Cougar shot in self defense

[ganghis]

Was out bear hunting w a buddy this weekend in the Olympics and he ended up shooting a cougar in self defense (it stalked him within 10 feet of where he was sitting on a ledge - he wasn't actually attacked but it seemed like it was a matter of seconds).  Needless to say he was pretty shook up.  After meeting him back in camp (I was up on another ridge andd heard his shot across the valley) we debated our options and decided to climb up about 500ft in elevation to get cell service and try to get hold of wdfw to see what to do.  911 patched us in to a warden, who said we were good to skin and pack out the meat - he sounded hopeful but noncommital that we'd be able to keep any of it.  Anyway, at that point it was dark so we waited til the next morning to go find it (it fell off a cliff after being shot in the head).  Found it and caped and quartered it, and packed it all out back to the trailhead.  A different warden was waiting for us there and gave us a self defense/legal blessing but took the meat and hide.  Pretty sure that was what was going to happen but felt a little manipulated - I mean I feel like they were trying to save themselves some work by keeping our hopes up we might be able to keep some of it.  He said he'd try to donate the meat but I have my doubts...that's kind of what irks me the most, the thought that the meat will go to waste.

Anyway, there are probably some lessons there.  Probably the easiest thing to have done is just to have left it and not reported it.  But, my buddy texted his girlfriend about it after talking to the warden that first night and by the time we were back in cell range he had texts from all his inlaws asking if he was ok.  So, these things have a way of blowing up - I guess one either has to be super quiet about it or just go by the book.  Pretty happy we did that, only thing I would have changed is being a little less exacting on the caping and butchering!

[TeacherMan]

Easiest thing to do is have a tag in your pocket just for that reason. But at the end of the day you did the right thing; just think how much they saved him in taxidermy bills.

[headshot5]

Guy I know was stalked by one up the Wynooche.  Was it in that area by chance?

[ganghis]

Yeah that's the general area.  And we did have cougar tags, but the season doesn't open til 9/1

[Britt-dog]

That cat is now counted towards the quota....

[ducks4days]

Somebody smarter than me please correct me if I am wrong; I dont think you can usually keep the animal if shot in self defense. I would have given the warden a GPS pin instead of taking the time to cape and quarter it like it was going in the freezer. You guys did everything right, and shouldnt let the mess of what could happen after change how you act in the moment when it seems like you are about to be attacked. Scary stuff, I'm glad youre both alright.

[Platensek-po]

Somebody smarter than me please correct me if I am wrong; I dont think you can usually keep the animal if shot in self defense. I would have given the warden a GPS pin instead of taking the time to cape and quarter it like it was going in the freezer. You guys did everything right, and shouldnt let the mess of what could happen after change how you act in the moment when it seems like you are about to be attacked. Scary stuff, I'm glad youre both alright.

Actually the only good thing I can think of is that by caping and quartering after being told to do, they basically can’t do an investigation. So that way if you are told it was self defense they can’t go back and try come up with some story about how/where when the animal was shot. It’s now a done deal and you are off the hook.

[2MANY]

Did I miss the age/sex of this cougar?

[ganghis]

Non-lactating female - probably on the younger side, but I'm not a good judge of age.

[hunter399]

Way I see it.
Better safe than sorry,if it's too close to ya.
Shoot first ask questions later.
Seems to me you did everything correctly.
Sucks it wasn't season yet,is what it is.

[raydog]

Somebody smarter than me please correct me if I am wrong; I dont think you can usually keep the animal if shot in self defense. I would have given the warden a GPS pin instead of taking the time to cape and quarter it like it was going in the freezer. You guys did everything right, and shouldnt let the mess of what could happen after change how you act in the moment when it seems like you are about to be attacked. Scary stuff, I'm glad youre both alright.

Actually the only good thing I can think of is that by caping and quartering after being told to do, they basically can’t do an investigation. So that way if you are told it was self defense they can’t go back and try come up with some story about how/where when the animal was shot. It’s now a done deal and you are off the hook.

Thats a good point.

[ghosthunter]

I think this was the best out come being the season was not open.

 

[Limhangerslayer]

I had the same situation this spring turkey hunting. Cat came in and wouldn’t leave,  season was open and quota was still available but I shout it with turkey shot.  I knew what the outcome was going to be.  We called the local game warden and he met us at my brothers house.  There was nothing the game warden could do other than take it.   6’ 9” 154 lb. Hated to see it go to waste. 

And if you look some places are at quota this year before the season even opens🤦🏻

[TeacherMan]

Yeah that's the general area.  And we did have cougar tags, but the season doesn't open til 9/1

Been a long time since I hunted Wa. You’d think they’d want the season open simultaneously. Sounds like you did the right thing overall.

[MADMAX]

I had the same situation this spring turkey hunting. Cat came in and wouldn’t leave,  season was open and quota was still available but I shout it with turkey shot.  I knew what the outcome was going to be.  We called the local game warden and he met us at my brothers house.  There was nothing the game warden could do other than take it.   6’ 9” 154 lb. Hated to see it go to waste. 

And if you look some places are at quota this year before the season even opens🤦🏻

I had to look and it looks like they’re all open as of September 1
Correct me if I’m wrong

https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/big-game/cougar