Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Coyote, Small Game, Varmints => Topic started by: jstone on March 04, 2023, 07:59:56 PM

Title: Cougar counts
Post by: jstone on March 04, 2023, 07:59:56 PM: How many cougars have you seen in 2023? Have you killed one?
Title: Re: Cougar counts
Post by: Jake Dogfish on March 04, 2023, 08:10:17 PM: Never seen one
Title: Re: Cougar counts
Post by: Bullkllr on March 04, 2023, 08:17:10 PM: Saw one at close range from the truck. Leapt right across the road during a major storm. All I could think of was "I didn't know they made them that big". Tail like a baseball bat.
Title: Re: Cougar counts
Post by: redi on March 04, 2023, 08:31:38 PM: Son and I saw one October 31st. Seconds from getting a shot. he saw one cross highway 12 in early January.
Title: Re: Cougar counts
Post by: Mfowl on March 04, 2023, 09:08:52 PM: Never saw this one but I tried to kill it for a couple days during early archery elk season. Two other groups of hunters I spoke with had separate encounters with cougars during the season as well.
Title: Re: Cougar counts
Post by: WAcoyotehunter on March 04, 2023, 09:29:01 PM: I've seen 20 or so since Jan 1, most were with the hounds but I did walk one down this week and could have smacked it with a tennis racket before I saw him. There are lots of lions right now. Find a track and walk until you find the cat that made it.
Title: Re: Cougar counts
Post by: Skyvalhunter on March 05, 2023, 07:14:42 AM: Was this meant to be a poll? If you look at trail cams with cougars on them most likely to be at night. So that leads to the fact they are more active then. So leads reasoning to the fact less people actually see one. This a true population count can't be made. It's certain there is more than predicted by WDFW.
Title: Re: Cougar counts
Post by: Wood2Sawdust on March 05, 2023, 07:26:54 AM: This year--Walked up on cats three different times that had a fresh kill in the dark while going in early to spots during archery and muzzleloader. Had two goats killed at home, killed one cougar and wounded another, could not find it. A month later, Neighbor below me killed one in his henhouse, middle of the day. Two years ago, I had three in thick sage around me, first sighting at 8 feet, too fast and too thick to get a shot. 5 years ago, neighbors shepherd killed and eaten, game officers killed that one on my property. All within a few miles of my house. About a quarter of the deer there were a few years ago.
Title: Re: Cougar counts
Post by: Humptulips on March 05, 2023, 07:36:39 AM: Saw two in elk season. Over the years the frequency of seeing cougars has increased from almost never to a few every year. Trouble is they almost never present a shot. A quick glimpse as they disappear into the brush is the norm.
Title: Re: Cougar counts
Post by: Ridgeratt on March 05, 2023, 07:54:10 AM: I have a new neighbor I need to make a house call on if I can find it. Just showed up on my camera a week ago.

Not sure if it would fit in a live trap. Could be a little sporty!! Then to get the catch pole around its head.
Title: Re: Cougar counts
Post by: nwwanderer on March 05, 2023, 10:06:34 AM: Best to kill or count if so inclined, catching can be a blood bath, yours
Title: Re: Cougar counts
Post by: hunter399 on March 05, 2023, 10:37:34 AM: I got one cat on trail cam.
Setup predator call for it last year with no success.
Pretty sure it's a biggin.
Not sure I can get there in April.
Probably 4 feet of snow up there.
It's a mountain cat.
Scratched out a living on moose I think.

It's a beautiful cat. And a biggin to boot.
I'd be pumped to harvest it,and will keep trying.
But if it doesn't happen,I'm ok with it too.
Title: Re: Cougar counts
Post by: Ridgeratt on March 05, 2023, 10:41:37 AM: Right now I am getting a dump of fresh snow. I'll go exploring in a bit. Might get lucky. I will take my 380 and go check for tracks.
Title: Re: Cougar counts
Post by: hunter399 on March 05, 2023, 10:53:27 AM: Quote from: Ridgeratt on March 05, 2023, 10:41:37 AM
Right now I am getting a dump of fresh snow. I'll go exploring in a bit. Might get lucky. I will take my 380 and go check for tracks.
Starting to snow at my place too.
Title: Re: Cougar counts
Post by: baldopepper on March 05, 2023, 10:54:42 AM: Not really a big deal seeing them anymore. They seem to have a 6th sense that let them know if you have a gun handy or not. Personally think they've become way more of threat to the deer than the wolves. Also don't like how brazen some have become. Not unusual to see them middle of the day and often they just saunder casually away casting a glance over their shoulder as they go.
Title: Re: Cougar counts
Post by: hunter399 on March 05, 2023, 10:56:22 AM: Quote from: WAcoyotehunter on March 04, 2023, 09:29:01 PM
I've seen 20 or so since Jan 1, most were with the hounds but I did walk one down this week and could have smacked it with a tennis racket before I saw him. There are lots of lions right now. Find a track and walk until you find the cat that made it.
I agree
Great advise.
Also I would add.......
If the track is fresh ,just start looking for a place to setup and call.
Title: Re: Cougar counts
Post by: GASoline71 on March 05, 2023, 02:43:49 PM: Quote from: WAcoyotehunter on March 04, 2023, 09:29:01 PM
I've seen 20 or so since Jan 1, most were with the hounds but I did walk one down this week and could have smacked it with a tennis racket before I saw him. There are lots of lions right now. Find a track and walk until you find the cat that made it.

In the last month we've seen 2. I think it's the same huge Tom, just seen him twice in the same week. Down in the bottom of Martin/Wynhoff Canyon approximately in the same general area where you guys run your dogs.

Gary
Title: Re: Cougar counts
Post by: ForTheFacts on August 10, 2023, 12:56:09 PM: Saw 2 cougars late March in Ellensburg. They showed up at my first coyote stand after I had left the scene. Their tracks were everywhere around where my caller was. I caught them on my way back through the area an hour or so after.

I watched them head up the steep rocky hill from 30-40 yards, both looked identical with black stripe running on top of the back and the tail. Someone told me that means they are young. I'm new to hunting. Didn't have my cougar tag at the time and they were on private property. Too bad because I had a ton of time watching them at close range.
Title: Re: Cougar counts
Post by: Kascade_Killer on October 27, 2023, 09:20:44 PM: Watched one run across the road last night outside Springdale. Ran right through someone’s yard chasing something that I didn’t get a good look at hopefully not the family golden retriever.
Title: Re: Cougar counts
Post by: jrebel on October 27, 2023, 09:33:46 PM: Saw one that was stalking us while packing my hunting partners elk out this year. Have 6-10 on trail camera (accounting for repeat sightings...though I think that is a conservative number).
Title: Re: Cougar counts
Post by: buckcanyonlodge on October 28, 2023, 04:36:00 AM: Quote from: Ridgeratt on March 05, 2023, 10:41:37 AM
Right now I am getting a dump of fresh snow. I'll go exploring in a bit. Might get lucky. I will take my 380 and go check for tracks.

Don't forget your catch pole along with that .380....you gonna need it
Title: Re: Cougar counts
Post by: dlow on October 28, 2023, 06:02:08 AM: I know a spot a cougar likes to hang out and tried getting him multiple times last season; even used some roadkill elk for bait. Well, I finally saw him while bear hunting, using an electronic caller. Unfortunately, it was 2 days before the season opened.