Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Other Big Game => Topic started by: jasnt on October 14, 2013, 05:24:16 PM

Title: Tom down :) updated
Post by: jasnt on October 14, 2013, 05:24:16 PM: I was out deer hunting my favorite place. I was just setting up on a heavily used saddle crossing when I heard this terrible screaming. At first I was thinking some one was screwing off. The sound kept up almost constant. I had to go check it out. Half mile later im getting close, I can tell its coming from just the other side of this marsh/swampy area at the base of huge hill that I already new is normally 90% surrounded by water. I sneak up to just 10 yards from the screaming that i can tell is a cat. I start glassing threw the trees and thick brush and at first it looks like a person peeks out at me from behind a tree. Then again and this time it's obvious its a cougar. I pull my rifle up and center my cross hairs excitedly and squeeze. A big cat runs up the hill best it can. As i jack another round in i see another cat peaking out at me,this one smaller and looking confused. After a sec it jogs off. I seen where my cat went so i cross the bog and head up the hill after him.im shooting a 300win mag with 185gr Berger's so i was sure he was toast. I get to the top and no sign of the cat but I thought I spooked a deer off the other side of the hill. So i head back to where i hit him,take off my pack and set down my rifle,marked the spot on my gps and started tracking the blood. With toilet paper as marker and my 44 on my hip i headed up again. I get to the top again and the blood Peters out. So i start circling looking for some sing. Down the other side i find a track on a mole hill,down a little farther i find. another. So down to the bottom i head. Get All the way down and see that the pond is about dried up, mostly just grass and berry thick brush all around the outside edges. I hear a commotion in the brush. I stand there listening and watching but it won't leave the brush. I debate with my self for a bit then decided i owed it to the cougar and the deer to put this thing down. I take a deep breathe,say a prayer,draw my 44mag and cock the hammer back. Headed straight in to the brush right at him hoping to push him out in to the shorter grass where i could shoot it easy. Nope cat charges straight at me and just barrely misses me as squeaze off again missing him. Cat runs past me back in the trees makes a quick half circle and back in the brush. I keep after him and each time i just get a glimpse of him before he runs farther in the brush,i catch up again and this time he charges at me again and i nail him in the spine. Cat stops under a nasty thorny tree and screams at me.we're 10 ft. Apart and i check my gun :yike: oops I got one round left. I step to the side with the cat growling and hissing my heart is pounding and I aimed for the heart (best I could tell from my angle)sqeazed it again. This one hit him hard and sprawled him out,I could tell he was about gone so I hiked back up and over the hill to my backpack and rifle. When I got back to the cat he was still. I poked him with my rifle and then grabbed his leg and drug him out. Holy cow he was bigger than I thought. Heavy too and it was getting dark. I was planning on just skinning him out but it was so big and heavy I felt I needed to weigh him. So I drug him out to the trail and half mile back towards the truck before I decided to call for help,I was mentally and physically drained,it was 8:00pm and I had been in the woods since 5:15am. Still had over a mile to go to get to my truck. Got him home and weighed. He was 134lbs,6'9" long. My first cougar. I didn't think cougars bred in the fall but that's what they where doing.

first pic after retrieving my pack and rifle
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi407.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp157%2Fjasen_photos%2FWP_000718.jpg&hash=63805f17b4403179c1d55a03c3be13f07e950d97) (http://s407.photobucket.com/user/jasen_photos/media/WP_000718.jpg.html)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi407.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp157%2Fjasen_photos%2FWP_000727.jpg&hash=255b488e57d9608b4cc8f0f089a2a8b6ef7bdca6) (http://s407.photobucket.com/user/jasen_photos/media/WP_000727.jpg.html)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi407.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp157%2Fjasen_photos%2FWP_000726.jpg&hash=7b96491806eedefd1f82771ac7f5b930f8906a6a) (http://s407.photobucket.com/user/jasen_photos/media/WP_000726.jpg.html)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi407.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp157%2Fjasen_photos%2FWP_000724.jpg&hash=6cdb67e001dca42b49f27b26209a20a76fb9738a) (http://s407.photobucket.com/user/jasen_photos/media/WP_000724.jpg.html)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi407.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp157%2Fjasen_photos%2FWP_000723.jpg&hash=79e566f533561d0434b940d092c11c2405010bb8) (http://s407.photobucket.com/user/jasen_photos/media/WP_000723.jpg.html)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi407.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp157%2Fjasen_photos%2FWP_000732.jpg&hash=2f376bb7d1ec8206d77a247a6d15c40b795f4cd6) (http://s407.photobucket.com/user/jasen_photos/media/WP_000732.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Tom down :)
Post by: mulehunter on October 14, 2013, 05:30:30 PM: :tup:
Title: Re: Tom down :)
Post by: Pilot_Hunter on October 14, 2013, 05:30:53 PM: Awesome story! Can't wait to see pics!
Title: Re: Tom down :)
Post by: Hoythunter on October 14, 2013, 05:31:43 PM: Holy smokes, let's see this bad boy! My heart gets pounding just reading your story.
Title: Re: Tom down :)
Post by: scottcrb on October 14, 2013, 05:33:49 PM: damn crazy story glad your ok and the cat isn't, nice work.
Title: Re: Tom down :)
Post by: Elkbow33 on October 14, 2013, 05:36:37 PM: Good job had a similar experience in Oregon. I know the feeling you got when he came at you!!!!!
Title: Re: Tom down :)
Post by: jasnt on October 14, 2013, 05:42:59 PM: I practice with this pistol alot! I was very confident I could hit anything that charged me down but your body works a little funny when the adrenalin starts flowing hard. :bash:
Title: Re: Tom down :)
Post by: boneaddict on October 14, 2013, 05:53:34 PM: Nicely done. Good story too
Title: Re: Tom down :)
Post by: Taco280AI on October 14, 2013, 05:57:26 PM: I've heard the screaming and saw two cats together while deer hunting before, had no idea what it was at first.
Title: Re: Tom down :)
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on October 14, 2013, 06:18:34 PM: Sweeet...that sounded like some fun their now :tup: Hurry up with the photos :dunno: :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Tom down :)
Post by: jasnt on October 14, 2013, 06:34:21 PM: Quote from: BOWHUNTER45 on October 14, 2013, 06:18:34 PM
Sweeet...that sounded like some fun their now :tup: Hurry up with the photos :dunno: :chuckle: :chuckle:
Im almost home from work,this phone is a pain it won't upload anything tonight
Title: Re: Tom down :)
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on October 14, 2013, 06:37:49 PM: Quote from: jasnt on October 14, 2013, 06:34:21 PM
Quote from: BOWHUNTER45 on October 14, 2013, 06:18:34 PM
Sweeet...that sounded like some fun their now :tup: Hurry up with the photos :dunno: :chuckle: :chuckle:
Im almost home from work,this phone is a pain it won't upload anything tonight
I am sure we will all be here waiting :chuckle: :chuckle: :tup:
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: jasnt on October 14, 2013, 08:47:14 PM: updated
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: DoubleJ on October 14, 2013, 08:55:08 PM: Females can go into heat anytime of the year but will mostly breed in the fall/winter
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: MLBowhunting on October 14, 2013, 09:06:50 PM: Awesome story and pics :tup:
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: Dhoey07 on October 14, 2013, 09:08:58 PM: Great story :tup:
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: denali on October 14, 2013, 09:33:25 PM: :yeah: nice job !
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: jasnt on October 14, 2013, 09:56:57 PM: Quote from: DoubleJ on October 14, 2013, 08:55:08 PM
Females can go into heat anytime of the year but will mostly breed in the fall/winter

Good to know
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: X-Force on October 14, 2013, 10:21:12 PM: that's a heck of a story. glad to see you came out on top. great looking cat.
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: bowhunterforever on October 15, 2013, 12:02:05 AM: Awsome story and cat :tup: congrats
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: pendoreilleadventures on October 15, 2013, 12:09:47 AM: Awesome story and great cat :tup:
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: mdbuck5x5 on October 15, 2013, 05:30:33 AM: Damn nice work :tup:
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: woodman on October 15, 2013, 05:50:24 AM: That is an encounter that you will remember the rest of your life! Great pics and great story. I killed a large one while deer hunting also and it was coming right to me at 30'. Your story took me right back mentally to my encounter. Thanks for posting.
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: jasnt on October 15, 2013, 10:17:53 AM: Thank you, I will never forget it. Greatest rush I have ever had. Also the first animal I ever had to blood track,I learned quite a bit about that as well. I learned what a major flesh would bleeds like and gain a little experience. I hope I never have to blood track again. Im also proud I didn't give up. I knew I had wounded him badly and needed to finish the job. Thanks for all the comments, hopefully I can get my deer and move on to elk. I've scouted long and hard this year and it has been a great year so far. I was lucky enough to take my first bear and cougar this year,fingers crossed ill also take my first elk.
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: Jonathan_S on October 15, 2013, 10:35:59 AM: Nice job! Hopefully the "seed" wasn't spread before your shot.

:tup:
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: jasnt on October 15, 2013, 12:03:09 PM: Quote from: Jonathan_S on October 15, 2013, 10:35:59 AM
Nice job! Hopefully the "seed" wasn't spread before your shot.

:tup:

I hope not. This the first time I had wished I had some one with me while hunting, it would have been so easy to shot the female after my shot on the Tom. She just stood there broad side looking around wondering why he just ran off.
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: combs338 on October 15, 2013, 03:11:36 PM: :tup:
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on October 15, 2013, 07:24:22 PM: any cougar is a good cougar ...good job ...I like the story :dunno: :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: carpsniperg2 on October 20, 2013, 02:00:49 PM: Don't know how I missed this but congrats on a nice cat :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: BullMagnet76 on October 20, 2013, 02:21:05 PM: Great story. Glad it all worked out. :tup:
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: JJB11B on October 20, 2013, 03:01:41 PM: Great story! Beautiful Cat. Congratulations!
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: jasnt on October 21, 2013, 05:53:43 AM: When I got the pelt seal done the guy said that the gums had receaded 9mm, he guessed the cat to be 7-9 years old.
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: gunnarnewt on October 22, 2013, 01:20:25 PM: :tup:
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: teanawayslayer on November 03, 2013, 08:07:31 AM: great cat. Love seeing them hit the dirt!
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: bearpaw on November 03, 2013, 08:38:32 AM: Awesome, great story, congrats... :tup:
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: Netminder01 on November 03, 2013, 09:13:37 AM: What a story and one hell of a cat! Imagine that story accompanied with a GoPro head mount... whoa!
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: Wea300mag on November 03, 2013, 10:25:57 AM: Nice cat, one of these days one will cross my path and :hunter:
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: blindpig on November 04, 2013, 05:18:51 AM: That is a nice lion, and that story was just excellent. Congrats.
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: Hunting7mm on November 04, 2013, 05:33:56 AM: congrats!!!!!! Nice lion!!
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: Skyvalhunter on November 04, 2013, 05:36:42 AM: Congrats, love the story. Thats an experience that would get the heart beating a little faster.
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: RadSav on November 04, 2013, 05:38:53 AM: Congratulations! I think you need just a little longer barrel for that pistol :chuckle: Those things ain't made for fly-by kitties. I've never been charged by a cat, but plenty of times by bear. Always good for a serious heart pounding and a whole heck of a lot of fun! You won't soon forget that one :tup:
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: jasnt on November 04, 2013, 12:28:19 PM: I've had some luck with the cats this year. Saw another one in the Selkirk's while elk hunting,had to let it walk at just 50yards from me
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on November 04, 2013, 12:36:31 PM: Wow that's a good life story right there! :yike:
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: buck man on November 05, 2013, 09:49:38 AM: Great story and cat! I am sure that was an adrenaline rush! I know when I killed mine I was high on it for days!! :chuckle:
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: jasnt on November 05, 2013, 10:44:46 AM: Quote from: buck man on November 05, 2013, 09:49:38 AM
Great story and cat! I am sure that was an adrenaline rush! I know when I killed mine I was high on it for days!! :chuckle:

+1
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: rainshadow1 on November 06, 2013, 07:17:23 PM: Great Job! (Again, saw you on PM.)

I've been hearing conflicting reports on population, I'm kinda leaning towards the higher numbers stories, with some localized decreases (especially in the areas with the very large, grey coyotes...) If it's a hard Winter (very possible) it might be the year for a lot of guys to see that face lookin' at them!
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: jasnt on November 07, 2013, 03:41:32 PM: I think your right rain shadow. I hope more people take cats in my hunting area
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: Alpinegus on December 06, 2013, 05:28:27 AM: :yike: Great exciting story, congrats on the cat.
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: Irish_hunter93 on December 06, 2013, 11:23:57 AM: Congrats on the cat! Helluva heart pounding story!
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: MADMAX on December 06, 2013, 11:43:25 AM: Great story and nice cat way to get it finished.
I agree with above , when you kill a cat its very much a definite high.
I will always remember the day I got mine.
thats why I carry a sidearm.
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: Ripper on December 07, 2013, 11:19:44 AM: Cool story and a nice cat. :tup:
Title: Re: Tom down :) updated
Post by: jasnt on December 07, 2013, 05:13:11 PM: I went out to hunt bobcat at the same property Thursday. With fresh snow I was covering alot of ground trying to cut tracks. I saw tons of coyote sign and crossed 6 different cougar tracks. One set was especially large! 3 were a mom and kits. Only found one set of bobcat tracks that lead to private land. Tried calling him back but I never spotted him. I can't hardly believe how much cougar sign is there!!!