Cougar...

[Squag]

Greetings,

I am new to the forum and want to say "thanks" to all of the great information that I have gleaned from all of the discussions. Additionally, I wanted to share a little bit about a recent foray into hunting bear.

So, there I was cruising the forest in my truck when I decided to get out and walk to get a better view of a clearing with the intention of trying to call in a bear. I had recently purchased a predator call that produces a squalling dying rabbit sound. I did some research and gained a basic understanding of how to use it. Last week I used it for a while and called in a doe that was apparently curious, which gave me some motivation to use it again later.

Anyway, as I walked down the overgrown spur road I jumped a doe, which bounded into the woods. I playfully gave it a few squalls from the predator call as it bounded away. I squalled some more to see if it would react at all , but of course it didn't. So, I kept walking and noticed some white furry poo and wondered "what was that from?" and kept going.

As I continued along the road it gently swept to the left. I rounded the corner and to my surprise observed a cougar striding directly toward me about 50 - 75 feet away . Lot's of thoughts went through my mind in a very short time. Such as "it's a little to close to yell out 'hey cat!' or 'go away kitty!' I also thought "It's head looks really big." So, not wanting to become food, I cracked off a round just above its head (it's not cougar season yet), which caused it to jump into the woods. "Whew" I though, "that was close."

I heard about 1 stick break as it apparently took off. I was going to mark off exactly how far away it was and took about 9 steps toward that aim, but heard a chipmunk chirping right were the cat went in. So, I thought the cat might still be in the area (as in right there in the brush waiting for me) and I was still a little disconcerted with the close encounter. So, after a couple of minutes I decided to call it a tie and head back to the truck and go somewhere else.

So, I turned around to walk back to the truck and guess who was behind me? That's right, the cat. "Really?!" I thought. "You have got to be kidding me." It had came out right where I squalled on the predator call. It meandered around with its swooshing tail looking for the rabbit. It went into the woods, then back again, then into the woods. So, now I wasn't sure what to do. I could walk down the road (away from the cat and the truck) and climb the mountain and circle back to the truck by road. But, the cat would obviously hear me and was very fast, apparently hungry, and unafraid of being shot at.

After pondering my options for a few minutes, I decided to walk back to the truck "on point." I was incapable of being quiet with the rock, sticks, and leaves. So, I just sort of creep walked toward the truck, passing the last point that I saw the cat, and eventually wound up at the truck safely .

I learned a couple of lessons. First, predator calls apparently work. Second, they are not to be played with! After returning home I did some research and discovered that I had likely walked into a cougar hunting ground. There was deer sign everywhere, and that white furry scat? I found a picture on the 'net and discovered that it was indeed cougar scat that held a lot of deer fur. Heh..heh...

Squag

[Kain]

Cool story.  Yep we have LOTS of cougars here.  It might not have been the same one either.  Siblings and mothers will travel together for quite awhile before going off on their own.  Mating pairs may hang out together for a few days also.  The more you call the more you crave that feeling.  It is very addicting but dont expect a lion encounter every time or you will be pretty disappointed.

THe first coyote, bobcat, bear or cougar just makes you want to keep doing it even more.  It's a sickness. 

[bucklucky]

Nice story! Goto love them big cats!

[woodman]

Here is one that snuck up on me within 30'. It was coming directly at me. I have a book on cougars that says if you have to shoot to scare one away, you need to shoot it because they are not that afraid of the gun sound.

[dfresh96]

cool story, glad to hear your call works

[one-eyed Ross]

The guy who bought the 20 acre clear cut next to me tried to take pot shots at one with a .410 loaded with 7 shot....the cat started towards him.  He had to back down the easement to get out (220 yards or so)...

After he told me about the encounter, we had a long discussion about proper firearm selection....

[ICEMAN]

Squag, great story.

Woodman, I missed your story on that cat....did you post it somewhere on the site?

[woodman]

Squag, great story.

Woodman, I missed your story on that cat....did you post it somewhere on the site?

I have not posted the story, I will tell you that it was an interesting day. I was deer hunting and it got to be midday and quite warm. I settled in next to a stump overlooking a bowl that I thought looked good for deer. Since I had hiked a lot earlier and it was getting warm, when I leaned against that stump it did not take long and I fell asleep. I was woke up by some chimpmucks making a lot of noise near me. I stood up a heard something close to me, I was hoping maybe it was a buck. This thing appeared and was coming straight towards me at about 30'. My first thought was, now I know why they call you mountain lion because I had never seen one so big, then my next thought was that it is you not me buddy. That is when I pulled the trigger and put him down. I really wonder if my snoring was what drew him to me. He had a swollen jaw on one side, as if he had an impacted tooth. I will never know because the taxidermist threw the skull away. My wife tells me that it just took one look at me and thought that it could take me for an easy meal. If you notice, it has a collar on it. The guy that collared it for the state contacted me and said he put it on at Blewitt Pass, I shot it at Kapowsin tree farm, I was surprised that it traveled so far. One last thing, I believe that all animals that don't have antlers should have collars because it makes the drag easier.

[logger]

Nice cat woodman, look's to be the river gate, I have seen several cats in the tree farm, but to come all the way from blewit pass that's a haul and a half. I seen a huge cougar out of glennwood last week, stopped in the middle of the road and just stared at me. That is best look I have ever had at a cougar in the wild, his head was as big as a five gallon bucket.

[woodman]

Nice cat woodman, look's to be the river gate, I have seen several cats in the tree farm, but to come all the way from blewit pass that's a haul and a half. I seen a huge cougar out of glennwood last week, stopped in the middle of the road and just stared at me. That is best look I have ever had at a cougar in the wild, his head was as big as a five gallon bucket.

You are right, it is at the Bridge Gate. Quite impressive when you get a good look at a big one aren't they? They tell you to fight one off if they attack, that would be a losing fight for me I am sure without a weapon. I never hike without one

[rasbo]

Nice cat woodman, look's to be the river gate, I have seen several cats in the tree farm, but to come all the way from blewit pass that's a haul and a half. I seen a huge cougar out of glennwood last week, stopped in the middle of the road and just stared at me. That is best look I have ever had at a cougar in the wild, his head was as big as a five gallon bucket.

You are right, it is at the Bridge Gate. Quite impressive when you get a good look at a big one aren't they? They tell you to fight one off if they attack, that would be a losing fight for me I am sure without a weapon. I never hike without one

that new therma cell will keep them off ya Joe