Saturday Sets - the Cougar Quest Continues

jnicholson · 02-15-2009, 03:05 PM

Well Valentine's day started with breakfast with Beth and I was off to St. Helens to continue my quest for a cougar on the call. I started off low in the forest and worked my way up the mountain to snow and clear cuts. The coyotes circled me several times but never offered a shot. I had several Blacktail deer that would just meander around and eat while I was in the hunt. I also was did not see a single elk? Very unusual for this time a year. Last years heavy snow killed off a lot of animals but to not even see one this weekend seemed strange. Ravens and crows came in like usual. A hoot owl joined me mid day and I even had a big red tail hawk sit with me for a half hour. He couldn't quite get up the courage to take out my wobbling rabbit. I tried cottontail in distress and blacktail deer in distress calls most of the day. For a while I played with the coyotes but they were a little smarter this week as the pack is one dog smaller from the last time they heard those calls. It was clear and temperatures are rising so it was a great day to get out and stomp around. Enjoy.

John

gottafish · 02-15-2009, 06:30 PM

Very Nice John. That cats only a trip away. sooner or later he'll come running in. "Bang Flop"

Rank Amateur · 02-15-2009, 06:36 PM

I have the same group howl on 00 too! One of these days, it will happen!

Santiam338 · 02-15-2009, 07:04 PM

I am going to expect a new video every Sunday night...

jnicholson · 02-16-2009, 07:39 AM

Not quite like being there but they are fun to watch!

John

TimberTiger · 02-16-2009, 08:40 AM

I watched your video 3 times...... I swear I've sat on that same point overlooking the powerline. If it is the same place, I had 3 dogs howl up a storm but they were a bit too smart to come out.

chukarchaser · 02-16-2009, 08:46 AM

Cool video... I kept thinking that, at any moment, a big kitty was gonna come sneaking across that snow. I liked the costume too!

CC

sooslaw · 02-16-2009, 09:14 AM

a little nerve racking ??? who's watching your back John? looks exciting to say the least. good luck.

jnicholson · 02-16-2009, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sooslaw

a little nerve racking ??? who's watching your back John? looks exciting to say the least. good luck.

Generally a big tree or sometimes a large boulder but I'm not a fan of boulders any more .... there's a story behind that one! When you look straight up and see a coyote looking straight down at you about two foot up, I swear it looks as big as a wolf! I got three slug shots off on that guy as he zig zagged off and missed him by inches each time. Should have had buck shot in that day. Jason was about 8 and tucked up to my side. We were calling bears over a berry patch look out and we hunkered up next to a boulder edge. I noticed Jason looking up over my head with big eyes and I knew there was something on top of me. I whipped up with the shot gun and you've never seen three slugs come out of a pump so fast in your life. That my friend was an adrenile rush!

John

jnicholson · 02-16-2009, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimberTiger

I watched your video 3 times...... I swear I've sat on that same point overlooking the powerline. If it is the same place, I had 3 dogs howl up a storm but they were a bit too smart to come out.

That one was over Merwin. There are lots of smart coyotes in this area.

Kokonuts · 02-16-2009, 11:42 AM

John, I enjoyed you picture! I have a RV set up a the Campers Hideaway & both last year & this year we have seen cats in the area. Last year about this time I found a fawn with the neck broke & it was dragged under my shed it was a cat for sure! You are in the right place so its only a matter of time. Watch your back & be careful!

BornToFish360 · 02-16-2009, 02:28 PM

Keep at it buddy you will connect sooner than later. Good luck out there.

Btf360

jnicholson · 02-16-2009, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kokonuts

John, I enjoyed you picture! I have a RV set up a the Campers Hideaway & both last year & this year we have seen cats in the area. Last year about this time I found a fawn with the neck broke & it was dragged under my shed it was a cat for sure! You are in the right place so its only a matter of time. Watch your back & be careful!

Bobcats or Cougars?