Cougar - hunt like a coyote?

[Guy Miner]

Found where a cougar has been hanging around, a lot.

Hunt it like a coyote? Maybe some kind of decoy, and then call like a wounded rabbit? Fawn bleats? What about adding in some coyote barks?

 

[DrMike]

Cougar will come in to a call, and they will take a bait. However, it is my opinion that they are still more alert and more secretive than coyotes and/or wolves.

 

[Bruce Mc]

I've been told that all cats tend to want to lay eyes on the source of the sound before they come in. I've seen many bobcats do this and they would often circle the target. When calling in south Texas I would set up callers and then climb into a tower blind. Man, having a Cougar circle behind you would be a rush. Do elk calves make some distinctive sound when they're in distress.

 

[CatskillCrawler]

I would imagine that any fawn sound would work well also.

 

[DrMike]

Fawn bleats do work. And, yes, cougar will come in silently and from the most unexpected direction. Cougar can be unnerving.

 

[C.Smith]

Fawn bleats do work. And, yes, cougar will come in silently and from the most unexpected direction. Cougar can be unnerving.

I can only immagine. I would love to have a cougar mount in the house but I'm not sure I have the nerve to do it. Go get him Guy.

Corey

 

[Guy Miner]

Thanks guys. I've tried it before - but this time it seems like a very real possibility if I can devote the time to it, and if I don't blow it.

Both are big questions... :grin:

Still, it should be fun and I'll probably end up with another coyote. That's not all bad either. A cougar would make my day. Talked to my son tonight. He's game to double up with me, him with the short barrel 12 gauge heavily loaded and me with a scoped rifle. One of us ought to get the cat if we actually see him.

Guy

 

[Mountain Goat]

A diaphram cow elk call, single reed, works very well as long as you keep it quiet and high pitched like a calf. Think more me-yow than mew. :lol: Bow hunting for elk by myself for many years has reveled as many cats and bears as elk for me, so I learned what was making that happen. It was my calling technique along the fact that I didn't sound like a heard of elk walking around like you do when you have 3 or so hunters together. I usually call in as many predators as I do elk, not on purpose though. That's risky business by yourself with only a recurve and a handgun, which is how I hunt usually. With the absence of hound an bait hunting in Oregon for bear and cougar, it's been more of a regular occurence encountering these animals.

Go hunt that dude and at least get a rug out of the deal! :wink:

 

[C.Smith]

Can't wait to see a kitty down.

Corey

 

[6mm Remington]

I've tried to intentionally call in a mountin lion Guy with a rabbit distress call, and a squeaker (mouse). I have not had any luck "yet"! I didn't purchase a tag this year so I won't try it until next. What I have been told and read is that a bobcat and cougar will come in slow. They get easily distracted with "shiny" objects on the way in, and are just very cautious anyway.

I'd try a few different calls. If you have elk right near you (in your area), the calf call would work well, same for a deer call. The rabbit distress call should also work. That would be really cool to call one in and get him. Best of luck to you and your son. I have work commitments this weekend, but next weekend I'm going wolf hunting. Going to try and cut fresh tracks and then set up and call. I'll use a coyote howler in combination with a rabbit distress call. I'd love to get a wolf and have him tanned. It would be something special, just like a cougar. Let us know how it works for you.

 

[JD338]

Guy,

Take a look at a FoxPro caller with the remote. They also have a Jack-in-the-Box decoy to give you the movement you need to keep them interested.

JD338

 

[ScreaminEagle]

Roll around in some deer blood and start flopping around on the ground while someone else calls. When the cat comes in hit it with a big ole 12ga slug!

 

[CatskillCrawler]

Roll around in some deer blood and start flopping around on the ground while someone else calls. When the cat comes in hit it with a big ole 12ga slug!

Excellent suggestion but worthless without a video camera.

 

[str8meat]

called in 3 in one year with the primos fawn in didtress call. they take their time to show and watch your wind. had 1 backdoor us till the wind switched. smelled him and turned to see his butt leaving. dont know how long it was there. tracks said it was sitting on haunches watching us from 50 yards away. once you call 1 in and harvest you'll be hooked for life. i have no pix of the 130 lb. female called in but my bro in law shot her at 30 feet. ears pinned back tail a twitchin gettin ready to pounce. man what a rush. nothing like sounding like their next hot meal.

 

[Guy Miner]

Good info! That had to be quite an adventure. I'll check on the cat later, not enough time to hunt right now.

 

[mcseal2]

I know a little about bobcat, it may carry over to bigger kitties.

I prefer a decoy and an electric caller. Cats spot movement for running mouth calls alot of the time, partly because they come in way slower than yotes on average and are seldom competing with their buddies to get the injured critter first. I plan on 45 minutes to an hour on a spot for cats. Despite everything I try, I know more see me and leave than I ever see. Also cats are said to prefer near constant calling to a call and wait sequence. They lose interest pretty quick if it gets quiet.

I plan to use my pop-up blinds I have set out for deer and do some calling in them for cats and yotes after season. It worked well last year for yotes, and I have several cat pictures on trail cam within range of the blinds. Cats are very cautious and you just have to be incredibly still if your not in a blind or treestand where they aren't looking. If it isn't to much of a pack into where you found the cat you might consider a blind. A electric caller with fawn distress sounds and a montana or other similar fawn decoy might up your odds also Tie something to the decoy to add a little movement like a turkey feather or two near the tail. Anything you can do to hide your movement or distract it's attention will help greatly. Even having 2 of you so you don't have to swivel your heads should up the odds.

 

[str8meat]

will be ging out his weekend myself for the kitties. maybe both days. keep us posted guy.

 

[DrMike]

As far as approach, I've not noticed any difference between lynx and cougar. They are curious and cautious. They have all the time in the world to assess what is going on.