I have been considering doing a Cougar hunt for some time. I really do not like using hounds, just not my style of hunting. So I have been thinking of doing lion hunt using predator calls.

So, I guess I have a couple of questions.

1.) Where do you suggest? What state, were in the state?

2.) What time of year? I see some states have almost a year round season for cougar.

3.) Suggestion about specific areas?

4.) What should I be aware of? I have done some coyote calling using an electronic caller. I have hunted bear over bait, so sitting still on stand is no big deal.

Thanks in advance,

375AI

Killed a fine lion with Darrel Schneider of Ashnola Guide and Outfitter in British Columbia. Cat was an honest 165 LBS and had a friend go back there last year and his is bigger! Can't say enough positive about darrel and his family. Early in January and depending upon the snow conditions was great. This is a hound hunt and condition is an issue if the snow is deep.

Get in touch with Steve Craig ofArizona Predator Hunts . He's probably the best there is on calling lions, book a hunt or take instructions. You won't be dissapointed.

If you are looking to do it on the cheap, Oregon, particulary SW Oregon is loaded with them. Plenty of federal land. The county I live in is bigger than Rhode Island yet 75 % of all of the land, belongs to either BLM, Forest Service or State Forest.

I know a lot of guys who call them in using Varmint calls. Although they are not trying to call a cougar, a bear or a cougar showing up is not unusal at all. It is not as easy as some people think tho.

If I can be of any assistance lining up any local info for you drop me a PM,

Good luck on the quest and hope you have fun tho.
cheers
seafire

Find out where the deer are and then call. I have had reasonable success using a fawn in distress call and coyote pups wining call. After a couple close calls (excuse the pun) I learned to sit with my back to a large tree or rock. Better yet hunt with a buddy and have him face the opposite direction. I always have a handgun ready for close action and also carry a razor sharp pig sticker - a modified bayonet in a scabard on my lower leg. This makes it easy to get to when seated. Make sure there is just enough cover for the cougar to feel somewhat safe in approaching, but not enough to remain totally concealed. They are great creatures to watch. When you leave your stand be sure to frequently check behind you on the way back to your truck.

Try Idaho or Utah.

I'd Rethink the hunting method. Taking a lion with hounds is some of the best (and hardest) hunting there is. I took a nice Tom on wednesday, with my own hounds (and a buddies). It was a hunt that took dozens of days afeild and hundreds of hours of searching, but the results are once in a lifetime memories and a trophy that I'll be proud of. The hunt started on Foot at 6:00am and finished at 11:30 pm when the Lion was finally packed out. I'm sure that had I sat on a hill and called the lion in it would not mean near as much to me.

To each his own, but don't dismiss one of the finest hunting experiences there is. Hunting with hounds is as good and bad as hunting gets.

If I knew how to post pics on here I'd put up a pic or two.

Ricky

quote:

Originally posted by ricky_arthur:
Try Idaho or Utah.

I'd Rethink the hunting method. Taking a lion with hounds is some of the best (and hardest) hunting there is. I took a nice Tom on wednesday, with my own hounds (and a buddies). It was a hunt that took dozens of days afeild and hundreds of hours of searching, but the results are once in a lifetime memories and a trophy that I'll be proud of. The hunt started on Foot at 6:00am and finished at 11:30 pm when the Lion was finally packed out. I'm sure that had I sat on a hill and called the lion in it would not mean near as much to me.

To each his own, but don't dismiss one of the finest hunting experiences there is. Hunting with hounds is as good and bad as hunting gets.

Thank you for your opinion. But I simply do not want to hunt with hounds. I have done it by the way. I choose not to do it again.

quote:

Originally posted by Old Elk Hunter:
Find out where the deer are and then call. I have had reasonable success using a fawn in distress call and coyote pups wining call. After a couple close calls (excuse the pun) I learned to sit with my back to a large tree or rock. Better yet hunt with a buddy and have him face the opposite direction. I always have a handgun ready for close action and also carry a razor sharp pig sticker - a modified bayonet in a scabard on my lower leg. This makes it easy to get to when seated. Make sure there is just enough cover for the cougar to feel somewhat safe in approaching, but not enough to remain totally concealed. They are great creatures to watch. When you leave your stand be sure to frequently check behind you on the way back to your truck.

Good advice about watching behind you...