Cougar hunting by Mulehunter

[mulehunter]

   went first area scout for hour half, load trailer went other side of mt. And saw three houndmen trucks parked at 2 nd area i plann to go check. They found a fresh cut. Appox 110 to 120 tom. So we turn back to truck bec two other houndmen went up already scouting. So i end up spend two full tanks of gas snowmobile at four canyons. Completely quiet and not much moving animals. Went to cougar where mother cougar made a kill deer, walking all around the site area. No luck.  So i give up at 3 pm.
Dang. If houndmen weren't there at 2 nd area. I could have caught one but lucky them to chase today.

zero for me today.

Mulehunter.   

[boneaddict]

You still had a better day than I did.  Sorry I didn't make it up. 

[mulehunter]

Bone, u wont believe what happen this morning. The reason i didnt post about what happen. When two guys cut cat and i got there. They have no dogs with them.  But They are workig for fish/ game tracking cats. They arent supposed to tag cats if houndmen is around. And They left dogs in truck 3 miles and i have dogs with me.  And we had a awfully war. Trust me.  So i left.  So recently evening local gamewarden talked to us because they complaint to them about me and explained what happen. So i lost my oppourity to chase which i am 100 percent legal. And they lost their temper. Wow.  Gamewarden think they must to come apologize to me. But too late now.  So i left them alone and left to other cy and wasted my whole day. I don't want any problem with those people. I applied five years for this permit and they get paid and yell at me. Pissed me off way off.  It makes my day mood down.

Mulehunter.   

[MuleySniper]

Bummer Mulehunter! Some of those gamies can be a-holes when they don't need to be. You'll get your cat!
MS

[ribka]

Bone, u wont believe what happen this morning. The reason i didnt post about what happen. When two guys cut cat and i got there. They have no dogs with them.  But They are workig for fish/ game tracking cats. They arent supposed to tag cats if houndmen is around. And They left dogs in truck 3 miles and i have dogs with me.  And we had a awfully war. Trust me.  So i left.  So recently evening local gamewarden talked to us because they complaint to them about me and explained what happen. So i lost my oppourity to chase which i am 100 percent legal. And they lost their temper. Wow.  Gamewarden think they must to come apologize to me. But too late now.  So i left them alone and left to other cy and wasted my whole day. I don't want any problem with those people. I applied five years for this permit and they get paid and yell at me. Pissed me off way off.  It makes my day mood down.

Mulehunter.   

That's too bad. You deserve an apology from them. I wonder why they canot wait until season is over. These tags are really hard to come by!

[mulehunter]

They all aren't bad. Just bad morning with angry two officers.  Okanagon county give out 17 permits to kill as WDFW please us as houndmen willing spend our money as possible to kill. And biologlist not supposed to protect this cat from houndmen.

Its too late now. I spend two full tanks after i left from biologlists for nothing.

Mulehunter.   

[Machias]

 

[denali]

That Blows   

have enjoyed your write up and pics, too bad it ended the way it did.

[boneaddict]

SOB.  Probably a good thing I wasn't there.  Might have saved me time in the county lockup.   I'd have been pissed.  THey are  supposed to wait until Quota is met.   THAT REALLY pisses me off.   Many of them monitor this site so I hope they KNOW how wrong they were.  Then to take advantag of you.   

[mulehunter]

   very heavy snow. I was up deep deep snow spend whole day up high mountain. Thank lord I made it out right before dark.

Mulehunter.   

[boneaddict]

Its nasty here.  Can't imagine up there.  Glad you made it out.   Safe travels tomorrow.  Looks like sled work from here on out.

[mulehunter]

At least I treed today.  My legs are dying.  Heading home.

Mulehunter.   

[carpsniperg2]

Bum deal! sorry to hear about it.

[mulehunter]

Thank lord, I made it home safe.  Worst Road I ever drive.  No one plowing anywhere from Hunting to I-90 finally start better. Geez..

Here my story....

Left Wedensday evening arrival there and leave everything at Family Ranch and I went out scouting on Snowmobile search whole two BIG Canyons Midnight to learn how old trax and if snow inside trax or if I found one and come back in the morning, Trying to see where I can start because I wasnt there for few days and need to keep tracking with all snow Condition.

Finally I Cut a Big Tom trax  So I washed the snow so I will know if he came back or not. I  believe TOM Cougar NEVER come back same Trax or stay around. But Tom Cougar usually Travel FAR FAR away walking walking never stay same area and it has snow inside. Dang but He is somewhere going this way over mountain! so I went back and went bed. Next morning Thursday, I look at Map give me a IDEA where He possible heading to and went up same place if can find his cut somewhere. First I went back same place where I cut spend almost 15 Miles search around Canyon and load trailer Head to other side of mountain and snowmobile whole mountain 10 miles no luck head back load trailer and go other side around the mountain and unload  drive up 8 miles no luck. So I believe Tom Cougar still inside this mountain hasnt outline cut yet where I spend 32 miles on roads. So I went other side of Valley and spend 4 miles Finally Cut a Female Cougar before Noon. Not interested because it has two" snow inside Trax. I hasnt checked this area day before. I only went two big Canyons. I should have checked 3rd but I need rest.

So I skip and head other Canyon and drive up almost 5 miles finally Cut very old trax. at NOON so I went back to truck and load sled trailer and threw hounds in trailer, Haul UP and released. at 12 45 Geez.. Not smart way to do.

hounds working way way way UP over hill and bad signal. I am by myself and spend whole my time trying to find better signal on my hounds. Finally give me better idea and went down to truck and look at map give me better idea where possible local my dogs. I went for 15 miles circle around over side of mountain and picked up signal 2.6 miles where I am so I find a road. Unload and drive all way parked and hike 1.5 miles Got better Signal and TREED Signal so I Hike hike up and up and up.. at about 300 yds I am getting close to Treed spot and It stopped treeing and Gps show Hounds running. I believe Cougar jumped. So I wait for few min and Retreed 400 yds East So I walk toward to 2nd Retreed. I got VERY CLOSE to them at about 150 yds walking very quiet and Cougar was about 15 feet high from ground. She saw me all sudden JUMP off!  

Cougar Ran stright thur her Deer Kill site. I saw a BIG BUCK    What a CLEVER CAT!  She try to get my dogs LOST but My dogs arent dumb!  

she ran up 300 yds up hill and retreed FINALLY took few pictures of Cougar kill a Deer. I know there is Kitten somewhere but It getting dark soon and I have LONG way to get dogs OUT of mountain.  Finally I got there and LEASHED my dogs and took pics of Mother of Cougar and I abort and drag my dogs OUT of Wolves Country RIGHT BEFORE DARK!

Cheers...

Mulehunter  

[Pathfinder101]

Very cool Mule!  More pics?