Big Cat

[Kt29]

Been having a cougar hanging out and about our area for the last couple of weeks. Had fresh tracks out on the patio one morning.

Took a walk with Dakota this afternoon. Found really fresh cougar tracks just up past the creek. Man, Dakota had her nose in those tracks and it was hard to get her back to me. I'm guessing that cat wasn't to far off. When I got her back to me, we headed back home. Wasn't all the prepared to deal with a hungry cat. I'm guessing all the deer yarded up along the creek are the big draw right now for the cats.  Right now, they make going for a walk a little more exciting.  My wife refuses to go after dark right now.  She doesn't seem to have much sense of adventure.

[LongSpur39]

Holy smokes!!!! They are so rare to see in daylight from what I've been told. That would be an awesome subject for a pic. That's crazy comin up on your patio!! I know they travel a large home territory. But I'd love to see a pic of that.

[grizz1]

I'd be carrying while on my walks and your wife is probably using good judgement, those cats may be getting hungry this time of year.Of course you know I have back problems, have a yellow streak right down the middle when it comes to darkness, big bears, big cats and packs of wolves. Bet you are right, your deer are drawing them in. Be interesting if you see wolf tracks before spring. Get a count on the deer and see how many keep showing up for the heck of it.

[JerseyHunter]

Your wife is right you take the walk i will stay home or give me a gun for sure that would be a great pic but be prepared.

[Kt29]

Of all my years of working and hunting in the woods, I've only seen two big cats, and their is a pretty healthy population of them in this area.   What really sticks in my mind is there large piercing eyes. It really makes you take note. Two weeks ago, my neighbor had one come up to his barn at dusk. He got a shot at it and missed. They are legal to shoot her with the proper permit. I'm guessing it was probably the same cat that is still prowling our area.  Yesterday, my son came up and I showed him the tracks.  He reminded me of one of our hunts when he was younger.  Coming back to our truck after a hunt, we had big cat tracks on top of our tracks in the snow.  By the looks of the tracks, it was following us.  He has never forgotten that.  Actually this has happened to me on three occasions through the years.  And always, it is a pretty eerie feeling to know those cats are checking you out.  Just wonder how often this actually happens when one is not aware of it.   I would like to get a pic of one also.

[grizz1]

I would say your cats are the most shrewd animal you have in the area, so shrewd that they give one a scary feeling.
My Step Dad lived to be 83, trapped all his life and said he had only seen two Bobcats that were close enough to shoot and maybe 4 more in the far distance. When he turned 80 he caught 6 cats in one week on one farm, he caught other cats along a 40 mile line as well. Often when getting permission to trap he was told there were no Bobcat around, waste of time trying for them but he would always seem to catch a few. I'm assuming the big cats are ever bit as difficult or more so than their much smaller cousins. I'm sure they know much more about you than you do about them and I bet they are watching you!

[LongSpur39]

They are spooky critters. Definitely wouldn't need a permit to dispatch one. Especially one following me or creepin around my back door. People say they have seen them in NY. Every year there are reports of some sort. The way I see it. If they are here. Every animal leaves tracks in the snow. And somebody at some point would have to see them. I've seen coyote, bobcat, bear, and fisher tracks. No big kitty tracks or wolf tracks yet.

[Kt29]

Feb 11, 2014 0:06:43 GMT -5 grizz1 said:

I would say your cats are the most shrewd animal you have in the area, so shrewd that they give one a scary feeling.
My Step Dad lived to be 83, trapped all his life and said he had only seen two Bobcats that were close enough to shoot and maybe 4 more in the far distance. When he turned 80 he caught 6 cats in one week on one farm, he caught other cats along a 40 mile line as well. Often when getting permission to trap he was told there were no Bobcat around, waste of time trying for them but he would always seem to catch a few. I'm assuming the big cats are ever bit as difficult or more so than their much smaller cousins. I'm sure they know much more about you than you do about them and I bet they are watching you!

I would say your step dad was a very good trapper.  Have you ever tried trapping them.   I'm lucky just to catch a vole out in the pasture.

[Kt29]

Feb 16, 2014 0:24:07 GMT -5 LongSpur39 said:

They are spooky critters. Definitely wouldn't need a permit to dispatch one. Especially one following me or creepin around my back door. People say they have seen them in NY. Every year there are reports of some sort. The way I see it. If they are here. Every animal leaves tracks in the snow. And somebody at some point would have to see them. I've seen coyote, bobcat, bear, and fisher tracks. No big kitty tracks or wolf tracks yet.

During my ten year stint of moving back and living in North Dakota, a lot of the local ranchers swore up and down that there were a lot of big cats around.  The Fish and Game indicated that it was rare to have the big cats in the Badlands.  Four years later that have a Mt. Lion hunting season in the badlands and quickly fill the tag quotas.  You are very right though, no tracks no animals.

[LongSpur39]

Amazing how the state agencies swear up and down things don't exist. Lol