Nov- 10th... I was in the NW corner driving around in the snow in some old growth clear cuts. My main plan was to find some fresh tracks to get out on and see if i could make something move. Well i ran out of road at this old skid trail and decided to hike in and try my hand at a little pre rut rattling.... So i proceeded to hike about 2 miles through some scattered timber and thick creek bottoms... I ended up in a 500 yrd by 500 yrd 2nd year clear cut with some nice scrapes and such surounding... I called and called; scrapping and scratching, grunting and clanking.... After a good 2 hours of nothing (not even a tweety bird) my hind parts were frozen solid... No later then i got up to strech i looked over and spotted a flash heading like he** twords the creek bottom; it stopped right at the edge of the timber and looked back at me, not a buck like i had in the back of my mind; no it was a cougar... I headed down to the creek edge to cut his track and to my suprise the tracks were as big as softballs... While i was investigating the tracks i failed to notice the buck standing on the hilltop about 150 yds above me... I quickly turned, judged, and fired my rem 700 7mm... The shot rolled him... Its times like these that really make me rethink how i hunt, and to always make sure i have my back to something when im calling... I guess im lucky it was a cougar and not a pack of wolves,,, Anyway the hunt was successful and the backstap i sampled already was amazing!!!
