Post by: h2ofowlr on August 09, 2009, 10:08:36 PM
Talked to some of the locals and they said it is hit or miss on snow, so if you hit it on the opener be prepaired.
Post by: Ray on August 09, 2009, 10:10:42 PM
Post by: Hoyt204 on August 10, 2009, 08:26:14 AM
Post by: h2ofowlr on August 10, 2009, 09:04:03 AM
Post by: Ridgerunner on August 10, 2009, 09:11:32 AM
Post by: PacificNWhunter on August 10, 2009, 09:18:43 AM
I went up to the end and hiked in a few miles and saw a lot of cat sign. That may clear the deer out of the area some.
Saw in the news that some mountain biker was chased by a cougar this last week around there.
Post by: Slider on August 10, 2009, 10:26:17 AM
Cougar encounters close popular Leavenworth trail
By K.C. Mehaffey
World staff writer
Posted August 07, 2009
LEAVENWORTH — A cougar that chased a mountain biker on the Freund Canyon Trail north of Leavenworth led U.S. Forest Service officials Friday to close the trail until the cougar is removed.
Freund Canyon Trail No. 6701 —about two miles north of Leavenworth off of Chumstick Road — is closed until further notice, but officials hope to reopen it in a couple of weeks.
The Wenatchee River Ranger District received one other first-hand report, and two other second-hand reports of cougar encounters in the area in the past six weeks, said the district's wildlife biologist, Don Youkey.
He said although mountain biking can elicit a predator-prey response from cougars, the relatively aggressive actions of the cougar after the chase makes the encounter uncharacteristic behavior.
He said the mountain biker who had an encounter Thursday initially thought a dog was following him, and when he turned around and saw it was a cougar, he did the right thing.
"He stopped and put his bike between himself and the cougar and started yelling and screaming," Youkey said, adding, "It didn't exactly run away immediately, but it did after a few minutes."
A farmer in the area heard the screaming, and came to help, but after the farmer left, the cougar came back and started following him again, Youkey said.
Youkey said the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will determine how to deal with the cougar. The agency is trying to find a hound hunter to help track it, he said.
People who encounter a mountain lion are warned not to run, but to stop, face the cougar and talk to it firmly, then slowly back away, the biologist said. He said people should also stand tall, or stand on something if possible to make them look bigger. Pick up small children, and fight back by throwing rocks or sticks. People should not approach a cougar, however. "The idea is to convince the cougar that you are not prey, but a potential danger," he said.
Post by: boneaddict on August 10, 2009, 10:33:56 AM
Post by: Ray on August 10, 2009, 10:38:13 AM
That's an interesting report and not too surprising. I hear there is good hunting at times on top of Tumwater Mountain which is in close vicinity of Freund Canyon.
The lower Icicle Canyon does not receive much hunting pressure. I agree. However there are a lot of other user groups such as hikers and rock climbers. I have seen deer down low in the canyon this summer but I would not like to shoot one and let it fall in someone's rose garden per say (or in front of someone's Subaru).
Post by: jjhunter on August 10, 2009, 10:49:53 AM
Post by: Hoyt204 on August 10, 2009, 10:58:41 AM
Post by: h2ofowlr on August 10, 2009, 03:15:20 PM
Post by: bear on August 10, 2009, 03:21:32 PM
Post by: Ray on August 10, 2009, 03:24:39 PM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on August 10, 2009, 03:26:19 PM
If you shoot a kitty, you'd better be bloody.
Post by: BENCHLEG on August 10, 2009, 08:49:13 PM
Post by: jeepasaurusrex on August 11, 2009, 12:26:06 AM
Post by: teal101 on August 11, 2009, 08:51:57 AM
SE of Leavenworth, off HWY 97 is Camas Creek Rd. If you go far enough back in there, there is some nice areas.
Especially those meadows that we can't hunt :bash:
Post by: Armadillo on August 11, 2009, 08:54:14 AM
Its a shame isnt it
Post by: jeepasaurusrex on August 11, 2009, 05:53:34 PM
Post by: teal101 on August 13, 2009, 08:47:26 AM
Are you talking about the no shooting area up there? If you go past that, there is tons of area that is open.
Yes I'm talking about the Camas Meadows which are unhuntable. There is lots of area around there to hunt though.
Post by: jeepasaurusrex on August 13, 2009, 09:14:13 AM
Post by: westsideoutdoorsman on August 13, 2009, 03:35:13 PM
Post by: Dmanmastertracker on August 13, 2009, 03:50:55 PM
Post by: Armadillo on August 13, 2009, 07:50:41 PM
Keep the upper hand
Post by: ICEMAN on August 13, 2009, 08:41:09 PM
......"He stopped and put his bike between himself and the cougar and started yelling and screaming," Youkey said, adding, "It didn't exactly run away immediately, but it did after a few minutes."
.....Youkey said the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will determine how to deal with the cougar. The agency is trying to find a hound hunter to help track it, he said.
Sounds pretty easy to me....I would bait it in with a mountainbiker....
Is a mountainbiker considered bait? :dunno:
Post by: jeepasaurusrex on August 14, 2009, 06:44:20 AM