FCTS,

Yeah, fairly typical, especially of preferred fishing holes. Lots'a cougars on the Queets and Quinault, too. And a friend of mine was carried off by Sasquatch on the upper Hoh. 8^) All good places to stay away from if you want to avoid strange encounters. And to think there are those who don't believe fishing is a heavy-duty sport. We should get more respect!

And speaking of strange encounters, the strangest I ever had was on the lower Green/Duwamish about 30 years ago. He was two legged, and it wouldn't be politically correct to repeat what I called him - but I was startled and didn't have time to think. The man may have just been a pervert. I didn't stay there long enough to find out! I'd rather take my chances with the cougars and bears any day.

perfect drift, i'll bet you didnt know that a kid up in gold river got mauled by a couger on his way to school a few years back. i'm more scared of bears, than i am of cougars. i've been stalked by black bears on the nekite river, and i didnt like it. i always carry a gun when i go to really remote places to fish

These are tracks of one that followed my son and I to the confluence of the Queets and Salmon on New Years Day, 2002. We didn't see it, or the elk that it trailed off after, but they are out there.



The tracks weren't there on the way in, but they were in MY boot prints on the way out.

Ive heard biologist tell F.S. timber cruisers that roughly half of the time they are cruising they are being watched by cougars.

I can't run for Shi...poop, so anything comes after me is gonna get me...I'm just a big ole puddin pop...I don't know karate, but I do know crazy....

Here's something we found last year while hunting ... makes you a little nervous at times, especially when this isn't the only kill we found like this.

I've seen two lions in the wild, one was stalking a herd of elk I was hunting and the other crossed the road last year during dear season. They are scared to death of humans but I typically have heat with me in remote areas, especially the O.P..
Keith

If I fished there I'd put up a white goal post.

Cougars can't figure out a way to go through one of them.

fp

I understand that not everyone may believe me, but I'm being completely truthful. And no, I'm not trying to stear people away from BC. I wouldn't fish there if my life depended on it. GIVE ME SOLITUDE. Just was wondering if this happened to anyone else?

Cougar at Blue Creek???! From what I've heard about that place it would have died of lead poisoning or at least got beat up for trying to crowd in.

gooose

I've seen two cougars and suprised a black bear but your odds of getting attacked are higher than winning the lottery. At least someone wins the lottery every few weeks.
Besides, if you can't outwit someone from WSU or CAL then it's just good Darwinism at work.

On a very rare occasion, if a cougar jumps you, it will be quick and without any early warnings. You WILL NOT have time to use your gun. Carrying a gun just makes you feel safe but it won't do much help.

But an H&K USP Compact in .40 S&W does come in handy when you need to shoot the cougar off of your slower buddy.

I don't know how big of an area a cat will have for its range.I live a couple miles downriver from BC and know of several cat sightings on the river.especially around the Mission launch.I wouldnt doubt it a bit if he saw one.

If I'm fishing with a buddy, I always talk them into wearing a "Good Luck Ham" around their necks......
x

I just made for my friend a new scent for killer steelhead bites. It's a mixture of honey and rabbit blood.

Wait.. did I say Steelhead bites?

Dogfish,

If a cat jumps your buddy then it is no longer your problem, more fish for you

Cats like to single out their prey and they avoid crowds. Besides if you can hit 8 1/2 by 11 piece of paper from 10 yds, you are considered a good shooter so I wouldn't want to shoot any cougar off my friend. Unless they have been out fishing me If I were you I would jump into may helicopter and watch.

[ 01-20-2002: Message edited by: UltimateFeashKacher ]

[ 01-20-2002: Message edited by: UltimateFeashKacher ]

That sounds like a rerun from Mutual of Omaha's "Wild Kingdom".

"While Jim is wrestling the cougar, I'll ready the tranquilizer darts...."

Hey guys......boo!!! Scare ya? You guys are at a higher risk driving on the freeway to the O.P. or any other place you fish than being eaten by a bear or a cougar. I've been in the woods as a contract forester and an avid hunter and fisherman for 20 years. Have seen lots of those critters, but luckily.....they're a whole bunch scarder than us than(most)of us are of them. The way I look at it is no sense worrying about it.....if they decide they do want you they probably will get ya! Myself....I'm way more afraid of the drunk I might meet driving down the road.

Sorry Dogfish....look again....NOT a cougar track!

Wear a Nixon mask backwards.Cat's will seldom attack if they think they are being watched.
FYI if you fish the Sandy around Marmot Dam you will be surprised when you see the local Cougar.This animal has sooo much skin it is unbelievable.He is not afraid of humans.Every now and then I leave him a steelhead in a secret spot.So if your a harvester of fish I would get the Nixon mask right away.Oh, and they like short people best.