Cats on Ft. Lewis

[nate85]

A buddy of mine says he saw some tracks a few months ago deer hunting.  Has anyone heard of any reported sightings or other signs?  The Northwest Adventure Center claims there are no cougars on Ft. Lewis and when asked if I can hunt them there they gave me an answer of "I guess".

[pianoman9701]

If your buddy actually saw tracks, there are cats. I don't believe there's any restriction on cats anywhere in that part of the state, but check your regs. I wouldn't find it hard to believe there are considering one was taken in downtown Vancouver a few months ago. Our state has far too many.

[Soldier5]

I found what I'm pretty sure was/is a cougar scratching post on base during the late archery season. The scratch marks were pretty high up on the tree, too high for a bobcat.

[nate85]

Did that scratch happen to be out east gate and around the road headed to Leschi Town?

[Soldier5]

No, it was in the southwest training area. Heck I'll just put it out there TA19.

[nate85]

Well I don't bowhunt so you don't have to worry about that from me.  Could you give me an 8 digit grid?  I'm just kidding, well my buddy saw these tracks in the general area I described earlier, I have not been out there but when I do ill let you know where it is.  I've never hunted cats but I figure if there is sign from more than one person then that should be a decent place to start.

[Soldier5]

Right on, hope you nail one. If anything you might call in some coyotes. I've seen plenty out there and always see their sign while im deer hunting. I've just never focused on them, maybe I'll give it a try this spring.

[Hunterman]

Yes there are cougars on JBLM (Ft. Lewis).. Erin, Becky, and I were hunting TA19 a few years back, and saw a few signs that were put up by WDFG that said cougars have been sigted in the area.. Yea we did see some tracks, and the dreaded scat..

Quite a few years ago, ( in fact Shannon, and Erin were still in car seats) I had to go pick Becky up from work at the PX.  We were driving up to the C5A mock up, and had a cougar run across the road, going right to left..I did take a poke at it with a .44mag. I just happen to have in the car 

Hunterman(Tony)

[wraithen]

Good thing you didn't get caught with that. Coulda had an interesting conversation about driving around with a loaded handgun in the vehicle.

[JimmyHoffa]

I think it depends on how many years ago he is referring to.  I remember back in the day it was no biggie to have guns on bases.  They used to even let civilians enter certain bases/areas.  Even right before 9-11 things were much more lax.  So many crazy rules on base now.  Back in late 80s/early 90s you could buy guns/ammo on base in Coronado (Kalifornia of all places).  Now they go nuts if you leave a live round in your car.

[Hunterman]

Good thing you didn't get caught with that. Coulda had an interesting conversation about driving around with a loaded handgun in the vehicle.

This was back in the the early '80's ..No big deal back then...

Hunterman(Tony)

[gasman]

Hell, a few year ago (2007 I believe) there were signs up all over TA19 and 20, warning people about cougars in the area. Someone had there dog attacked out there, so I don't know why the Adv. Cent. would say such a thing, unless the guy was a moron 

[bobcat]

Anywhere there's deer, there is going to be cougars. (at least in Western WA.)

[nate85]

That's kinda what I thought from reading other forums.  Is TA19 and TA20 open for firearms usually?

[gasman]

That's kinda what I thought from reading other forums.  Is TA19 and TA20 open for firearms usually?

You will have to check the "RANGE COMPLEX ALLOCATIONS, NON-TRAINING" regularly.

It can be found here  http://www.jblmmwr.com/outdoor_rec.html