Calls for Cougar

[OregonBoy]

First year I've bought a cougar tag, due to a previous lack of interest. Since we can't use hounds in Oregon, I was wondering what predator calls are the most effective on cougar. I was thinking of going with just a cottontail distress and a fawn bleat, but since blacktails are so hard to find on the coast anymore, the cottontail would probably be more effective.

[oso45-70]

TC_addict
I have had them come to different calls, Don't think it would make any difference if they were in the area and hungry they will come in. They are like the bob cat,, It takes them a long time to get there. I called one up and had about given up and i turned around and was looking a lion square in the eye, Kinda makes your bowels loose if you know what i mean. But to answer your question, I used a cotton tail most of the time since i was in the mountians when this happened. Good luck to ya......Joe.....

[Lawdog]

TC_addict,

Like ‘oso45-70’(your are right about the bowels) I have had Mountain Lions come in when calling other game.  Last time was a little over a year ago while turkey hunting.  Worse part of it was I was turkey hunting with my pellet rifle.  Now you know why I carry a .357 friend on my belt.  I have had them come in while calling coyotes.  One thing to remember is that they will circle their intended prey until they spot it.  Spotting you doesn't mean they will go away either.  Most any type game call should work on lions it just takes time.  Small groups and tight lines to you.  Lawdog
 

[Ladobe]

Since the primary prey of lions is deer, doe or fawn bleats are the most effective to get them to come a ways to investigate.   However as others have said, a hungry lion might come in to just about anything if the conditions are right or there is cubs to feed.   Besides typical small game, they also take a lot of game birds BTW, so calls mimicing them can also be effective when deer herds are low.

Have had the bejesus scared out of me many times by lions getting in very close before I've seen them while out calling predators - twice even when I was calling (and so looking) for lions.   They are a master of the use of cover, and the ultimate prize for the dedicated mouth-blown caller IMO.

[varmit_master]

Hi i got this tape it is a cassette tape called Exreme predator sound  and i  sent a copy to my friend in AZ and he has called in 4 with the tape and his JS 512 caller he said they like the sound alot he said the tape sounds like a young elk calf and the bobcats and coyotes like it too VM

[Sourdough]

I found a Turkey call to be more than effective at calling in Cougers.  I have called in two in New Mexico while Turkey hunting.  And talk about making you loose, both times they slipped to within 15yards before I knew they were around.  The first one screamed right behind me, talk about scared.  The second did not make a sound just slipped right up behind me, I think if I had not turned when I did it would have attacked.  We still had a stare down for several seconds.  When I shouldered my shotgun, it turned and disappeared.

[hillbilly]

I've had a similar experience while calling song-dogs. a neighbour was having trouble with coyotes taking his lambs, so to help out i went out and on the first stand i called in three dogs, one mature b*tch and two mostly grown pups. and in four days i had collected a total of eight coyotes. but the lambs were still going missing. One evening i was headed into my stand along a dirt road watching for tracks nothing. after 45-60 mins. i got up to leave and on the way out something caught my eye, i looked down and saw the biggest "cat" tracks i'd ever seen,(i guess their called pug marks) talk about loose, after a few seconds my mind processed what they were and exactly what they meant :shock:mainly that the cougar had stalked within 20-25 yards of me and i never saw it.  my head was on a swivel my 22-250 up and ready and wishing for my 12g or 338. i mentioned this to the local game warden and he sworn there were no cougar in this area and never have been. I leave in east central Alberta but only 5 miles from a major river valley, now when i hunt coyotes up there i use either my 12g with #2 shot with a few 00buck in my pocket or my 22-250 with a couple of 22cal nosler partitons in the buttstock shellholder.

[crazyjjk]

I here in the states (Republik of Kalifornia) that outlawed Lion hunting that joggers work real well. Seems when you can't hunt em they don't have much fear of man. We're just a hairless meal that can't run to fast. Maybe you can import a few anti-hunting joggers since if a lion attacks them its only natures way. Then again that might be considered baiting.