Cougar hunting by Mulehunter

[carpsniperg2]

Man those are some cool pics! Thanks so much for sharing!

[mulehunter]

Head back to 2nd Cut and try put Dogs on Deer Heavy Traffic where Cats following Deer Trails.

They seem not picking up. I went down there 1000 yds and found them stuck at little Cliff where Cougar jump over 5 feet steep Hill that way hounds cant reach over top and I help them lift all three dogs over the cliff and they went on fire. I climb over and hike about 400 yards. Arrival to the Tree.

Well I have hard time decide to pull trigger.  Trust me this is very Small Cat but WOW BIG Fat Beauitful Cat. But Still under 6 ft I have spend more time on this Cat and thinking about taking him down. But I know He will be VERY VERY BEAUITFUL Trophy for Next year permitee. So I decide to cheer my dogs and spend Pics of him. He is Hell NICE Young Cat. Two years old maybe 120ish

WOW Beauitful Young Tom.     Well...  I am good and totally ok with this one.

Its hard for me to not pull trigger. If anybody with me. I might pull but I was all alone and felt that I am more thankful for everything I have caught all Cats on my own.  And my dogs has done amazing job! And One of my pup 7 mo has chased three lions so far! I am happy for him.  

Abort hunt and head home for Xmas Evening to be with my family. The best feeling after I head home to be with my family. I could have filled my Tag that day. I know you people will think I am Dumb or call me CRAZY for not kill this Young Tom. Its about my passion and try to give other hunter a Big Chance and give this Young Tom to grow one more year for Better Trophy for who ever find him Next year.

Its about what I am doing as Pure houndman looking for BIG Tom above 7 feet Long and Over 150 lbs.  I went wrong place, WRONG time. Its hard when I am working Full time and only had my own time on weekend. Its not always easy for me to find Right place and Perfect timing like other permittee who shot Big tom.

Thanks for all your time and read my story.  

Mulehunter  

[mulehunter]

After I left half way, My wife listen to Quote. She said oh danm.   Oh no....  ITS CLOSED!  I should have shot the Young Cat yesterday.  Oh well. its part of Sport!  Its okay He will be great Trophy Next year.

I was very surprised two female shot down QUICK Since it been same quote for a week then all sudden two down. Closed!


Mulehunter  

[Machias]

Awesome, don't feel bad, you did the right thing!  I will only kill one tom in my life, and it will be a big boy.  I love walking away and leaving them to get a little older.  Hound hunting, the only true form of catch and release hunting!!!  Nice job Scott!!!!!  Great photos.  Keep sharing, nice thing is you can tree some more.  That young pup will be worth a bunch more money by the end of the season!!

[Gringo31]

Great thread, thank you for bringing us along with you!

Gringo

[Idabooner]

Just stopped into Booners to find your number to track you down.       I apparantly pulled it out of my wallet when I emptied out the reciepts for Christmas.  (Boneaddict)

[rainshadow1]

You're a heckuvuh good Hound Dog man, Mulehunter! Hope some of the game dept read this whole thread and realize what a conservationist, sportsman, and dog handler you are... it really speaks volumes.

   Great season!   

[Idabooner]

What a great season you had, 7 cats treed, that equals 7 thrill of a life time for the average hunter. Don't feel bad that you didn't kill one, congrats for holding out for the trophy you wanted.  You have the outfit, experience, good hounds, and determination, you will get the big tom sooner or later.  All the fun's in the hunt and chase anyway.

Thanks for taking us along on the hunts with your pictures and story.

[RubblesPH]

Great story and pics mulehunter!  Thanks for taking us along....really filled the gaps in this years hunting season and maybe gave some readers a new perspective of what it takes to own, train and run hounds.  Thank your wife also, enjoyed talking with her about your issues with WDFG.......Rubbles    

[mulehunter]

You're a heckuvuh good Hound Dog man, Mulehunter! Hope some of the game dept read this whole thread and realize what a conservationist, sportsman, and dog handler you are... it really speaks volumes.

   Great season!   

Thanks for your comments.  Thanks Idabooner for all emails with update with Snow Weather condition make my hunting better everytime, Thanks to all Bone, Machias, kain, bob, Rubb, muly,  and all many people with your supports.  It mean a lot!


Mulehunter   

[ribka]

Thanks for sharing your experiences this year. I knew little about hound hounding for cats and learned a lot and was very interesting. Wife and I really enjoyed it. There has been a cat seen in our area and the only problem is now the wife wont stop looking up in trees when we are hiking and xc skiing

I sent a letter to WDFW criticizing the Bios' behavior during your hunt. To put so much time, training, resources into this hunt to have it ruined. That in my opinion war pure harassment/intimidation. Hopefully next year this won't happen to the next group of hunters lucky enough to draw a cat tag. Thanks for bringing to our attention.

Again really enjoyed your post and photos

[villageidiot]

It's unfortunate that hound hunting is being phased out in this state. First with the loss of hunting cougar, bobcat and bear with the initiative.  Then aprox. a yr. ago WDFW decided to eliminate coyote hunting with hounds.  This move was strictly a WDFW move and not an initiative which is clear they dislike hound hunting.   The permit system that was in place in the 5 counties was friendly to hound hunters in that you had to own hounds which made it highly likely you could get drawn at least every other year.  It was changed to allow anybody to apply even without hounds, another WDFW move.   Now a hound owner may go 4 or 5 years without getting drawn.  Since many places don't have racoons to chase and keep ones dogs trained a multitude of hound owners are disolving their life long passion of hound hunting.  Unless you are willing to go to other states and pursue animals or have a favorable spot in your area that is not riddled with private property that has racoons to chase, your future in hound hunting is grim.    Most of Mulehunters stories were about the pursuit which is "the thrill of the hunt" when it comes to hound hunting.  By not allowing pursuit of anything but racoons WDFW is slowly cutting of the heads off the hound hunters.  Hound hunting pursuit is one of the most exhilirating sports one can indulge in and does absolutely no harm or takes no animals but yet it offends some people.  Unfortunately, the people it offends have never been with a pack of hounds to feel the excitement, live in the city and have votes, votes, votes.   Hound hunting for cougars is the absolute most ethical way to take specific sexes, sizes and numbers of cougars from an area.  If a pursuit season for hound hunters can be put in place then we will continue to have this useful group of dedicated hunters to help balance the prey numbers.  If not then in the near future you will rarely see a hound owner in the state and likely if any cougar hunting is still allowed it will have to be done by out of state hunters that still are allowed to train their dogs in a neighboring state. WDFW is presently looking at disallowing the new GPS locating systems that have came out in the past couple years.  If they take this course then Mulehunter will be stripped of his only way to locate his dogs since he is totally deaf and can't hear the old beep type locating systems.  It's clear WDFW has been infiltrated by some adimate hon-hunters.  Our governor appoints the game commission and since it's been democrat for so many years the commission has turned into a non-hunting commission and into a bird watching commission.  Any commissioner ever appointed should have been required to have bought a hunting or fishing license for the last 10 yrs. or disqualify them.  Hopefully we will all get to read more of these stories like Mulehunter has been keeping us up on but try and remember all these great hunts because it may be all we have in the future is the memories of past hunts.

[Wea300mag]

Damn Mulehunter, sorry to hear it had to end before you got your cat. Thank you very much for letting us follow your hunt.

[carpsniperg2]

Thanks for taking us along with you. And sharing all the great pics and stories!

[Yeti]

I have been following for 28 pages and this is great!! I love the pics and stories.  Thanks for the effort you put in!  Great pics!  I love looking at the cats!!