|
Post by okanagan on Mar 17, 2009 7:19:46 GMT
You folks have indulged me even though I'm not in the East. I have enjoyed this site and so will post my good news about calling another cougar while I'm still jazzed about it. We got ideal lion hunting conditions for several days last week and my son invited me to hunt with him in WA State. I called and he did the shooting. On our second stand a lion showed up at the 2 1/2 minute mark, looking toward my son. He froze for 30 seconds or more till the cougar went behind a tree as it sneaked closer in a darting crouch. When the cat came into view again his rifle was up and he was looking at it through the scope. The cat stopped and sat on its haunches and he shot it in the chest at 80 yards. 7mm magnum shooting 150 grain Sirocco bullets. Average sized male, very lean and recovering from a fight with another cougar so it only weighed 98 lbs. though it's frame would normally carry a heavier cat. Some pics. Minaska M1 e-caller. Used fawn distress and juvenile cougar sounds from Rainshadow. The scenery shot shows a lion track crossing the road and we called this cat later the same day on the mountainside to the right, above the road. The photo of the claw has the hands of my 8 year old grandson in it.
|
|
|
Post by MK-M-GOBL on Mar 17, 2009 11:41:01 GMT
How cool is that!! Congratulations to your son and to you I'd love to someday be able to take one. East coast or not, the story of your hunt and the photos are an incredible treat to read. I'm sure is for others on the forum as well. Again...thanks
|
|
thunderchicken
Turkey Contest Staff
Impatience is hard to ignore , but patience puts the bird in your truck!
Posts: 1,102
|
Post by thunderchicken on Mar 17, 2009 19:44:19 GMT
that is one beautiful looking cat! Congrats on a great hunt! ;D
|
|
|
Post by highwaystar on Mar 17, 2009 22:52:54 GMT
okanagan That is so great. I can't believe those cats are in the woods you hunt. Nice photo of the hunting grounds. Do you carry side arms when you are in those woods? My hip would be packed HEAVY. Looks like you have the same weather as us here in NH. Hope the pack to the truck was not to far. That is a lot of dead weight to carry. Do you field dress or leave the innerds? Thanks for the post that is sooo! cool. Highwaystar
|
|
|
Post by regnar on Mar 18, 2009 0:02:34 GMT
thats one bad ass looking pussy cat!!
|
|
|
Post by okanagan on Mar 18, 2009 1:05:24 GMT
okanagan That is so great. I can't believe those cats are in the woods you hunt. Nice photo of the hunting grounds. Do you carry side arms when you are in those woods? My hip would be packed HEAVY. Looks like you have the same weather as us here in NH. Hope the pack to the truck was not to far. That is a lot of dead weight to carry. Do you field dress or leave the innerds? Thanks for the post that is sooo! cool. Highwaystar Thanks for the compliments. I'm lucky, and blessed. Neither of us carry a side arm when calling cougars. I didn't have a rifle this time as I was only calling, not hunting myself. We set up about 250 yards above the road this time so it wasn't far to pack the cat. We'd have gutted on the spot if it had been very far to the truck. If was far enough to make it a serious pack out we'd have skinned and boned out the meat. Cougar is delicious. But this one was close enough to take out whole and show it to the kids/grandkids and we wanted to do that. On Monday of last week my son cut a cougar track, followed it a quarter mile up and around a mountain and then sensed that the cat was bedded on an outcropping of rock ahead. He stalked the ledge, didn't see the cat and relaxed his intensity a bit. A few more steps and as he came around a corner to see the far edge of the rocks, he saw the cougar get up from its bed and take off. The snow was good and he followed it for 7 1/2 hours after that without ever seeing it again. So an easy one by the road kind of balances things out.
|
|
|
Post by browning204 on Mar 18, 2009 1:52:10 GMT
I could NOT imagine seeing a cat that big in the wild! I am not sure I would want to!
great story and animal! you guys seem to have alot of fun!
|
|
|
Post by okanagan on Mar 18, 2009 2:16:45 GMT
I could NOT imagine seeing a cat that big in the wild! I am not sure I would want to! great story and animal! you guys seem to have alot of fun! Sure you would want to see one! The rush cleans out the pipes. As to having fun, we sure do. I'm blessed big time to be able to hunt with a son like that. I am serious that I would enjoy a hunt with you, Browning, or Highwaystar, if the stars ever align for it.
|
|
|
Post by highwaystar on Mar 18, 2009 19:46:07 GMT
okanagan Where at are you in Washington? It would be a delight to go on a hunt. Thanks for the invite. March looks like a good time to go after them. I've been looking at the WA F&G site. You have given me something to think about. Kathie has been wanting to go to Alaska. NH to WA to AK what a road trip. ;D Highwaystar
|
|
|
Post by okanagan on Mar 18, 2009 23:26:47 GMT
Yep, that would be a good road trip. My wife would hate the long stretches in northern BC and Yukon, which I love. Ponder on it and let 's see what works out. I don't live in Washington, which is why I wasn't hunting last week, just handling the calling. My son lives on the Olympic Peninsula, where the photos were taken. We called that cat in the most open patch of woods I know of on the Peninsula. Most of it is a thick wet jungle. We could hook up in his area and hunt the Peninsula, since I know the area pretty well, or hunt the region north of Seattle to the border. Weather is a huge factor in the way we hunt lions, and there is no way to predict it far enough ahead to do anything about it. Good lion weather is frankly rare in Western WA. Last year I don't think we had a single good day the entire season. This year we had three good spells that lasted from one day to an amazing seven straight. We could have fun whatever the weather. If you REALLY want a lion, go with hounds, of course. Calling is long odds, but my personal preference. I grew up hunting with excellent hounds, still love the dogs and the chase but its a BTDT.
|
|
|
Post by browning204 on Mar 19, 2009 1:33:35 GMT
Okanagan: If I was with someone who knows the ropes than I would love to give it a go. I got some bi stuff happening for me and the family here real soon. All for the good so a little get away could be in order and do-able for me in the future. You are one of the guys that I know from the net that I would actually try my hardest to hook up with!
Maybe something could be set up for a future hunt? Highway: I have someone who MIGHT be able to get us on an American flight outta boston on the cheap. Something to look at.
Thanks for the invite, now I have something to think about.
|
|
roman
Egg
I Love This!
Posts: 191
|
Post by roman on Apr 7, 2009 7:59:18 GMT
"If was far enough to make it a serious pack out we'd have skinned and boned out the meat. Cougar is delicious"
Cougar is good to eat? Well, you learn something new each day! I never thought it would be.
|
|
|
Post by okanagan on Apr 11, 2009 15:52:52 GMT
"If was far enough to make it a serious pack out we'd have skinned and boned out the meat. Cougar is delicious" Cougar is good to eat? Well, you learn something new each day! I never thought it would be. The mountain men like Jim Bridger and Kit Carson claimed that cougar was the best meat there is, better than wild sheep or buffalo hump. I will admit that for me, there is a psychological barrier as the first bite goes in my mouth! We had lion tenderloin medallions (fillet mignon) with eggs the first morning after we got this cat. The best way I've eaten cougar is small steaks grilled and then served in mushroom gravy. It is fine grained white meat... the other white meat.
|
|
|
Post by edcyclopedia on Apr 18, 2009 1:11:37 GMT
Wow! Great trophy..
|
|