Cougar call in, very close

[aer212]

I went out today calling for bears and called a one hour stand with no takers so I moved to a different spot. Its getting hot and after a 3-4 mile hike I was headed back to the pickup. I didn't bring any water so I stopped at a small creek and dipped my hat in it and took a drink. I stayed there for about 5 minutes with my gear strewn about and then figured time to head home. I gathered all my gear and went up to the road with a big culvert going through it for the creek. I saw something move off to the right side of the road and I thought bobcat for a split second. It jumped to the middle of the road and I realized what it was, cougar at 20-25 yards. Another jump and it was on the other side of the road up the bank. I had a rifle and pistol with me but even so it happened to surprise me enough that I wouldn't have had time to shoot even if it was open for modern. It is open only for bow in Washington right now. Anyway just in case he was going to follow me to the pickup which is only 400-500 yards further up the road I pulled the pistol out. When I got back to the pickup the only thing I could think about was how to call that thing in. So I called up my friend Mark Healy and told him what happened and asked if there was a chance to call that cat in. He said absolutely, YOU GET BACK UP THERE WITH YOUR BOW AND CALL IT! Then I asked him what sequence he would recommend and he told me that also. So I hurried home, slammed a pile of water down, ate dinner, grabbed my bow and headed back up there. I was back at the spot about an hour and 45 minutes later. I set the call exactly where the cat had crossed and pointed in the direction it was going which was west to east. I tied a couple feathers to a tree with some fishing line directly above the call and sat about 10-15 yards on the south side of the call with my back to a good sized tree slightly off the side of the road. After I gave the stand some time to settle down I started calling. I did pretty much what Mark recommended, start off with some rabbits, throw in some crows, some redtail hawk screams to make it think something was feasting, gave it some deer fawn distress, some pileated woodpecker, some partridge distress. I gave it those sounds for about 20 minutes then started with the cougar vocals in between the distress sounds. At the 36 minute mark I hear something behind and to my right. Remember my back is to the tree, so I turn and I'm looking at the cougar at a distance of 3 feet. We looked at each other for probably less than a second and it turned and took off digging some trenches. I was so shocked and surprised that I just watched it go for a while then finally got the wheels turning in my head and by that time it was to late. I watched it cross the road again and once again go up the bank so I went after it with my bow. When I got there I couldn't see it so I went back and started calling again in hopes that it didn't realize what I was but no luck. A couple things, this cat was literally so close that I could have reached out and petted it if I was quicker and not so surprised. Good thing that he was more surprised than me. The other thing is once it got past the initial surprise, the first turn tail and get out of there, it didn't really run off, just kind of walked/loped out of sight. Obviously, sometime when I was gone, he had crossed back to the other side of the road. I never expected that. Closest I have ever been to any wild big game animal.

[GoPlayOutside]

3 ft!!!!
Did you make an accident in your pants?

[silverdalesauer]

Holy Crap!

[SniperDanWA]

How big was it?  Dang, that too close for comfort.  Too bad the shot didn't present itself again, you'd be ready.

[EDT]

WOW!  that is a story that will live on for generations. I really dont know what I would have done (except accident in my pants).

[bobcat]

Wow, what an exciting hunt! Only thing is you should check the regulations. I think today only muzzleloaders were legal for cougar. Stupid rule I know. But I just looked it up. Since archery deer and elk was over yesterday, and muzzleloader deer started today, the cougar season goes to muzzleloader only, as of today.

[vaz,,66]

  that's tooooo close 

[seth30]

Thats cool you had a chance to go home eat, and then head back out.  I have seen a few cats in my time and they are usually getting away from me fast, and never during a legal season

[bearmanric]

good for you. cougar calling is very exciting. i have met Mark several times he is good people. you must have a WT caller great sounds. cant wait till modern firearm. Rick

[seth30]

WT caller?

[aer212]

Wow, what an exciting hunt! Only thing is you should check the regulations. I think today only muzzleloaders were legal for cougar. Stupid rule I know. But I just looked it up. Since archery deer and elk was over yesterday, and muzzleloader deer started today, the cougar season goes to muzzleloader only, as of today.

Well thats good to know, good thing I didn't get a shot! I'm checking the regs right now. Yep, looks like it was muzzleloader only.

[aer212]

How big was it?  Dang, that too close for comfort.  Too bad the shot didn't present itself again, you'd be ready.

Small cougar, I would guess 100lbs or a little less. It looked roughly around the size of the one that get one leakin posted in the trail cam section.

[aer212]

WT caller?

Yes, MA-21

[aer212]

Does anyone know if I could have still used the bow? For instance during modern deer season you can use a "lesser" weapon such as muzzleloader or bow. Is it the same for cougar?

[billythekidrock]

Great story. Thanks for sharing.
 
I wonder if you tried a slightly different location and set of sounds if you couldn't get it to come back in. Might be worth a shot.
 
 

[bearmanric]

you would have to have a archery tag. i'm modern firearms i cant hunt cougar till deer modern. Rick

[bobcat]

you would have to have a archery tag. i'm modern firearms i cant hunt cougar till deer modern. Rick

 
That's not true, Rick. Your cougar tag is good during the entire cougar season, you just have to use the appropriate weapon for the particular time period. Right now if you have a cougar tag, you can hunt but only with a muzzleloader.

[JimmyHoffa]

Does anyone know if I could have still used the bow? For instance during modern deer season you can use a "lesser" weapon such as muzzleloader or bow. Is it the same for cougar?

It is Muzzleloader only.  No archery gear.  The cougar tag is valid for all the cougar seasons, no weapon specific tag (at least mine isn't).  Just have to use the right weapon during the right season.  Like a multiseason deer tag.

[billythekidrock]

Does anyone know if I could have still used the bow? For instance during modern deer season you can use a "lesser" weapon such as muzzleloader or bow. Is it the same for cougar?

It is Muzzleloader only.  No archery gear.  The cougar tag is valid for all the cougar seasons, no weapon specific tag (at least mine isn't).  Just have to use the right weapon during the right season.  Like a multiseason deer tag.

Correct. Weapon specific season. Not weapon specific tag.

[bearmanric]

All this time I that I couldn't hunt till deer modern interesting. I would go after that cougar then good luck. Rick

[billythekidrock]

All this time I that I couldn't hunt till deer modern interesting. I would go after that cougar then good luck. Rick

 
 
Yep. Use a muzzy and get it done Rick.

[gramps]

Very exciting...get after him again.

[woodman]

Did this encounter affect you more when you first saw the cat at 3 feet, or maybe a day or two later when you had time to think how close it got to you without you realizing it?

[CAMPMEAT]

My weapon of choice for that situation would of been, "the one that saved my butt" and dealt with the WDFW later.

[aer212]

Did this encounter affect you more when you first saw the cat at 3 feet, or maybe a day or two later when you had time to think how close it got to you without you realizing it?

I think when I 1st saw it, however, whenever I think back on it, it still gets my adrenaline flowing. I still can't hardly believe it happened. I'm thinking about going back saturday and looking at the tracks where he dug up the ground when he left. I think I'll take my camera.