Cougar

Abalone · 07-10-2007, 10:59 AM

So now that I have to tag the Skull I found it makes me wonder how many
animals that are reported killed every year are cases like mine ?

The skull lengh I measured is 10 1/4 inches which according a site I found not a particularly large cougar. It rated 10 1/4 as medium.

According to the wildlife Biologist just about every skull or animal part you find, particularly Bears and Cougars but other stuff too, has to be turned in. I am guessing not too many people do......?

I believe after I tag this piece of Bone I can purchase another Cougar tag ???

Chug · 07-10-2007, 11:14 AM

I bet most folks finding a bones in the woods, do not even know they are required to Report the find & get it Tagged. Hope they print that in the Reg's!!..

If, I understand it correctly.. you tag the skull with this years Tag. Your done for the year. Unless ODFW will give you new one?.

Maybe that is reasons nobody reports it. Why mess with it, & void your tag.

Thanks for the update, on this rule.

CombinationLicense · 07-10-2007, 11:16 AM

Abalone, yes you can purchase an "Additional Cougar" tag as long as you do it before September 28th, 2007. The info from page 44 of the Big Game regs is listed below.

"CL"

GENERAL STATEWIDE SEASON: Jan. 1 - May 31 and Aug. 1 - Dec. 31 or until Zone Mortality Quotas have been met, whichever occurs first.

OPEN AREA: Entire state is open. However, specific Quota Zones (defined in table below) will be closed if mortality quotas for the year are met in that zone.

ADDITIONAL COUGAR (Requires an Additional cougar tag): Entire state is open Jan. 1 - May 31 and Aug. 1 - Dec. 31 or until Zone Mortality Quotas have been met, whichever occurs first.

BAG LIMIT: One cougar per tag, except that it is unlawful to take spotted kittens or females with spotted kittens.

LICENSE AND TAG REQUIREMENTS: Any person hunting cougar must have on their person a valid adult hunting license for the current year and a General Season Cougar Tag and/or an Additional Cougar tag. Cougar tags for the 2007 season must be purchased between Dec. 1, 2006 - Sep. 28, 2007.

HUNTING REGULATIONS: No person shall use dogs for the taking or pursuit of cougar. Permission is required to hunt on privately owned land. 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.

Tag Sale Deadline Date: Sep. 28, 2007

ehunter · 07-10-2007, 12:16 PM

Good input Abalone thanks

bassettmama · 07-10-2007, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chug

I bet most folks finding a bones in the woods, do not even know they are required to Report the find & get it Tagged. Hope they print that in the Reg's!!..

If, I understand it correctly.. you tag the skull with this years Tag. Your done for the year. Unless ODFW will give you new one?.

Maybe that is reasons nobody reports it. Why mess with it, & void your tag.

Thanks for the update, on this rule.

Yeah, if people know that they are using their current year's tag for a set of bones, I bet they won't report any finds.

Ifishsum · 07-10-2007, 02:54 PM

Just a thought - If you found the skull during a time when cougar season is closed (now), is it a problem to punch your tag for a date during the closure?

huntinfool · 07-10-2007, 06:59 PM

I'd kick that skull back down the canyon you found it in.

westcoastsrt4 · 07-10-2007, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huntinfool

I'd kick that skull back down the canyon you found it in.

i'd tag it ( its a cool find) buy another tag for $11.50 and call it good. look at it like this, you just bought a pretty cool couger skull for $11.50 and still have the chance to drop a live one, or hey maybe you'll find another

toas243 · 07-10-2007, 10:38 PM

Yeppers you are even supposed to tag the Deer and Elk heads

,if they have Horns

BrianMaguire · 07-11-2007, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toas243

Yeppers you are even supposed to tag the Deer and Elk heads

,if they have Horns

That is a cool find. A cougar or bear skull have always been high on the list of things I want to find in the woods. If you can legally tag I would in a heart beat. I have a cougar skull on my desk at work from the one I shot last year.

Abalone · 07-11-2007, 05:35 AM

Guess which one is a bear and which one is a cougar !
This is embarrising but I don't have a cougar Skull I have a blackbear skull.
:grin:

It's funny because when I first picked it up I thought it was a bear but my buddy told me it was a cougar. Oh well !

The ODFW guy was available last night so I took the skull to my cousins house. Dudley is retired Fish and Game OSP.

I learned a few things though that I didn't know. To measure a skull you take the length and width and add them. This skull is 10 1/4 X 4 inches so the size is 14 1/4 inch.

BTW if it had been a Cougar The State would not let me have it even If I had tagged it.......

The good news is.... I have a bear skull I can keep and I still have an unfilled cougar tag. Here kitty kitty kitty.

Cougar season opens in August.

Rank Amateur · 07-11-2007, 07:31 AM

What's the difference between keeping a cougar skull or a bear, they are both big game animals? I think somebody is blowing smoke. I would want to see the ORS.

Abalone · 07-11-2007, 08:30 AM

That's a good question Rank....

I haven't talked with ODFW yet to tell them that the skull is a bear and not a cougar. Dudley told me that I won't have a problem keeping the bear but I suspect he may be incorrect. I am supposed to meet with Dick Caldwell tonight. I will keep you guys posted.

Kind of interesting !

The hysteria over the skulls is Animals rights driven.

As explained to me any Cougar remains are considered property of the State. A large part of the concern has to do with Poachers killing animals
to sell the parts. The prefere I turn over the skull because of the possibility of me selling it. He explained that If I were to posses the skull it would have to be tagged with a special tag and proper paper work would have to be processed.

Bottom line: If you find a skull in the woods don't brag about it on IFISH.

Chug · 07-11-2007, 09:51 AM

If you folks want real skulls of wild crittes.. this is a good location to buy them. Yep, they are Real-- Okay kinda...
Linky: http://www.boneclones.com/

Abalone · 07-11-2007, 10:44 AM

Yep ! Bears too. I have to take the Bear Skull in tonight and get it tagged

" Property of the State of Oregon " '

You might find this interesting.

There is a bait station not far from where I found the skull. A 50 gallon barrell and two tree stands. Two years ago I found what I thought was
part of another bear Skull. The ODFW told me that this was probably a
Lisensed trapper hired by the Timber company to control Bear Damage.

There are several of those throughout the State........ The skull I found was no doubt the remains of a Controlled bear. I guess they just leave the carcass after they shoot them ?

Abalone · 07-11-2007, 10:45 AM

Thanks Chug, not quite the same as finding your own. BTW I already have my human skull. Well ! Not a real one, I carved it out of Poplar.

Chug · 07-11-2007, 10:53 AM

Abalone.. If yea want real one.. got website for that too.. :-) That is legal to buy. Mainly for training for the K-9's & Education use.

From the newspaper article that showed photo, of the bear kills. I can see folk finding more Bear skulls in the woods.

either way a good find in the woods

Abalone · 07-11-2007, 11:03 AM

That's OK, I think a human skull would be over the top.

Make a great candy dish though...

Limbhanger · 07-11-2007, 11:36 AM

The top one is the cougar. You can identify the Cat skull by the general shape and also the lack of available brain space......seriously.

osulogger · 07-11-2007, 12:42 PM

Bear skulls are cool too! I was fortunate enough to recover one this spring and get ahold of the shooter for permission and transfer of possession.

Finding a cougar skull is on the top of my list of things to find in the woods while working. A buddy of mine found a small skull once but it was banged up pretty good. Bigger then a bobcat but not by much.

toas243: who told you that you could tag deer and elk heads with tags??? I'd like to see that in writing.

Glad you got it figured out.... keep us posted on what ODFW tells you; I'd ask about the cougar skull scenerio as well.

From the land of Big Sticks,

Osulogger