fun cougar encounter

[bankwalker]

So a couple days ago I was out grouse hunting in a little area a elk herd frequents. I was walking down the road and just jumped a couple grouse when about 50yds away I heard that distinctive sound of elk crashing through the trees.

Heck there elk I thought to myself, why not see if I can find them. So after a few minutes I make my way over to their hangout and find the trail where the whole herd of 40-50 elk took off. Then I realized what got them so spooked. There was 3, yes 3 sets of cougar tracks right down the middle of their "train tracks" as I like to call them.

I had a cougar tag in my pocket so I started stalking this herd in hopes of seeing the cats. No usually when I go grouse hunting I have 5 slugs in my pouch. But after I got snuck up on the elk I realized I hadn't switched a slug into my shotgun. I go to do that and realize I didn't have my slugs either. 

Needless to say with cougars on the hunt and me being very under gunned with 20g bird shot. I slowly snuck out of the trees. I had just got back to the road and maybe walked 20yds when a young cougar jumped out on the road and stared me down. Then another one jumped out.
They were between me and my truck so I shot a couple shots over their heads in hopes they would take off. They did thankfully. I got back to my truck drove the 1 mile home to grabbed my calls and rifle. But of course never seen them again.


I did check out a couple areas of high elk traffic and found a lot of cougar tracks. They are obviously keeping tabs on this elk herd. So ill be doing a bit of calling in there all winter

[Kain]

Very cool you got to see some even though you didnt get to harvest one.

We saw tracks following some elk last year about this time.  Find where the elk are and you will probably have a good chance of finding cougars to call to.

[bankwalker]

Very cool you got to see some even though you didnt get to harvest one.

We saw tracks following some elk last year about this time.  Find where the elk are and you will probably have a good chance of finding cougars to call to.

That's the plan. I have been practicing my calf elk calling all fall. And all my other calls for that matter.

[carpsniperg2]

You know the area they are in and they will always be dogging that elk heard. If you are able to find there pray which you have you can find them!

[strutnrut1984]

stay on them mike good luck

[3nails]

 If you cross fresh tracks in the morning you could try and "walk" them down also.

[bankwalker]

I have hunted the area a couple times with no luck. The elk moved onto a different area after a day if me doing some calling. And after a week of nothing the elk returned to the area. It rained enough to create new mud and wouldn't ya know it more fresh elk tracks and again a couple cougar tracks stalking the herd.   

I would rather have snow to track them instead of trying to call them  I sound like a diseased rabbit with my calls. And cougars dont like diseased rabbits 

[bearpaw]

If you have a cat following that elk herd, you might try some cow calling....   

I also like the idea of walking the tracks when you find fresh ones in a new snow.... 

[bankwalker]

If you have a cat following that elk herd, you might try some cow calling....   

I also like the idea of walking the tracks when you find fresh ones in a new snow.... 

My buddy has electronic cow calls, and calf in distress downloaded. I'm gonna borrow those the next time I go out. And use my mouth calls as well.

There's a dead elk in the private property next to where I'm finding all the cougar sign. And I seen a couple coyotes checking it out today. So I might get lucky and call in some coyotes too   

[Ripper]

That was a cool encounter you had. I've yet to see a wild cougar, but I'm sure they've seen me.