Trask unit Kittys? Help a beginner

[thresher]

Hey, shot in the dark here and at this time I am just gathering info. But I know 2 years ago I was driving in the Trask unit and as I came around a bend I the road I caught the tail end of a cougar. I’m thinking that if I can get the time this year I might actually go out and try to target one. Here are my questions though. I normally hunt deer and elk but due to the fact that im always busy with school and work the seasons just dont match up with when i have free time. So,

First when the season (star to finish) is is it year round ; second what type of territory are they normally found in. I.e. should I hunt the edges of clear cuts, steep hills, a combo of both??? What caliber rifle do you think will do the trick? I have a .308 and a 30-30. Both very accurate guns. I’m leaning to the 308 because it’s got a scope... but what’s your suggestion of the two. Should I stalk them (or them me lol) or should I set up near a game trail and wait for them to come my way??? Also when/if i am able to take one i know i have to report it and take it in to an ODFW office, but do they want it whole? Or can it be cleaned first??? Also where is the nearest office from Hillsboro


I know I have some more but im at a loss at the moment

[Beamerfish]

Sounds like a good reason to get out in the woods but hunting those things in that country is probably about like trying to find bigfoot. You are one up on most of us for even seeing one. I've spent significant chunks of my whole life in those woods and I've never even caught a glimpse.

[bajadan2000]

Saw one working the creek bottom, I was up on a landing glassing for elk and deer. I could see the cat and the city of Tillamook at the same time. Maybe walking deer trails along the creeks and looking up for a cat setting up for an ambush out of a tree or high bank might pay off. It is going to be hard to find one without snow or dogs, but if you have time for a hike, just go slow and look around and up in the trees alot. Using a call would work, however, suggest you have a partner along to watch your back side when calling..

Cats do not need a large caliber like a bear does. Took mine with a 22 pistol shot to the head @ 8 feet. Would suggest something a little larger. This is not the cat I saw outisde of Tillamook, that one may still be there. The lead is still inside the skull.

[Chug]

hunting Cats on west side coast range. . Is hard. Currently we have snow on the ground in the coast range as of this posting. Go now, to store buy your Cat tag. Head to the coast range. Start looking for paw prints. Even with snow, hard to find. They are few & far. But from Speaking with others, the West side has same amount of cats Like the east side. Follow deer, use a dying rabbitt caller. an keep looking, will be luck if you should see one.

IF you shoot, one, you have 72 hours to bring to ODFW station. For Data collecting. Not sure on guts, But the female goodies & male Tools & wrench Should be part of body.

Pick up hunting Reg's, Cougars are listed in book.

I hunted coast range trask, hiking, Atv's, I Seen bear, bobcats, deer Elk. NO big cat. Currently My tail cam is set up in a area, that a nice big male Tom cat was spotted. Fellow that lives up near location, has plaster cast of it. BIG paw. Some day!!.. either in front of my pistol or Trail cam..

all I can say is go walk the trails Nice time to look for sheds too, Just watch your back "often" , watch high spots. The side brush. They like to ambush, with stealth. Fear the night, They are good killers.

Ever hear a house cat run in a house... They are very silent. add 180 pounds to your house cat Plus few drops grumpy anger.... yikes.

[skein]

What Chug said.

Also, look up. IF you get on one close enough to pressure it, it will most likely run up a tree. I remember Birdhunter posting a pic from a pheasant hunt where they had jumped a couple of cats and yep, they ran to a tree and skinnied up it. I also saw a documentary on a family of cougars, and when the guy got close he lost the track in the snow. He knew it had to go somewhere, but the tracks just disappeared. Finally he started looking up and sure enough, there it was.

I wonder how many of us have walked right under them and not known it. I think the next time I get that crawly, something's-watching-me feeling I'll spend a little more time checking out the trees.

Skein

[BrianMaguire]

If you want to hunt cats in the Coast range go TODAY!. Fresh snow or calling are the only ways you can hunt them. You may get lucky and get one but for actual targeting it does not get any better than now. Its breeding season as well so mating sounds (cougar) may work.

[Chug]

OH yea.. another trick, once you do find tracks & you think your near cat.. Start barking like a dog!!.. They will flee up into a tree. Yep, sounds crazy.
this info was posted few week's back regarding just that. Not sure if I will Remember to bark?, when I see a cat peering at me from a few feet away. I think Side arm will bark faster.. Then after its done barking will be baby wipes time.
Do a search on cougars, hunting cougars, on ifish search... should pop up.. if not. I might have it saved.

ITs currently snowing in the coast range from 700 foot level. Its white.
Load up your 4 x 4 with hiking gear, tags, lic, rifle. Camera.. Cell phone, gps etc... This will be the best time in the coast range to locate a cat. Plus its healthy too, fresh air!!.. Unless cat eats yea!!

[thresher]

lol yea. The snow thing was what was getting me thinking about this the most. Ill see what my schedule looks like and whatnot. But with any luck i might have some time to go out and play in the snow.

[Chug]

Thresher, did a fast search on the cats. read this link.
http://www.ifish.net/board/showthrea...rs#post1378755

Enjoy the outside, & do not get lost! the Local S.A.R do like to keep warm on day's like this :-)

Right "Bay City born?" :-)

[Gus Orviston]

Only seen two up in the coast.. During archery season Reel Handel and I watched one for quite a while one day from afar ... about a mile+. It was hunting up an abandoned road across the canyon/river. Very cool. Looked to be hunting grouse the way he would walk the edges and moved along. No idea how you could have predicted where he would be, and set up

Don't know the season, but hunting around deer that are dropping would seem to make sense ... ?

Or a distressed fawn call in a clearing where you can see more than a couple yards

gus

[thresher]

Thanks for all the tips. I know the location that i saw the last cat was jumping across the road and then up a very steep hillside. It was also within a 1/4 mile from a small creek. So it sounds like im going to be targeting that area.

Also if you are intrested in looking yourself i can give you info as to where i spotted him last. My buddy has seen him in the area hyst recently as well. So i know at least one is still in that general area. Just shoot me a pm and ill try to help you out. Heck maybe we can hook up and even head out together if intrested and our time off matches.

[BaseCamp]

Just an FYI, you have 10 days from time of kill to check in the cat to a ODFW office for tagging and processing.

[thresher]

Hows about the field dressing issue. What to save what to toss? Or do they want it whole?

[GSD]

2007 OREGON BIG GAME REGULATIONS

PAGE 44:

"ANY COUGAR TAKEN MUST BE PRESENTED AT AN ODFW OFFICE WITHIN 10 DAYS OF THE KILL TO BE CHECKED AND MARKED. Please call ahead to make arrangements to have cougar checked. Checkout must occur during normal business hours (8-5, Mon. Fri.). Hunters are required to check in the hide of any cougar taken, with skull and proof of sex attached. Hunters are required to submit the reproductive tract of any female cougar taken."


(not yelling; Copied & pasted from ODFW this way)

[thresher]

Thanks GSD!