Author Topic: Okanogan Cougar (Read 11239 times)

threedwizard · « **on:** February 25, 2012, 10:51:42 AM »

Here's a cougar that I harvested in the Okanogan Valley, while is was BC, I could see into Molsen from the ridge I was on. Passed up 9 cats, 3 pretty good tracks to find this one. Gives me hope when I'm ready to hunt for a Washington cougar, I'll find a good one.

boneaddict · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2012, 10:58:55 AM »

I really like his coloring. Pretty!

woodman · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2012, 11:08:15 AM »

That is one great trophy! Sounds like you used lots of patience.

Elkaholic daWg · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2012, 11:21:29 AM »

NICE Kitty!!

threedwizard · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2012, 11:35:10 AM »

Thank you guys, he is a great cat. Over 8 feet long nose to tail and weighed in at 181 pounds. We had a tough time packing him out whole from the bottom of the canyon!

NWBREW · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2012, 12:05:21 PM »

That's a good size cat. Nice.

rasbo · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2012, 12:08:10 PM »

awesome pics

JODakota · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2012, 12:10:36 PM »

That's a big kitty

30.06 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2012, 12:11:10 PM »

Huge! I've only seen cats like that in my dreams. Good luck in 204/209 this fall. Bonaparte is a nice area to hunt.

bearpaw · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2012, 12:12:10 PM »

Did you have his head measured?

blackveltbowhunter · « **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2012, 12:28:54 PM »

Nice pics and STUD lion!

Harborhunter · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2012, 12:38:42 PM »

Nice lion!

Machias · « **Reply #12 on:** February 25, 2012, 12:43:11 PM »

That is not a big cougar, that is a HUGE lion!!! Congrats, what a toad.

400out · « **Reply #13 on:** February 25, 2012, 12:46:13 PM »

Sweet trophy

Kowsrule30 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 25, 2012, 12:51:57 PM »

Gonna be hard to top that!!!!

trapper1 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 25, 2012, 12:52:58 PM »

Nice one!

SuperDave · « **Reply #16 on:** February 25, 2012, 01:06:14 PM »

Nice looking cat! Congratulations!!

MtnMuley · « **Reply #17 on:** February 25, 2012, 02:06:18 PM »

You must have meant "Okanagan" Valley cat if you were hunting in BC and could look into Molson. Big difference in the names. One it's legal to harvest a cat with dogs, while the other it isn't. Anyhow, great tom! Definately a once in a lifetime sized lion. Congrats!

TheHunt · « **Reply #18 on:** February 25, 2012, 02:31:29 PM »

Very nice. Congrats on a good one.

threedwizard · « **Reply #19 on:** February 25, 2012, 02:53:45 PM »

Thanks for all the great comments! I only have a few real trophies. I took him with black powder rifle. I'll post my Shiras moose when I get a chance later from a few years ago.

@bearpaw The head is being beetled now, we rough taped him at 15 7/16, but it's tough with some of the flesh and stuff, I think it will still hold 15+ after drying

@30.06 Thanks, I hope to do some deer/bear hunting up around Bonaparte after a few scouting trips

@MtnMuley You're right about the spelling, was trying to been PC on the Washington website, HaHa. I've just started to read the regs, you can't dog cougar? we dog them here in Utah. I think it would be tough to get a cat without dogs, Spot and Stalk?

buglebuster · « **Reply #20 on:** February 25, 2012, 02:55:22 PM »

awesome cat!

BOWHUNTER45 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 25, 2012, 04:04:37 PM »

180# Man have not seen that size in along time

He does have some cool colors in the face area ...awesome !

75johndeere · « **Reply #22 on:** February 25, 2012, 04:48:29 PM »

Quote from: threedwizard on February 25, 2012, 02:53:45 PM

@MtnMuley You're right about the spelling, was trying to been PC on the Washington website, HaHa. I've just started to read the regs, you can't dog cougar? we dog them here in Utah. I think it would be tough to get a cat without dogs, Spot and Stalk?

There is no spot and stock there is you get lucky and have one fall in your lap or never see one lol this state sucks. very nice kitty ive only ever seen one and i think the tail on that one is bigger than the one i saw

threedwizard · « **Reply #23 on:** February 25, 2012, 06:49:02 PM »

That's what I was thinking, lucky is an understatement! I don't think I've ever seen a cat except using dogs. It's got to be pretty hard to make quota on cougar harvest without dogs. Thanks on the cat, he does have a great tail. Long, thick, and 4" black spot on the end. There must be some pigs hiding out in NE Washington!

carpsniperg2 · « **Reply #24 on:** February 25, 2012, 06:57:34 PM »

Dandy cat indeed

bearpaw · « **Reply #25 on:** February 25, 2012, 07:09:03 PM »

Were you hunting with Kettle River Outfitters?

threedwizard · « **Reply #26 on:** February 25, 2012, 08:21:09 PM »

No, I was hunting with Jim Wiens of Vaseux Creek Outfitters. BTW, do you use dogs on your cat hunts? If not, then how?

carpsniperg2 · « **Reply #27 on:** February 25, 2012, 08:28:34 PM »

You can only use dogs by special permits here in washington right now. Some guys will walk them down "very rare" and most just bump into them why hunting deer or elk.

bearpaw · « **Reply #28 on:** February 25, 2012, 08:34:08 PM »

Quote from: threedwizard on February 25, 2012, 08:21:09 PM

No, I was hunting with Jim Wiens of Vaseux Creek Outfitters. BTW, do you use dogs on your cat hunts? If not, then how?

We use dogs in Idaho and Utah. But I have caught hundreds of cats in WA when we could still use dogs there. I have cougar hunted in 5 states but still think WA has the best cougar hunting of any of those states.

In WA you currently you need to call them, find a kill, or walk them out. They do issue a few special tags to hound owners only if there are a lot of problems in the area.

Like carp said, a lot of guys stumble on them.

threedwizard · « **Reply #29 on:** February 26, 2012, 10:59:24 AM »

I agree with you bearpaw, I think there are some huge cats up there. In Utah, I think the cats are too harassed as you can pursue them almost all year. There are lots of cats in NE Washington that never see a person or dog. Are cougar tags OTC in Washington? I've seen a cougar track on my lot up there this winter, and been told there are lots of bears too. It was following some deer tracks. I bet if you learned your area, and studied the roads, you could circle off a cat and try walking it down or find a kill. What would you call with? Deer fawn? Maybe from a tree stand?

dfresh96 · « **Reply #30 on:** February 27, 2012, 09:52:36 AM »

wheres the blood??? with all the snow I dont see any blood?

saylean · « **Reply #31 on:** February 27, 2012, 10:01:20 AM »

That things a brute!

threedwizard · « **Reply #32 on:** February 29, 2012, 01:13:57 PM »

No blood cause we cleaned him up for pictures and most of it he lost on the 20 yard run after he fell out of the tree. Has anyone ever called in a cougar? What calls would work? Sounds scary to call one from the ground.

Rufous · « **Reply #33 on:** February 29, 2012, 02:04:58 PM »

Great lion you got there. I live in the Walla Walla area of SE WA state. I have killed 2 lions so far and seen a total of 13. None were over hounds. The first one I killed was called in by a friend of mine. He was blowing a mouth call that sounded like a wounded rabbit. Another friend of mine (Gramps on this site) called one in and killed it using his Foxpro electronic call. The second one I got I tracked it down (sort of- I saw it 400 yards away after following its tracks for a couple hours). I spend quite a bit of time every year purposefully hunting them. I have a late season tag and hope to go out tomorrow. Stay tuned- maybe me or Gramps will have a story for you all soon (he has the late tag also). Rufous.

carpsniperg2 · « **Reply #34 on:** February 29, 2012, 02:08:40 PM »

Quote from: threedwizard on February 29, 2012, 01:13:57 PM

No blood cause we cleaned him up for pictures and most of it he lost on the 20 yard run after he fell out of the tree. Has anyone ever called in a cougar? What calls would work? Sounds scary to call one from the ground.

Cougars can be called in. More then a few guys get lucky and call them in each year.

jackmaster · « **Reply #35 on:** February 29, 2012, 02:19:49 PM »

Quote from: dfresh96 on February 27, 2012, 09:52:36 AM

wheres the blood??? with all the snow I dont see any blood?

who cares where the blood is? whats that got to do with anything? that is one hell of a cat, congrats, this old man that taught me how to hunt with hounds when i was a youngster got one that weighed 202 pounds, i treed one when i first started huntn with hounds on my own that my dad and i figured would have went between 180 and 200, but we couldnt kill it because we didnt have a permit, the biggest one i killed was 137lbs and anather one that was 100lbs, come to think about it they werent bloody either

threedwizard · « **Reply #36 on:** February 29, 2012, 02:28:51 PM »

Good news, I have to study up and make a trip in the cold season.

@Rufous Keep me posted on how your weekend hunt goes, by post or PM. Always like hearing about the cat hunting!

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Author Topic: Okanogan Cougar (Read 11239 times)

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