Cougar hit, any way I can have it?

[aer212]

On my way home Saturday at 12:15 am I was cruising down the road and I saw a rabbit hop across the road. Didn't think much of it but then about 15-20 yards further I saw a cougar crossing the center line in the road into my lane. I swerved to the right and had just enough time to think WOW, I barely missed it when I felt a jolt. I drive a mega cab dodge and it had run into the mega cab door and scraped along till it hit the fender flare and tore it off. Not sure if the tire ran it over or not but anyway I stopped and turned around and went to look at it. It was dead and bloody, ended up on the white line on the right side of the road. My brother and I looked at it for a while then since there was no cell service, I stayed there and he went back till he had service and called 911. They said ok we'll notify fish and game and took down his name and number. Then we headed out. My question is how do I go about getting ahold of the cat? Can I call fish and game and ask them if I can have it? Will they even pick it up? I sent them an email and am waiting for a reply. I have pictures also if anyone wants to tell me how to post them.

[Houndhunter]

pretty sure if its in season and you got a tag you can take it, but you gotaa notch your tag

[Bob33]

"4. Wildlife Found Dead:
You may remove and dispose of wildlife found
dead on your property or an adjoining public
roadway, but you must first notify WDFW. Dead
wildlife can only be removed for disposal, not for
personal use or consumption.
(WAC 246.203.121)"

[Axle]

My question is how do I go about getting ahold of the cat?

Lay hands on it - don't pray for it to come back to life - throw it in the back of your truck - take it home - skin it - put tag on it.

You may be unorthodoxed in your method, but you got yourself a cat dude!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Houndhunter]

its legal to throw a tag on deer hit by a car so im pretty sure itd be ok with a lion

[rainshadow1]

Call F&W via the local state patrol and keep pushing buttons until you get a live person who will take a call back request. Get in touch with the Game warden who responded/took the report and ask. Tell them you're willing to tag it.

[aer212]

Thanks, someone is going to post some pics soon. It was about 15-20 miles south of Toppenish in Yakima indian reservation. Will that make any difference? Also does anyone know which department responds here? Or a phone number to contact them?

[markts]

Nice cat. Here they are.Mark

[rougheye]

Nice kitty , hope you can find away to keep it 

[tony04]

if you left it there in plain view id say its gone by now.

[shoot-em-dead]

Sorry dude you can not keep it. My cousin hit one two years ago and called WDFW. They made him bring it down so they could look at it. They did a very good job of looking all over the cat and finally my cousin asked what they were looking for. They said bullet holes. After they said that throughout the state about two cats are killed by cars per year. The rest have bullet holes plus tire tracks and arrests are made. They would not let him keep the cat as it is illegal to remove wildlife from a public roadway.

[Bob33]

Officer, my poor little kitty Zoe just got run over.  I know she looks large, but we recently put her on a diet.  She's just a big fluffy love ball.  My wife and little daughter haven't stopped crying.  Please let me take her home so we can bury her and have some closure.

[img width= height= alt=]http://hunting-washington.com/smf/MGalleryItem.php?id=9166[/img]

[Basket Rack]

I saw one ran over this past christmas morning on I-5, just south of Kalama about a mile south of where the old Madill shop is.  Just a small cat maybe 50 pounds. Definitely not something you see everyday.

[boneaddict]

If you wanted it, you should have thrown it in the back and did as mentioned above.  By trying to follow the law, I'm sure you lost it, ESPECIALLY since it was on reservation.  I see know way to legally obtain it. 

[Mudeater]

Wow, kind of strange that a site so full of law abiding citizens would advise a guy to break the law so quickly. Just so you know if you take it, you have broken the law. Sounds like there may be more than a few poachers on this site, they use that same method, run em over, throw em in the back of the rig. Ah what the hell, as long as your not an Indian poacher, its cool.