Cougar calling, myth or method?

[Fish Hunter]

I've heard stories that people are getting cougars in OR with predator calls. These stories have always been freinds of freinds type stories, so I suspect them. Is this method working for anyone out there? Dogs are not an option anymore in OR [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] I would like to get a big kitty at some point. Is calling worth a try?

[Fish Hunter]

ZL thanks for the feedback. I'm thinking of giving it a try. What I've heard is from late archery buck hunters reporting lots of cat sign in the snow in certain areas near Camp Sherman. May give it a try this year. I need to find a good area to try. I'll try hitting up one of ODFW bios for some tips. Probably need to look for a deer wintering area not too far away.

[Zen Leecher aka Bill W]

From what I understand the cats don't get too far from the deer wintering areas... maybe a mile.. but otherwise stay pretty close.

[Zen Leecher aka Bill W]

I've got friends here that both call them and track them in snow. They say calling works but it takes about 45 minutes for the cat to come in.

I only know what they tell me. One thing they do say is to use an electronic caller as it lets the hunter get some distance from the call and makes it easier to see the animal before it spots them.

I've had cougar tags but was too lazy to use them.
A friend of mine is gonna point me in the right direction later this year when we get some snow. He shot a couple last year, but then he answers complaint calls.

[Dogfish]

Try this one!

"Heeeeere kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty!"

[img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

I have called predators for about 5 years now, using a combination of mouth blown calls and electronic calls. I have yet to call in any cats, but I have called in lots of coyotes, 2 foxes, a few deer, 2 elk, and an assortment of domesticated dogs. The only two bobcats I saw were just walking down the logging road, different roads, 2 years apart, 5 miles apart.

Everything I have read on the subject says long calling periods are required. The remote recorder would help eliminate fatigue associated with blowing on a call fo rthat long, and because kitties are usually pretty cautious, it would place you away from the sounds.

I use an old boom box and I have attached connecters to the speaker wires, disabling the stock speakers. To this I attach 300 feet of Radio Shack "alarm wire" (cheapest price for the heavier gauge wire, and it comes on a spool) and then connect a horn type loudspeaker to the other end. You can control the volume from far away, and it takes the animals eyes off of you, like when you use a mouth call. Mine has auto reverse, so calling time is however long I want to stay out. I usually call for 15 minute off and on, and then move on.

[Baldpate Basher]

Man [img]images/icons/blush.gif[/img]
Just the thaught of being in the woods neer a cougar gives me goosebumps!

I dought I'll be cougar hunting anytime soon. I'd have to get past my thinking that it's bad to hunt things that hunt back!

You guys are welcome to it.
Hope it's fun!

[Fish Hunter]

Good idea on the boom box w/ remote speakers.
Thanks for the input. Sure would like to find some time to try this.