Cougar Hunt?

LoveBigRacks · Oct 6, 2011

Guys, I'm looking for a cougar hunt here in Oregon somewhere. I always pick up a tag for the "just in case" encounter while out deer / elk hunting but haven't gotten lucky yet. I'm now thinking hard about a guided hunt and wonder if anyone can suggest an outfit in E. Oregon. I'm not opposed to going out of state and have some options in Idaho but would prefer to keep the money local and help out local deer / elk in the process. Any info appreciated.

LBR

440sixpack · Oct 7, 2011

Oregon isn't even an option for a serious hunt , dogs are a must. I doubt even a crooked outfitter would promise you a good chance at a lion. sure it can be done but how much time do you have and how lucky are you.

Most western states who actually manage their game offer hunting with hounds, some are on quota so if you want to go there you need to be contacting an outfitter soon.

LoveBigRacks · Oct 7, 2011

Fair enough, figured it was worth the ask but appreciate your opinion and perspective.

bonepicker · Oct 10, 2011

Alot of cougars around but like was said before, no way to guarantee a cat. Without dogs it's a guessing game until the snow flies and even then there are alot of variables.

baltz526 · Oct 10, 2011

Every feb i do a group cougar hunt. This feb will be year 4. I killed a 9yr old male the first year. closed reed distress call. We have got close to cats every year but so far mine has been the only cat killed. Some guys come to coyote/bobcat hunt, others just to enjoy a real winter wall tent hunt with large campfire. I normally set up on a friday and hunt 9 days getting two full weekends into the hunt. No $ changes hands, bring a cougar tag and your camp. We are not a loud drunken group, but some will be enjoying the camp.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------support your local guzzlers. OHA life member,lapine oregon

bonepicker · Oct 11, 2011

That sounds like a blast! Hope you guys bag 4 or 5 this year.

440sixpack · Oct 11, 2011

Find the right guys and you might set up a longtail bobcat hunt. that's the best bet .

silverlake176 · Oct 11, 2011

Baltz------

Remind us when you go cougar hunting. I would love to join your camp in hopes if killing a deer killer (cougar).

baltz526 · Oct 12, 2011

We hunt the fortrock/silverlake/paulina winter range. Camp is near cabin lake GS. We can access areas north to fox butte s/e to winter rim. Huge area, a lot of the area is in the no motorized vehical winter range. Maps available from the silver lake USFS ranger district office. Feel free to go kill a few cougar tomorrow---------------------------------------------------------------------------------support your local guzzlers. OHA life member,lapine oregon

bonepicker · Oct 13, 2011

It would be great if everyone on this forum could get both of their cougars every year, it might give the deer a chance. You know, ODFW should give out an extra deer tag to everyone who kills a cougar. Since one cat will take out 25-75 deer per year, it would be a great incentive and it would help increase the deer population. Imagine if you didn't draw a deer tag but you could still earn one (or an elk tag) by killing a cougar. I know that I would spend a lot more time trying to bust one every year. Seems like a win-win.

LoveBigRacks · Oct 18, 2011

Baltz,
I like the sound of this winter range predator hunt you're talking about, sounds like a great time. Let me know as the dates approach when you're planning to go and I might try to make a trip down.

LBR

baltz526 · Oct 18, 2011

LAST EDITED ON Oct-18-11 AT 08:36PM (MST)[p]The camp is normally set up for 9-10 days the second and third weekends of february 10 miles north of the town of fort rock. Unless something drastic happens i plan on being there. I'll try to remember to post it here. I have posted it on predator masters the last few years, got one hunter from pm last year. NWPHA have a few guys that come, ifish is the largest group with 6-8 each year. Cougar are best hunted by a group. People spread out looking for tracks/kills then we try to make a plan to hunt fresh sign. The more hunters out looking for fresh sign the better the odds are.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------support your local guzzlers. OHA life member,lapine oregon

baltz526 · Oct 18, 2011

PS: the last few years a couple bobcat hunters have been sharing scouting info. So i do get hot leads dropping by camp which is on a main bobcat hunters travel road. In return i share any fresh bobcat tracks i come across. Cougar tacos! its whats for dinner ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------support your local guzzlers. OHA life member,lapine oregon

manny53 · Oct 27, 2011

LAST EDITED ON Oct-27-11 AT 08:19AM (MST)[p]>PS: the last few years a
>couple bobcat hunters have been
>sharing scouting info. So i
>do get hot leads dropping
>by camp which is on
>a main bobcat hunters travel
>road. In return i share
>any fresh bobcat tracks i
>come across. Cougar tacos! its
>whats for dinner ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------support
>your local guzzlers. OHA life
>member,lapine oregon

hey baltz'

I noticed your logo there "support your local guzzlers" reason being i got drawn for the Wagontire deer hunt last year and during my scouting trips i ran into bout 7 empty guzzler in augest, i was ticked to say the least i waited 5 years for that tag only to see the deer and anteloe had no support at all, i call the game $ fish dept. only to get excuse's...

how does someonesupport the guzzlers in your opion? thanx

forgot to mention there was literally no deer in the southern end but when we arrived for our hunt there was water...Hmmm

manny53 · Oct 27, 2011

LAST EDITED ON Oct-27-11 AT 08:18AM (MST)[p]1

baltz526 · Oct 31, 2011

just got back from elk hunting

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------support your local guzzlers. OHA life member,lapine oregon

baltz526 · Oct 31, 2011

For the remote guzzlers that are on the BLM lands. You need to talk to the lakeview district blm office for that area i believe. The persons job title will be wildlife specialist or something simular. When you find a guzzler, make sure the screens are clear and the rain/snow catchment area is clear and drining into the gutter. If everything looks good and there is no water, the tank or water lines or float valves may be damaged. In that case contacting the blm to try to get some action might help. They have no budget for maintaining guzzlers in most areas so adopting guzzlers is how it gets done. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------support your local guzzlers. OHA life member,lapine oregon

baltz526 · Jan 6, 2012

Cougar talk time. Just over 1 month until my yearly cougar camp. We are having an extremely dry year, no snow and warm weather. We should have good access into some areas that have not been hunted at this time in years. Looks like a good turn out for camp and some avid hunters in the bunch. Weather can change fast, but it is looking like low snow hunt. Tracking may be tough with a lot of cold calling sets ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------support your local guzzlers. OHA life member,lapine oregon