We wrapped up a great hunt here last week with a fellow AR member, it was one to remember. Both lion and lynx on the menu for this hunt. It was a first for me as James lands in Williams lake with a beautiful Heym 450-400 in tow. "That should work" I said I could hardly wait to see it in action.

The big cats we hardly moving and a lot of good lion ground was bare but with snow in the forecast we remained positive and looked for a lynx. Day two we found a good lynx track which the dogs worked hard to complete, 6 miles of hard trailing ended with the cat treed.
James had a beauty lynx and still 5 days left for his lion.



We did check a my snares on day 3 and were surprised to have a black wolf snared. A little bonus to the trip, James first wolf he put his hands on.



We had a bit of snow on day 5 and an ich to see his first lion we turned the dogs out on a female track and soon were standing under a tree enjoying the moment. Cats where definately on the move.



Day 6
we hunted hard all day and with only a couple hours left in the day we hit a large tom track. Turning the dogs out and listening to them head off into no mans land we really questioned are sanity!
We started in as the dogs treed 1 1/2 miles from the truck. Racing against darkness we made the tree with an hour of daylight left.


With the dogs tied back and James positioned for a full frontal shot the 450-400 roared!!!What a sight as the lion cartwheeled through the air and then slid 100 yards down the mountain coming to rest on a small fir tree.





With the sun going down and tempurature hitting -10f we made the decision to pull this cat out instead of skinning by the fire.
Here is a picture of the us at the end of the drag.


With the hunt wrapped up James is now dreaming of the double rifle black bear hunt in May.

That is a big cat.

Big Tom and beautifull rifle congratulations .

Doug: Thanks for a tremendous hunt in tough conditions.
If anyone is even remotely contemplating a trip for lynx, wolf, cougar, and/or bear… I would highly recommend contacting Doug at Skinner Creek. His dogs and are simply amazing as evident by his high success rates.

The area Doug hunts is off the chart beautiful and he and his family run a first class operation to say the least.

Did not realise that Cougar got to that size? Serious looking cat.

Congratulations to the very nice looking cats

Excellent tom!! Good thing James brought the .450-400.

Huuuuuuuuuuuugggge cat , congrats, how old was he?

quote:

Originally posted by Shukaree:
Huuuuuuuuuuuugggge cat , congrats, how old was he?

Around 6 years old

Friggin outstanding. Doesn't get a whole lot better than that, in my mind.

Classic winter mountain extreme cat hunt.
There's definitely something special about that wonderful hound music. Congratulations to the both of you!!!!

Great job!!!!!

Very nice!

Great job with that 450/400,DR's are not just for Africa only,I will be taking mine in may to hunt bear

Awesome cats & rifle! Well done.

Great Lion and Wolf. Congratulations Doug.

Congrats on a great hunt! Did you weigh that cat; it looks like a giant!

No doubt one of the finest hunts ever...if the OP would PM me as to the logistics of the hunt it would be greatly appreciated....best regards...bearit...

Nice cats That was enough gun I think.

Good Job Doug, looks like a dandy of a TOM!

Awesome...Well done

Great Photos. Thanks for sharing.

James is a sure enough shooter. I've personally seen him shoot 8,000 doves in a day and I hear he shoots that double like nobody's business.

Keep it up James.

Wow!! Great cat and great shooting.

K