big coug working my deer area hard

[wingsandwilds]

So, I am up here in snohomish/king in my usual spot (around 15 square miles).  I saw some big buck signs (tracks, rubs, scrapes, etc), in an area I like to sit over in morn. and evening.  On Saturday I saw tracks that looked like the deer got spooked and took off with big cougar tracks following.  Now today Tues. eve.  I am sitting this opening and low and behold, a big old burly male walks down the hill within 20 yards of where i am sitting in the brush, goes right on by me.  Doesn't see me, smell me or look in my direction.  I am sitting in the brush trees pretty good, but still visible.  Scared the you know what out of me.  Too close for comfort.  I was ready to blast him but it never came down to that (don't have a coug tag).  He continued on down through the clearing and back into the woods on the other side (probably 125 yards in the open total)  Now, my questions are:
If he is working this area, are the deer going to be scarce?
I have seen other signs of him or others in the area the last 4 days, this area is awesome, but this year haven't seen a thing not even doe/fawn is this why?
How in the heck did he not see me or smell me?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.  I don't want to leave the area because there are some hogs up here, but maybe this is a bad sign?  I don't know.
Hope you all had a safe successful harvest this last weekend.

[Ice Cap]

Buy a cougar tag!

[nchaput]

Cougar tags are free now with the purchase of your deer tag.

[superdoodie]

sounds like you need a kitty tag.  Then maybe you see more deer.

[Arteman]

I hunt a walk in area that is great for both deer and elk.  I was scouting for good bucks still during muzzleload season and while scouting I ran into and met a member off here Winston2789, I got ahold of him later curious how he did, he said his dad missed a big lion walking down the road that day, yesterday one of my buddys and also a member off here Nimrod, was walking out of this area at night, upon turning around he noticed eyeballs in the road a ways back but they darted off the road quick, so he continued on and went a little ways then looked back again and again eyeballs but this time closer and it darted off the road once more, so now he's locked and loaded and walking and went a ways thinking more about what is behind him and he said a big lion crossed the road right in front of him about 35 or so yards, he said he has never been so relieved to be sitting in a truck seat than when he got back from that hike.  Thats twice in three weeks I hear of this lion and now like you I wonder what kind of toll this guy will take on the deer herd up there, and if I should make it my personal goal to rid this area of this pest.  Dog hunting on these pilot hunts in Okanogan we have trailed lion off their kill, I'm thinking if I could find a fresh lion kill and set up in wait it could work boot hunting.

[AKBowman]

This is a King County Lion. Damn things. Yes this is why the deer are scared to show themselves. When these big cats get around the bucks generally bury themselves like ticks and get the wind good to their backs.

[AKBowman]

Yes this is a really bad sign. You would do yourself a huge favor and help your hunting spot by getting a cat tag and filling it on that dude. Even taking out one cat will make a big difference in helping the deer population and helping the deer relax. Think you were scared? You had a gun, what do you think you would feel like if you were a deer?!

[splitshot]

  buy a kitty tag and say here kitty- kitty.  one cougar eats like 50 deer a year.  always have a cougar and bear tag in your pocket every year to protect yourself and deer, elk, moose, game birds, your dog and cats, and your kids.  sooner or later someone will be a victim of a cougar or bear.  when we move into their environment things get displaced and they get confused.  mike w

[mallard79]

Have cougar tag....will shoot.....   get rid of that cat asap! If you dont want to....find someone who does.

[splitshot]

  i forgot.  deer will leave an area  if a lion is in it.  why would he stay if someone will eat his ass.  mike w

[wingsandwilds]

Yeah, I know, should've gotten a coug tag.  Believe it or not, I have only had one other encounter in my life and still got a nice 3 x 3 the same day.  In retrospect I wish I could have taken him out.  But what now? I can go get a tag tomorrow, but what about the other questions? I mean, I have heard a big cat has a range of 50 to 100 square miles, but this one seems to be sticking around. How did you guys change up your game plan in this kind of situation....besides the obvious.

[wingsandwilds]

Mainly, How did he not see me or smell me?  He was rrreeeaaalllllyyyy close.  He just meandered and looked around but not in my direction, and we are talking 125 or so yards.  Are they color blind?  Is their sense of smell not so good?

[splitshot]

one thing you need to protect your area.  the cats will eat and then move on, but he might eat your trophy buck.  it is them or you.   wow, did i leave myself open to an antihunter comment.   mike w

[AKBowman]

You were down wind of him and if you didn't move he could have easily not seen you. Keep hunting the area if you know there are deer there and get the cat out of there.

[wingsandwilds]

I hear ya splitshot,  I totally agree.  I guess i am asking the obvious after the fact.  Trust me, I wanted to eliminate him from the equation.  Especially, when he was within 20 yards or so.  The whole situation just threw a wrench in the works.  Like:  Is my area screwed?  , Do I have to worry about working the thick trees/ brush line and getting "whacked"?  I say yes.  I will definitely go get my cat tag tomorrow.  Perhaps the bucks just moved a mile or two to another ridge line/ area.  But then again, I consider the range of a cat.  These are the reasons, among others, why I wanted to get experienced opinion on the subject.  I have only gone after elk, deer, birds in my lifetime and have spent a ton of time in the woods and surprisingly; only one or two coug encounters

[wingsandwilds]

I hear ya AK.  It was just so close regardless of wind.  Definitely Cat Tag tomorrow.