Post by: Buckhunter82 on November 05, 2010, 11:09:53 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on November 05, 2010, 11:13:41 PM
Post by: remington300mag on November 05, 2010, 11:16:37 PM
Post by: WonkyWapiti on November 05, 2010, 11:21:41 PM
Post by: shedcrazy on November 05, 2010, 11:24:36 PM
Post by: krout81 on November 05, 2010, 11:37:23 PM
Post by: raekmike on November 05, 2010, 11:50:11 PM
Post by: Hangfire on November 06, 2010, 06:37:07 AM
Post by: nontypical176 on November 06, 2010, 07:36:58 AM
My buddy was rattling horns up near Republic WA and had a cougar come in on him. Shot it from the hip, he said the main on it was all flaired out when he first seen it coming through some brush 20' away. Shot it from the hip and then ran up to the road and almost jumped in the back of a passer bys truck. As they were waiting there listening they could here the tail wipping back in forth in the brush. Spooky. He's a lot jumpier than he used to be when sneeking around in the bush, and has a full body mount that reminds him of how quick the hunter can become the hunted. You should do the same.
Congrats man. Thats just awesome.
Post by: spikehunter on November 06, 2010, 07:41:26 AM
Post by: wsucowboy on November 06, 2010, 08:23:11 AM
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on November 06, 2010, 08:32:00 AM
Post by: hogsniper on November 06, 2010, 09:31:11 AM
Post by: markts on November 06, 2010, 09:40:34 AM
Post by: fishermanjoe on November 06, 2010, 09:44:10 AM
Post by: washingtonmuley on November 06, 2010, 09:55:11 AM
Post by: Ray on November 06, 2010, 09:59:23 AM
Post by: winston2789 on November 06, 2010, 10:09:10 AM
Post by: saylean on November 06, 2010, 10:13:14 AM
Post by: MikeWalking on November 06, 2010, 10:15:08 AM
Post by: Buckhunter82 on November 06, 2010, 10:27:10 AM
Post by: Buckhunter82 on November 06, 2010, 10:32:24 AM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on November 06, 2010, 10:36:48 AM
Post by: trophyhunt on November 06, 2010, 11:24:02 AM
Post by: sisu on November 06, 2010, 12:32:08 PM
Nice job on the cat! I've only seen 3 in my life. 2 were out by the nile and the other was down the road from our house in Buckley. Don't know how many times I've had one track em when I'm out in the woods, heard a few scream at night though.Back before St. Helens blew I was bivied on the Shoestring Glacier waiting for some light so we could do this climb I was wanting to do. We were dozing off when there was the hell of a loud scream that made your friggin' hair stand on end. Armed with ice axes and crampons we quickly put the crampons on and gripped our ice axes, day light could no come fast enough.
I'd sure like to see a cougar some day, and if the situation was right nail one.
Post by: coachcw on November 06, 2010, 12:59:01 PM
Post by: addicted on November 06, 2010, 01:39:09 PM
Post by: Hangfire on November 07, 2010, 01:42:48 AM
The largest cougar track I ever saw, was about 1970 in the same area. A week after I saw that track, a 200 pound plus, cougar male was taken. That area produces some large cats. The average mature cougar female, only weights about 105 pounds.
Post by: rainshadow1 on November 07, 2010, 04:04:22 AM
Excellent reaction, and well done!
Since it saw you, and it knew you saw it, and still wasn't hunkered down hiding, or slinking away, all bets were off. I'm not saying it would have rushed you, but it had gone beyond a stalk (for you and for the cat.) 100% unpredictable situation, and very dangerous. Something was going to happen. It was going to bolt, either for you or away. You did the right thing... and you tagged a GREAT trophy!
(Rugs are super nice too! :P )
Post by: woodman on November 07, 2010, 04:46:55 AM
When these things happen, it makes me wonder, the news always reports how few deaths there are from cats and bears. I wonder if that is because hunters that have this happen just shot before the animal had a chance to attack.
I am glad that you came out on top in this situation! I rugged mine out by the way and am very happy with it.
Joe
Post by: rasbo on November 07, 2010, 04:55:16 AM
Post by: 400out on November 07, 2010, 07:41:57 AM
Post by: mulehunter on November 07, 2010, 07:47:48 AM
Mulehunter :)
Post by: Buckhunter82 on November 07, 2010, 01:20:27 PM
Post by: Hangfire on November 07, 2010, 02:55:59 PM
Probably not the same cat, but I was within 6 miles of there. I am going to touch up my cougar call sounds and practice with the call I got from Rainshadow. I hope to be back up there this week, if we get some snow. After late buck if conditions good, I may try calling with my muzzle loading shot gun, with buck shot. I think that would be a neat hunt. If I feel really good I may take the flintlock 12 gauge.
Your cat would make a very nice rug.
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on November 07, 2010, 03:08:28 PM
Joe
Post by: TheHunt on November 07, 2010, 03:28:31 PM
Post by: Ranger91298 on November 07, 2010, 03:53:02 PM
Post by: Ridgeratt on November 07, 2010, 04:57:04 PM
This is the second cougar I have seen harvested this year by non-hound hunters. I saw a Female in the back of a truck above northport this last week also. It also was a large cat and when the WDFG agent was sealing the hide he sexed it as a female.
Congrats again
Post by: ser300wsm on November 07, 2010, 05:05:07 PM
Post by: Austrian Hunter on November 07, 2010, 05:09:58 PM
Post by: MLHSN on November 07, 2010, 05:21:06 PM
That being said, in your shoes I would have taken the shot as well. It's nice to have the peace of mind. It will also be a good conversation piece for the rest of your life. Two years ago while hiking north of Lake Chelan I was sidehilling next to a steep draw to avoid the brush at the bottom of the draw. I reached a small rock outcropping and started to ascend to go around it. A heard a few little rocks tumble and looked up thinking I would see a deer running off. Instead I saw a large cougar looking down at me. A couple seconds later it turned and run over the spur out of sight. The size of it's tail sticks out so vividly in my mind. I wish I was carrying at the time. I was covered with goose bumps the rest of the 4 mi. hike back to my car and I got a kink in my kneck from walking looking backwards the whole time.
That's an impressive animal you got there :brew:
Post by: Buckhunter82 on November 08, 2010, 01:29:51 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on November 08, 2010, 01:34:42 PM
Post by: Cougeyes on November 08, 2010, 03:17:54 PM
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/docs/cougar_article_web.pdf (http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/docs/cougar_article_web.pdf)
Post by: Curly on November 08, 2010, 03:30:09 PM
8)
Post by: lewy on November 08, 2010, 03:31:25 PM
Post by: bucklucky on November 08, 2010, 03:37:23 PM
Post by: Cougeyes on November 08, 2010, 03:42:15 PM
Nice cat ! Just dont beleive the weight.Yeah its either the weight is off and it is a female or the weight is correct and its a male. But the picture doesn't appear to be a 170 lb cat. But nonetheless its a real good looking cougar and congrats to you on harvesting it.
Post by: Grouse Hunter on November 08, 2010, 03:45:48 PM
Nice cat ! Just dont beleive the weight.Yeah its either the weight is off and it is a female or the weight is correct and its a male. But the picture doesn't appear to be a 170 lb cat. But nonetheless its a real good looking cougar and congrats to you on harvesting it.
You apparently didn't see the post where he said that it was NOT a female:
Well, I lied to you guys. F&G had a tough time themselves, but said they're pretty sure it's a male. Sorry for my ignorance, but on a positive note I'm getting a full body mount.
Post by: bucklucky on November 08, 2010, 03:48:13 PM
I guess I didnt mean it wasnt a 170 pound cat , but a 170 female , that is unreal.
Id like to know carcass measurements. I know my 160 pound Tom was 58 inches from the nose to base of tail and 38 in girth around the belly.
OOps , just saw the new post that it was a Male :chuckle:
Post by: Cougeyes on November 08, 2010, 03:53:31 PM
Post by: BuckHunter23 on November 08, 2010, 04:12:48 PM
Question for the masses and a hypothetical not realated to this guys encounter:
What if you were in an area where you weren't allowed to hunt cougar and this same scenario happened? Obviously one wouldn't want to take any chances and find out what the cougar had in mind. Can you shoot in self defense at that distance, or would the game warden give you a hard time. I buy a cougar tag every year, more for protection. I for one wouldn't think twice and would shoot the cat and worry about the questions/consequences later. Would the gamies just take the animal after you reported the encounter? I've always been leary in the woods, and after reading all of your stories in this thread, I don't feel any easier about going out in the woods alone.
Post by: rainshadow1 on November 08, 2010, 06:41:04 PM
Double +1 on the face/taxidermist. Don't scrimp. (I don't care if your kid cousin wants to be a taxidermist someday!) Bad cat faces are HORRIBLE!!! I mean, you won't even want to show it. Definately look at their gallery of work.
Michelle did my first rug, and it's beautiful! Charlie's got my second hide, but it was far too nice to rug, so I'm just having it tanned since I can't afford a full mount right now. (I might want to mount it with a big male someday.)
Edit: @ question for the masses... "Bang!" Take pictures, mark your position, leave the cat there, call the warden. You'd be fine. You could likely have let them take this one and call it self defense... but why would you do that?!?! It's a gorgeous cat!
Post by: Hangfire on November 08, 2010, 07:21:25 PM
What if you were in an area where you weren't allowed to hunt cougar and this same scenario happened? Obviously one wouldn't want to take any chances and find out what the cougar had in mind. Can you shoot in self defense at that distance, or would the game warden give you a hard time. I buy a cougar tag every year, more for protection. I for one wouldn't think twice and would shoot the cat and worry about the questions/consequences later. Would the gamies just take the animal after you reported the encounter? I've always been leary in the woods, and after reading all of your stories in this thread, I don't feel any easier about going out in the woods alone
Mt wife's nephew had one come running at him when he was crouched down in the brush glassing for deer about 10 years ago. He shot it at a few feet. He reported it to FW and had to hand over the cat. No further problem. He may have had a problem if the cat had been further away, with out firing a shot into ground, hollering etc. If he had tried to keep the cat with out reporting it, would have been a problem, if discovered.
Post by: Jellymon on November 08, 2010, 07:45:20 PM
After comparing your pic to mine I can see it hitting 170lbs. Its probably one of your favorite hunts now huh? Awesome job!! Ask for the skull back, looks great by the mount!
Post by: Buckhunter82 on November 08, 2010, 10:57:45 PM
Post by: Jellymon on November 09, 2010, 02:48:04 PM
Post by: whacker1 on November 09, 2010, 05:35:37 PM
Post by: Curly on November 09, 2010, 06:18:57 PM
Post by: Buckhunter82 on November 09, 2010, 06:34:51 PM
Post by: Gopher on November 09, 2010, 07:59:42 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy106%2FDogarm%2F2Cat12-26-07.jpg&hash=c415aeeffe83ef8933ee0e625ee325eb90458dad)
Post by: rainshadow1 on November 09, 2010, 10:12:11 PM
I've seen males without the black spot showing. Sack was there, but hard to tell what it was, not what you'd expect. Sometimes the sack is obvious. Doesn't necessarily correspond with age either. Wierd.
If there is a black spot, it's a givaway.
Post by: Jellymon on November 10, 2010, 01:09:16 PM