Bear & Cougar

Rip'N'Lips · 10-06-2003, 09:44 AM

So with my sports pack I have tags for both, question is would you shoot one if you saw one?

I don't really have a good idea how to clean/handle either one...

Any pointers? Do people eat them? I have a hard time shooting something I am not going to eat...

Any ideas?

Rip'N'Lips

Bait O' Eggs · 10-06-2003, 09:55 AM

I would shoot the cougar in a heart beat, but I would let the bear go

Ya, I know I have some weird hunting ideas, but I think bears are pretty cool and for some reason have no desire to hunt one. Last year I tried to talk my bro into shooting one that was about 100 yards away, and he was trying to talk me into shooting it, and we let it walk away after several minutes.

I think cougars are a beautiful animal but I will shoot the first one that stands still long enough for me to get to the trigger. I have seen 2 of them in the wild (no dogs included) and they dont hang around long, and can disappear faster than any animal I have ever seen.

Crayfin · 10-06-2003, 10:18 AM

BOE--I am curious about the difference on your stance on bears and cougars. Why the large difference? Both are predators-both kill deer-there are tons of both of them, yet cougar every time and bears never? Your choice, not saying right or wrong, just curious why the distinction.

In one of the places I hunted this year, I saw more dead bucks than I did live ones and there were 9 cougars seen--by my friends alone! I have seen more than 1 bear trying to run down fawns as well.

IMHO--whack 'em both!

Crayfin

Bait O' Eggs · 10-06-2003, 10:47 AM

Crayfin - Dont know why we choose to hunt the animals we do.

Take birdhunter for instance, he has all but built a shrine for the wolf and prayed to it

yet I would wack one of them as long as I thought I could get away with it, illegal or not.

I have seen quite a few bears and always enjoyed watching them. I have never really had a desire to kill and eat one, tasted it from friends and it was good.

I enjoy seeing sheep and with some luck will draw a tag some day. Not sure why I want to kill one, I think they are cool looking. Maybe it is a hunters benchmark I would like to make. If I ever drew one, I would not get a guide, as I dont want to have my hand held during the hunt, a guide would make the kill mean little to nothing to me I think.

There are several animals I wouldnt kill, yet think of myself as a serious hunter. I have no desire to kill: beaver, bear, birds of prey, etc... maybe it is a "B" thing

Salmon Stryker · 10-06-2003, 12:46 PM

BOE-- B ucks

Crayfin · 10-06-2003, 12:47 PM

BOE

Fair enough. Good answer--I also have a hankering to get a sheep! As for the wolf thing....

I'm with ya! Just hope I never have to decide.

There are a few where we'll be hunting November.

Crayfin

TheTexan · 10-06-2003, 01:41 PM

Earlier this year deer hunting I saw two bears, one at about 15 yards! I could have taken either one, but choose not too. I didn't know how to take care of the animal after it was dead and thought it would be a waste. I have since learned enough (from others) to know how to dress out a bear. I would definitley try the meat and have a rug made out of the pelt.

Cougar, no hesitation, I would definitely shoot and have mounted. I have shot numerous bobcats and really don't think I would have any problems with a Cougar!

tag-a-long · 10-06-2003, 02:44 PM

Send me an e-mail if you shoot a bear and don't want it... They make great sausage...

KingFisher85 · 10-06-2003, 09:13 PM

Cougar...Bang...Only one of us is gonna make it out a live

Bear....Bang bang...I sure love that sausage :grin:

Capin' Dan · 10-06-2003, 09:54 PM

Cougar/bear, I have ate both and liked it. the bear is better for jerky, sausage, and stews never liked it in steaks. As far as the wolf thing goes Honest officer he attacked me and I saw him chasing that live stock.
My .02 worth.
People don't see them so they think that they are scarce. they are plenty of them around if you know what sign to look for.
During my cow hunt last week in the catherine creek unit I talked to the cow boys and the rancher. their sport is to run the bears with their horses and tree them just for sport. He actually likes the bears and feels that there are plenty of elk and deer around to share with them. Maybe on his ranch but what about the rest of the areas.

Dan!

pdxkevin · 10-06-2003, 11:06 PM

I would shoot it (within the legal confines of the regs) and get the hide off as fast as possible. This applies to both bears and cougar. I want the meat to cool as fast as possible to keep it from getting gamey.

If I won't eat it I won't harvest it.

Swamp Puppy · 10-07-2003, 07:59 AM

i've got tags for both...mainly for "incidental contact". doubt i would shoot the Cougar though. i have no desire to try to eat one and i don't hunt for "trophies".

as for the bear....i have heard good things about bear sausage and would like to give it a try.

SLEDDER · 10-07-2003, 08:46 AM

Got to warn you guys bear hunting is addictive. I hunt in Northern Idaho near some property I own. We watch bear from tree stands while they are eating. They are fun animals to watch. I use a bow and am very picky about which bear gets shot. The spot and stalk method is fun also. Will be Cougar hunting this winter in the same area. The area is 40-45 miles from the Canadian border.

McBaine · 10-07-2003, 09:06 AM

Personally I get both the cougar and bear tags. I've never ran into a cougar, and have no wish to. But I don't want to go through the hassel of having to hide the thing if I do. easier just to buy the $11.50 tag. As for bears, same thing. I actually ran into one, literally 2-3 years ago. I was deer hunting and saw some deer bust out of a field. I rounded a corner of trees, and there it was. It wasn't more than 25 yards away. Luckly I saw it and made two good shots. That was some of the best damn smoked ham I've ever had. The steaks were great too. I'm throughly hooked on bear, and look forword to taking another one. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

RichH · 10-07-2003, 11:15 PM

McBaine,

I know what you mean about the smoked hams.

Absolutely awesome. Not too interested in eating overgrown kitty so I probably wouldn't shoot one but I'm all over that bear meat. :grin:

Ryan Pultz · 10-09-2003, 08:08 AM

I have yet to run into a bear or a cougar but I would not hesitate in shooting either one I have always wanted to try bear sausage As for eating the Cougar I would probably find someone who wanted the meat(cat the other white meat) All thought in the state of Oregon they do not conceder a cougar as waste if you just skin it and leave the body there I could not do that so I would find someone that would want the meat. But that is just me rp

nwsteelheader · 10-09-2003, 09:24 AM

I'd be interested in finding out from one of ya'll "I Like bear sausage" guys out there, where do you get the bear sausage made and what makes it so good??

I'd shoot either a bear or a cougar. Technically you don't have to eat a cougar. I hate cats, and cougars are really big cats, so it would be very easy for me to shoot one.

As for bears I would shoot a bear and would be very interested to try the meat/sausage. I was hunting Cow elk with a special tag in the tioga unit on December 1, 2001. When I heard something. A moderate size black bear climbed down from a Fir tree 20 yards in front of me and then proceded to walk down the hill and into the trees. 2001 was the last year that the Bear season ended on Nov 30. In 2002 the ODFW changed the laws and bear season officially ends on Dec 31. I was a Day late and a dollar short. I spend enough time in the woods :tongue: that i'll eventually get another chance...

send those sausage secrets!

thanks,
shawn