As I was flying home this past weekend, I was reflecting upon my wonderful experience with Doug and how I would sum up my trip in words. “A true hunting experience” is what first came to mind and stuck through my filtration of thoughts. Granted I was successful in taking both intended species of cats I came for, but even if I came home empty handed, I would be leaving with a sense of accomplishment, since we gave it our all. I couldn't ask for anything more.

We spent approximately twelve to fourteen hours a day hunting for six of the seven days visited resulting in a beautiful 27 lb. tom Lynx on the fifth day and a huge 190 lb. tom Cougar on the seventh and last day. Throughout this duration, two Lynx and three Cougars were treed with many other trophy-sized Lynx and Cougar tracks discovered. We cut a huge Cougar track while heading home at night on the second day, so I became fixated on finding this cat for the next three days. In doing so, we learned this cat was actually hunting a bull moose, as the blood in its snowy footsteps indicated. Even though this Cougar never materialized, we were led to the tracks of my beautiful trophy Lynx while in pursuit.

The sixth day of the hunt had Doug and I looking for tracks in the original area where we treed our first Cougar on the first day. We cut a track of a younger, but respectable tom Cougar about mid-day and decided to unleash the dogs. The well-trained dogs were quickly on the trail and treed the tom high up on the mountain. As the phrase, “Everything happens for a reason”, indicates, we crossed a huge tom track about half way up to the howling dogs. Doug figured the tracks to be about 24 to 30 hours old at the time and that his dogs had a pretty good chance of possibly finding this cat. We finally arrived at the treed tom and figured it was approximately 120 to 130 lbs. and not the one who left the track we discovered on the way up. We quickly took pictures and descended down the mountain to the newly discovered tracks and the exhausted, but determined dogs were off again. The dogs followed for about six miles as our daylight hours drew near. Doug decided to pull the dogs off and we were able to quickly obtain four of the five, but Rudy continued on above us. We proceeded up the mountain again in an attempt to head Rudy off at his elevation and course and while doing so discovered a 2 hour old track left by this tom under a fir tree. Rudy met up with us a few minutes later, so we grabbed him and headed back to the truck. Knowing that I had only one day left in my hunt, I began questioning my decision to pass on the previously treed tom. None the less it was a sleepless night with multiple upcoming scenarios running through my head. The best being that the cat made a kill and stayed close to the area.

The next morning, at first light, we ventured back to where we left off the night before and before we even arrived at the track, the dogs were off howling. Doug peered at me and stated “it is on” and then a few minutes later he said “the cat is treed.” I kept saying “no way” in disbelief, since all this took place within 30 minutes of leaving the truck. In short order, we climbed up to the cat taking in all the emotion and the singing of the dogs with each step as my 24 year-old dream became reality. It was also realized that our best case scenario played out when we discovered a recent fawn mule deer kill under a low branched fir tree and the Cougar’s melted out bed fifteen yards away.











I would like to thank Doug for all his efforts and patience and Julie for her hospitality and great cooking making this truly a wonderful experience. I hope to see the McMann family again in the future.

By the way everyone, Cougar back straps are delicious.


Craig

Congratulations, those are two fine looking cats.

Congrat's on a nice set of Tom's!!

WOW Congrats

that picture of that Tom is really a great and artistic one.

love it.

Agreed, Medved. I can see a framed enlarged photo of that is my buddy's office...right across from the lifesize mount of Mr. Tom.

Superb Cats!

Looks like you had a great time. Super cats both!

Congratulations to you and Doug

Orvar

quote:

Originally posted by medved:
that picture of that Tom is really a great and artistic one.

love it.

Not only is Doug a great guide, he's a great photographer as well. The mountain peak off my right shoulder or to the left when looking at the picture is the location where the cougar was taken. Doug wanted to capture it in the photo. Kudos to Doug.

Thanks for the praise everyone.

quote:

The next morning, at first light, we ventured back to where we left off the night before and before we even arrived at the track, the dogs were off howling. Doug peered at me and stated “it is on” and then a few minutes later he said “the cat is treed.” I kept saying “no way” in disbelief, since all this took place within 30 minutes of leaving the truck

Yep it can be that easy or hard just as you found out. I love chasing critters with the hounds. Hopefully my buddy treed a a cat for his freind and filled the tag today and we can chase some yotes tommorrow

Great cats. Congrats! Gotta love that Chilcotin country.

In about a half an hour I'll be out the door running some yotes great fun ahead.

This was the first time I have ever hunted with dogs and, to be honest, it was quite fun and challenging at times.

We had one mature lynx really give the dogs a run for their money. After about 2.5 hours or so, Doug called the dogs off because this smart lynx kept running the dogs in a large circle and all through confusing its trail and made a slip on the dogs. Just because you have dogs doesn't always mean you are going to be successful although they would have eventually sorted it out.

The lynx is a beautiful trophy and would make a great addition to anyone's trophy room. Plus, they are a hoot to run with dogs. Doug's area is extremely plentiful with lynx as we saw lot's of tracks.

Congratulations on two great cats!!

Sounds like a great hunt and two great trophies!! Wish I was there to share in your adventure. Nothing like hunting behind a good pack of hounds.

WOW! Two great cats.
Congratulations.

quote:

Originally posted by A.Dahlgren:
WOW Congrats

Wow is right! You worked some great magic on that photo.

Congrats to Dthfrmabv and Doug! Two great cats!

Thanks to A.Dahlgren for the fine touch up work to bring the photo up to his standards. Great job.

Great photos of two beautiful cats!

Craig/Doug - congrats! That is one of the best hunting photos I have ever seen. Just spectacular. Way to go guys and way to take a chance on a magnificent trophy instead of settling for a sure thing. Go big or go home - not just a good saying.

My mounts were completed today:

Dthfrmbv:

Great looking mounts and thanks for sharing. Clearly, another wonderful experience with Doug McMann, an amazing outfitter/guide/hunter.

I can't wait to hear about your hunt this fall.

Who did those mounts?

Rich

Mike Kelly of Wildlife Concepts.

http://www.wildlifeconcepts.com/

Congrats on your hunt and two great looking mounts! I'm looking forward to my hunt next year with Doug.

Looks great Craig, We had a great time. This was one of the more memorable hunts I have had. There is a great story leading up to the hunt and including the hunt which really was a great ending.

Awesome, you're the 2nd person to give a great report. I really want to do this hunt...maybe next year, which would be 2016.

Thanks for sharing!