caddisguy
09-15-2014, 12:38 PM
There's a couple of areas on a mountain that we've been scouting hard over the spring and summer. We've seen a couple 4x4's, a spike and a bunch of does as recently as August. Trailcams show that we have a cougar hunting the same area, adding some verification we're in the right place. Both are fairly thick and steep terrain. Both are also extra crunchy right now, so it's hard not to sound like an elephant. Though being completely still in thick stuff is limiting, we decided the best strategy is just to hike in, take positions and be still, using the crunchy floor to bust deer rather than getting busted.
We hiked into area #1 and climbed up to our spot to snatch the trailcam footage. No new deer but we decided to sit and wait for a while anyway. After about 20 minutes I hear my girlfriend say "cat coming". I turned my head expecting to see a cougar, but it turned out to be a large bobcat. It was a beauty cat. Nice and healthy and in the 35-45lb range. Kind of a magical moment, but it was staring her down and kept closing in. At around 5-7 yards out, I stood up, turned towards it and made some noise. It took off about 20 yards and went up a tree. It stopped to glare at her for another 30 seconds or so. At this point I'm turning on my camera. I got it filming just in time for the cat to pounce down from out of the tree and scramble away. Doesn't look like much being a further away and no zoom ability on the head cam, but I'll probably put the video up tonight. It's HD so I might end up with some good digitally zoomed still-frames of it in mid flight. Never heard of a bobcat being aggressive towards people, but I guess sitting and being still probably made us look like prey. I imagine this thing has taken a few fawns or does in their beds. Always good to have a hunting partner. I would not have seen or heard this thing despite frequent shoulder checking. It came from down wind and used a moss covered log to creep in for a silent approach. I think if either of us were hunting solo or even if we separated rather than hunting virtually back-to-back like we do in areas with lots of cats, this thing would have inflicted some damage. Always figured this would happen one day because we spend a lot of time in cat infested places, but if someone had told me it would happen with a bobcat rather than a cougar--or even suggested that a bobcat might be a danger--I would have laughed it off.
We hiked in to spot #2 and sat down to look and listen. After about 20 minutes of watching and listening, we hear crunching and snapping in the distance, estimating about 60 yards away. It would come closer, then move further away, then closer again, setting off squirrel alarms all around. It stopped at an estimated 40 yards away. 20 minutes later, still nothing so we decided to go in and check it out. Maybe something bedded down will stand up when we are close enough to see it. Nothing, dang... probably sleeping near by but still a needle in a haystack unless it moves. Thought about doing a grunt or doe bleep but figured it would hurt more than it would help at this point in the season.
That was about it for excitment. Missed out on a dozen grouse. They were all under really thick cover and no chance to spot them before they flush. With no grouse being exposed on the ground and not having a shotgun made it impossible. Now that the gf has a 30-06 and shoots distance like a pro, I'm thnking of picking up a used 12 or 16gauge so I can get grouse and deer with the same gun. Carrying around 2 guns or having to worry about leaving the extra gun in the jeep is no fun. I'll have the quick short range shots covered and she'll have the longer shots covered.
Oh! And the final bit of excitement we were doing a little road hunting some FSR's along the way out. We stopped to check out a spot where we've seen a few deer and some grouse. Ended up finding a bunch more fresh stinky cat poop. We followed a trail a ways into the bush and stopped to listen. After a few minutes, we saw some animals darting around, not identifable because of the thick bush. There were at least 3 of them closing in on us. And then we heard... whistling. Ah hah! Someone is running some hunting dogs. We ended up catching up with them down the road and chatted a bit. Super nice folks out for the day flushing grouse with the dogs. Makes me want to rent or borrow a dog some day ;-P
Anyway, hoping to post a story of my first deer down soon. I really thought it would happen on this trip, but we have good spots--though a bit tough to hunt--we learn more each time and the season is young. I know other regions are more productive--and I be out in Region 3 a bit in October--but I like a good challenge and will make this Region 2 thing happen one way or the other. If anyone has any tips for tracking/spotting/stalking deer in thick/crunchy/shadey timber Good luck to to all! :)
We hiked into area #1 and climbed up to our spot to snatch the trailcam footage. No new deer but we decided to sit and wait for a while anyway. After about 20 minutes I hear my girlfriend say "cat coming". I turned my head expecting to see a cougar, but it turned out to be a large bobcat. It was a beauty cat. Nice and healthy and in the 35-45lb range. Kind of a magical moment, but it was staring her down and kept closing in. At around 5-7 yards out, I stood up, turned towards it and made some noise. It took off about 20 yards and went up a tree. It stopped to glare at her for another 30 seconds or so. At this point I'm turning on my camera. I got it filming just in time for the cat to pounce down from out of the tree and scramble away. Doesn't look like much being a further away and no zoom ability on the head cam, but I'll probably put the video up tonight. It's HD so I might end up with some good digitally zoomed still-frames of it in mid flight. Never heard of a bobcat being aggressive towards people, but I guess sitting and being still probably made us look like prey. I imagine this thing has taken a few fawns or does in their beds. Always good to have a hunting partner. I would not have seen or heard this thing despite frequent shoulder checking. It came from down wind and used a moss covered log to creep in for a silent approach. I think if either of us were hunting solo or even if we separated rather than hunting virtually back-to-back like we do in areas with lots of cats, this thing would have inflicted some damage. Always figured this would happen one day because we spend a lot of time in cat infested places, but if someone had told me it would happen with a bobcat rather than a cougar--or even suggested that a bobcat might be a danger--I would have laughed it off.
We hiked in to spot #2 and sat down to look and listen. After about 20 minutes of watching and listening, we hear crunching and snapping in the distance, estimating about 60 yards away. It would come closer, then move further away, then closer again, setting off squirrel alarms all around. It stopped at an estimated 40 yards away. 20 minutes later, still nothing so we decided to go in and check it out. Maybe something bedded down will stand up when we are close enough to see it. Nothing, dang... probably sleeping near by but still a needle in a haystack unless it moves. Thought about doing a grunt or doe bleep but figured it would hurt more than it would help at this point in the season.
That was about it for excitment. Missed out on a dozen grouse. They were all under really thick cover and no chance to spot them before they flush. With no grouse being exposed on the ground and not having a shotgun made it impossible. Now that the gf has a 30-06 and shoots distance like a pro, I'm thnking of picking up a used 12 or 16gauge so I can get grouse and deer with the same gun. Carrying around 2 guns or having to worry about leaving the extra gun in the jeep is no fun. I'll have the quick short range shots covered and she'll have the longer shots covered.
Oh! And the final bit of excitement we were doing a little road hunting some FSR's along the way out. We stopped to check out a spot where we've seen a few deer and some grouse. Ended up finding a bunch more fresh stinky cat poop. We followed a trail a ways into the bush and stopped to listen. After a few minutes, we saw some animals darting around, not identifable because of the thick bush. There were at least 3 of them closing in on us. And then we heard... whistling. Ah hah! Someone is running some hunting dogs. We ended up catching up with them down the road and chatted a bit. Super nice folks out for the day flushing grouse with the dogs. Makes me want to rent or borrow a dog some day ;-P
Anyway, hoping to post a story of my first deer down soon. I really thought it would happen on this trip, but we have good spots--though a bit tough to hunt--we learn more each time and the season is young. I know other regions are more productive--and I be out in Region 3 a bit in October--but I like a good challenge and will make this Region 2 thing happen one way or the other. If anyone has any tips for tracking/spotting/stalking deer in thick/crunchy/shadey timber Good luck to to all! :)