Another Mt Lion hunt

jnicholson · 11-30-2008, 06:38 PM

Well four more stands and another 1/2 day of Mt Lion hunting to add to my lifetime total calling the beast.

After all these years of calling, switching from mouth call to electronic and bow to rifle, I still have a sense of satisfaction even though I again come home empty handed. I keep telling myself I'm that much closer to getting him. And coming home this afternoon isn't exactly driving to the suburbs.

A couple years ago the kids stopped racing to the truck and my wife barely even looks up from now from the sliding window at our cabin on Mt St Helens when I pull into the drive. The wood stove is burning and things are very tranquil in Northwoods in the winter. My labs of course are lined up waiting to greet me.

I still enjoy it and the knowledge that it's going to happen keeps driving me. The thick brush at St Helens and limited visibility has to be one of the less than ideal places to call cats but it's close to home. One day, I'll be able to say I targeted, called and harvested a Mt Lion... but not today.

Today was not much different than others although on one of my sets, a river drainage, gave me excellent visibility. I stuck with the Fox pro woodpecker in distress the entire time. I also clipped a rabbit skin to the Epedite woodpecker decoy in hopes that it would draw a little more attention. I expected the Ravens and eagles to be fascinated by it up but surprizingly they kept their distance today.

It was a beautiful day to be up on the mountain.

Enjoy.

Close range in the forest

The Expedite woodpecker with a rabbit fur clipped to it

I took these pictures through my binoculars to see what would happen

Good gear

2 hour stand over the river bed

Early morning

Fresh tracks but not the kind I'm looking for

Another day closer and a 1/2 day well spent.

John

Charlie Storey · 11-30-2008, 06:44 PM

And, people wonder why we hunt.

Rank Amateur · 11-30-2008, 06:46 PM

Do you ever get a dog or bobcat in to your setups? What do you do when they do, shoot or let them pass for a chance at a cougar??

Keep at it John, one of these days!

jnicholson · 11-30-2008, 07:06 PM

Yes I shoot the coyotes if the fur is great, most of the time they are pretty nasty looking and all you have to do is wait and they'll take off. I've only had one bobcat come in, it was fascinating! It was stalking over the dried alders with out a sound, at 15 yards I drew my 90# Howard Hill Big 5 long bow back and picked a spot. Suddenly I realized it was small, probably a yearling. I drew down and I just watched it. I had visions of my hunting buddies kidding me for shooting a kitten. I felt like did the right thing. That was about 7 years ago. Maybe I'll run into him again some day? I'm really after a Mt Lion and there's one big boy in particular I'd like to harvest. The one that's been taking out elk that are bigger than the ones I'm getting

.

John

Rank Amateur · 11-30-2008, 07:10 PM

Of the dogs you have brought in, what percentage were after 20 minutes? Seeing that you are doing very long sets for cougar that could really give some insight about dog behavior.

jnicholson · 11-30-2008, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rank Amateur

Of the dogs you have brought in, what percentage were after 20 minutes? Seeing that you are doing very long sets for cougar that could really give some insight about dog behavior.

very few in less than 20 minutes. it's 30 - 45 minutes. also keep in mind this is a limited visibility area. I suspect they hold up out of my sight most of the time and doubt I even see a portion of the ones that are called in. Hunting the forest has some real challenges. A tree stand is my favorite way to hunt and it definately makes me feel safer in the evenings... especially when I'm using Mt Lion vocalizations only, after a while all that growling and screaming will give you the willies and you'll start hearing things that aren't there!

I'm no expert at anything other than keeping the Lions off of my truck bed!

Hopefully I won't be able to keep saying that though.

John

Zbynek · 11-30-2008, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnicholson

... after a while all that growling and screaming will give you the willies and you'll start hearing things that aren't there!

What I hate is when those pesky Lions dress up like little chipmunks, stalk you down, run up your arm, and try to steal some food. They seem to only do that to me when I am alone, but they sure are scary!

Good luck to you man! Your day will come (and I hope mine will too!)

stlhdr1 · 11-30-2008, 08:25 PM

That woodpecker is pretty cool!

Sorry about the luck on the cats, someday something will happen... I know there's a big tom hanging up towards to top of Marble. He's been there for a few years. He's a few miles up above my parents cabin.. But yet another area pretty tough to hunt, fairly thick really!

I've found my share of Cougar track up hunting the West Klickitat unit. Let me know if you are interested in location... There's enough up there that I know of 3 killed last year during muzzleloader season. A couple spots I hunt you can just about guarantee seeing tracks the day after it snows...

Keith

Quaka Wacka · 11-30-2008, 10:08 PM

That area looks familiar

Keep after them, it will happen.

Klicker · 11-30-2008, 10:09 PM

John
Sounds like you're on the right track. You have the right attitude, now it's only a matter of time. Best of luck and hope you get that big cat!

Keith
Hound hunting for Lions opens tomorrow in Klickitat County for the first time since 1996. It will be interesting to see how many are harvested over the next few months. PM sent.

chuckee · 12-01-2008, 05:29 AM

Saw your truck when we went to get our christmas tree

Cornbread · 12-01-2008, 08:04 AM

I take it you are looking for one of these guys

I took these this weekend. There are more than a few up where I have been hunting it would seem. These tracks were less than 9 hours old when I took them. The cat walked out on the road shortly after I walked in and I saw the fresh tracks on my way back out.

canes_venatici · 12-01-2008, 08:14 AM

Thats a nice looking backpack you got there jnicholson... I love mine. Perfect size. Great pics too!

Klicker · 12-01-2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cornbread

I take it you are looking for one of these guys

I took these this weekend. There are more than a few up where I have been hunting it would seem. These tracks were less than 9 hours old when I took them. The cat walked out on the road shortly after I walked in and I saw the fresh tracks on my way back out.

That may be one of those short tailed, black furred cats.

Team Rip · 12-01-2008, 11:39 AM

J,

I have been calling in both small and big kitty's for over 30 years now and have had great success on the bigger cats the last 15 or so. I usually call in anywhere from 3-5 big cats a year. I can tell you one thing J, areas are key, along with density patterns

Cats are some of the dumbest criiters around will come in with little to no fear. I have had them come in down wind, running, leaping and the most fun, is when they key in on your decoys and put a stalk on them!!! You just have to eliminate the bad areas and concentrate on the good ones.

I use a Wildlife Tech. Caller and nearly always use my elk calf in distress or fawn in distress with the other caller running exicted ravens at the same time. Once February rolls around, I will use the female in heat along with the other sounds, depending on sign.

You say you have a cabin near Mt. St. Helens, that is where I got my largest cougar to date, a 212lb brute. He is the only one so far that is worthy of my wall.

Good Luck..

Downwind · 12-01-2008, 02:12 PM

Cornbread those look like an average black bear front/ rear pic to me. but i am far from an expert.

Cornbread · 12-01-2008, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downwind

Cornbread those look like an average black bear front/ rear pic to me. but i am far from an expert.

Whoops yep you are right it's bear. I saw no claws and thought Mtn lion when I originally saw it in the road. I should have counted toes before I posted them

4 toes no claws visible = cat, 5 toes no claws visible = small bear.

stlhdr1 · 12-01-2008, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klicker

John
Sounds like you're on the right track. You have the right attitude, now it's only a matter of time. Best of luck and hope you get that big cat!

Keith
Hound hunting for Lions opens tomorrow in Klickitat County for the first time since 1996. It will be interesting to see how many are harvested over the next few months. PM sent.

I know a handful of the guys up there with hounds, I'm sure many will hit the ground....

Keith

stlhdr1 · 12-01-2008, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Team Rip

J,

I have been calling in both small and big kitty's for over 30 years now and have had great success on the bigger cats the last 15 or so. I usually call in anywhere from 3-5 big cats a year. I can tell you one thing J, areas are key, along with density patterns

Cats are some of the dumbest criiters around will come in with little to no fear. I have had them come in down wind, running, leaping and the most fun, is when they key in on your decoys and put a stalk on them!!! You just have to eliminate the bad areas and concentrate on the good ones.

I use a Wildlife Tech. Caller and nearly always use my elk calf in distress or fawn in distress with the other caller running exicted ravens at the same time. Once February rolls around, I will use the female in heat along with the other sounds, depending on sign.

You say you have a cabin near Mt. St. Helens, that is where I got my largest cougar to date, a 212lb brute. He is the only one so far that is worthy of my wall.

Good Luck..

I'm assuming your avatar is the pic of the 212 pound cat, do you have any larger photos of it??

Keith

Klicker · 12-01-2008, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stlhdr1

I know a handful of the guys up there with hounds, I'm sure many will hit the ground....

Keith

Updated information: apparently the hound season was already open and the quota is already filled. At this time I don't know what the quota was.

Klicker · 12-01-2008, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Team Rip

J,

I have been calling in both small and big kitty's for over 30 years now and have had great success on the bigger cats the last 15 or so. I usually call in anywhere from 3-5 big cats a year. I can tell you one thing J, areas are key, along with density patterns

Cats are some of the dumbest criiters around will come in with little to no fear. I have had them come in down wind, running, leaping and the most fun, is when they key in on your decoys and put a stalk on them!!! You just have to eliminate the bad areas and concentrate on the good ones.

I use a Wildlife Tech. Caller and nearly always use my elk calf in distress or fawn in distress with the other caller running exicted ravens at the same time. Once February rolls around, I will use the female in heat along with the other sounds, depending on sign.

You say you have a cabin near Mt. St. Helens, that is where I got my largest cougar to date, a 212lb brute. He is the only one so far that is worthy of my wall.

Good Luck..

Wow! That is a brute! What's the story and do you have any pics?

Steve

loper · 12-01-2008, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klicker

Updated information: apparently the hound season was already open and the quota is already filled. At this time I don't know what the quota was.

6 total, a maximum of 2 female; the way it reads is that if the 2 female are taken the zone quota has been reached

big bear · 12-01-2008, 09:16 PM

I hope you get a Big Cat soon. Your definitely putting the time in. That's the one animal in Oregon I haven't got to kill yet and the one I want the most. Sounds like I should look in to the Wildlife tech caller. Is there a specific model ? This year I'm going to hunt alot harder for them over here in eastern oregon, alot of people say they see them over here quite a bit.Good Luck J.

Klicker · 12-01-2008, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loper

6 total, a maximum of 2 female; the way it reads is that if the 2 female are taken the zone quota has been reached

Thanks loper

BrianMaguire · 12-01-2008, 11:52 PM

that is a bear track.

jnicholson · 12-02-2008, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big bear

I hope you get a Big Cat soon. Your definitely putting the time in. That's the one animal in Oregon I haven't got to kill yet and the one I want the most. Sounds like I should look in to the Wildlife tech caller. Is there a specific model ? This year I'm going to hunt alot harder for them over here in eastern oregon, alot of people say they see them over here quite a bit.Good Luck J.

I'm a foxpro guy at this time but I've hunted with a friend that has one. the one intriqing thing I liked about his system is that the transmitter works through a radio so you can use the remote about as far away as you can get. I have found times that my Foxpro is limited. I have to hunt closer to the decoy and caller than I'd like.

John

stlhdr1 · 12-02-2008, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnicholson

I'm a foxpro guy at this time but I've hunted with a friend that has one. the one intriqing thing I liked about his system is that the transmitter works through a radio so you can use the remote about as far away as you can get. I have found times that my Foxpro is limited. I have to hunt closer to the decoy and caller than I'd like.

John

What model Foxpro are you using?

Keith

big bear · 12-02-2008, 07:10 PM

I've heard lots of great stuff about the fox pro. Pretty spendy but I guess I'll have to look into getting one. I have a Cass Creek right now and not very happy with it. Remote is very spotty and you have to be pretty close. Haven't been able to call anything in either. Thanks alot J.