outcome as you have. I've turned around to hear something leave in a hurry. I've turned around and seen nothing. Sure had the feeling that something was there though.

I'm glad you turned around. Sounds like a great hunting season you've had. Glad you're still here to tell your story.

-Steve

[KillerMiller]

That is awesome!

[RockChuck]

That is an erie feeling, I have had it before turned around and the cat took off  (about 30 yards) also when I was about 10 or 11 I awoke to cat track 10 feet from where I was sleeping!! it had been following me around for a few days.

[Bearhunter]

Thanks for all the great comments guys.  I cant wait to get the mount done, still undecided in how Im going to have it positioned.

[Forrestrover]

Wow. That's a scary story. Seems like there are a lot of cats running around this year.

[hornhunter]

Dude Ive been waiting for this story   .  When you posted the pics in September I wanted to here that story.  I even PMed you for the story.  But, now I finally hear it! great job!  dont you have a little hunt planned this January? as well?

[Bearhunter]

Sorry hornhunter, after I got back I worked almost 30 days staight then left for Wyoming and Montana for 22 days and finally just had time to get a good write up down.  Your other guestion yes I drew out for a OIL New Mexico Oryx tag on the White Sands Missle base, Rhodes Canyon unit cant wait for that hunt!  Sorry for the delay. 

[hornhunter]

no sweat....AWESOME story!  worth the wait!  Good luck on the late BT and the Oryx hunt!  Your 09 taxidermy bill is gonna be steep 

[bowhunterforever]

  Thats a awsome story and kills,Congrats!

[bearpaw]

Great story and great cat...congrats

[mkcj]

What a great story glad your OK and you took him out! This same situation happened to a Friend of mine up around Liberty heard a sound behind him turned to see the cat coming at him shot from the hip hitting the cat it jumped and spun like you said he was so shaken he didn't go look for the cat until the next day with a buddy again like yours found it dead a short distance away.

[Aneoakleaf]

  That way they stair at you like you're dead... scared me before too, I know how you felt! Kicked me into survival mode and I got me a cougar too!
Congratulations! That cat looks like a good 170 lbs to me.
Yeah for the dog. Great story and pictures too! HAng on to that huntin partner!
Nice Bull too, looking forward to your next story!

[fishm@n]

I shot a coug at 15 feet several years ago. It wasn't stalking me but I came face to face with it in its brush pile den. There was no way I was turning my back on that critter. I was amazed at the claws but more at how muscular they are.. they also taste pretty darned good after you get over the fact that you're eating cat! A 30.06 at close range makes a mess of their head let me tell you.

I find myself looking over my shoulder a lot while hunting nowadays!

[saylean]

Its a sinking feeling seeing those things on the ground all hunched up lookin at ya aint it!

Congrats man, a great couple animals!

[tip]

damn!  Thanks for sharing.   By the way, do you work at Wilderness Archery? 

[Wea300mag]

Great recap James, love the pics.

[h2ofowlr]

Sounds like a good time.   

[Special T]

you might have seen him at wilderness, but he doesn't work there..

[Alaska316]

WOW, what a great story. Felt like I was reading an outdoor magazine. Thanks for sharing.

[Bearhunter]

tip,  I dont work at wilderness but used to be a shop shooter for the shop.  Lately I dont have much time to shot a lot so Ive been kind of out of the loop there.

[tip]

Oh okay, I recognized you from the tons of photos posted up on the wall there.

[willapawapiti]

What a story for your grandkids someday!  Congratulations man!

[Sneekee23]

That is one big kitty kitty!  And a nice bull to top it off!  Thank you for sharing your story bud.

[Ranger91298]

Great story, glad everything went so well for you... I have had that feeling when the hair on the back of your neck stands up. I turned around to hearing something take off through the woods but never seeing what it was....

[Bearhunter]

Thanks guys!  Cant wait to get him up on the wall!

[SGM R]

I'm a true believer of the 6th sense...great cat and beautiful elk. Congrats!

[1bowhunter1]

  :oThought about that many times.... :yike:nothing fun about that

[1bowhunter1]

Had that 6th sence last year in the Back part of 160acre property...CREEPY!!  I didnt wait around to be Din-Din.  Found the Scratch post this year!  6th Sence

[markts]

Congrats on your cat and bull. That is no 120lb cat-170 plus would be my guess. Mark

[Titan-1]

Awesome story!!! Good job keeping your composure enough to take that cat down before he took you down.

[Clumber]

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

See, this is exactly why I insist on getting a cougar and bear tag with my deer, though I don't plan to hunt them.  If I have to shoot one, I am keeping the SOB, *censored*.  That thing is probably nearly 2x my height...

How on earth did you keep enough composure to A. Shoot & B. reload and shoot again?  I CCW when in the woods and I suspect I might have just grabbed for that instead....   Though @ 15 yds would probably be more deadly with the bow, I cannot say I would be that composed at all.  Hell, I wanted to back away slowly just reading about it....

I am going to save your story (and pics) so when i next buy my tags and the Household CFO grumbles about those 2 add-ons I can make my point more clearly.

If you get it mounted, please share the photos?  THX

~ tracy

[Bearhunter]

Cool thing about Idaho is you can put your deer or Elk tag on a Bear or Cougar!