Mandatory Reporting:
All hunters must report their hunting activity
(whether they harvest a cougar or not) using the
toll-free quota hotline (1-866-364-4868).
Page 58 hunting regs
The Madatory Reporting only requires those that are hunting with a PERMIT(i.e. hound hunting), to report their results whether successful or not. It is so WDFW can keep track of the harvest quota.
For the rest of us the sealing of the pelt acts as a harvest report. As long as we contact the regional office with in 72 hours of harvest then we have done our part.