Which rifle would you use for cougar?

jimy

jimy

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Southern Gulf Islands, B.C.
I have two that might work. I have a Remington 700 Ltr in .233 and an m305 in .308. Any suggestions and reasons for using a particular gun? I have a Bushnell 3200 10 mil dot scope for each. Also, what calls are you using to bring them in? Thx for any advice.

SW
 
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I personally know 3 cougar hunters..however they use dogs to chase and tree the cats. Two use 30/30 94 winchesters and one uses a 94 in .44 mag.. Trapper Model with 16 inch brl. configuration works best for them in our bush. They of course are shooting them out of trees..so its very short range work.

I am guessing you want to take up cougar hunting for the first time and want to call them in to you. First of all.. either of your rifles will kill a cougar.. your call what you want to use. Cougars are one of the most stealthy animals we have and you probably will not hear them approach..whether you are hunting them or they you, in response to any calling you do and it will all be relying on visuals and not sounds.

Have never heard of calling cougars...no doubt some one will know how its done and if its done .
You will be handicapped at close range useing a fixed 10X scope on any rifle you want to hunt with...any cat you see at close range on 10 X will just be fur and no discernible specific kill zone.

In 40 + years of hunting I have only seen 4 cougars and heard 2 others doing their cat screamin chaseing down deer through the timber here on Van Isle. Other than those out with dogs, most cougar shot here are by deerhunters who lucked out in seeing one that day.

..good luck in your hunting of the big cats
 
hs4570 said:
You will be handicapped at close range useing a fixed 10X scope on any rifle you want to hunt with...any cat you see at close range on 10 X will just be fur and no discernible specific kill zone.
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That scope would be one of my last choices for hunting cougar. If you are successful at calling them things could get up close and personal, not ideal for a fixed 10x. I would rather have open sights or a variable........

We tried calling cougar for a few days the winter of '06. No luck, just coyotes. I'd really like to get out and try it again though. That and wolves.

Good luck.
 
Thanks for the replies. Looks like I need to go with a new scope. I think I'll put it on the .223. I figured that it wasn't a good choice, but I always like to hear other opinions. This year will be my first year trying for cougar. I dont't have dogs, so I'm stuck with calling. I'll be picking up an electronic caller shortly and will be giving that a try. As far as the visual stimulus. Any suggestions. Something on a string or fishing line perhaps.?
 
jimy said:
Thanks for the replies. Looks like I need to go with a new scope. I think I'll put it on the .223. I figured that it wasn't a good choice, but I always like to hear other opinions. This year will be my first year trying for cougar. I dont't have dogs, so I'm stuck with calling. I'll be picking up an electronic caller shortly and will be giving that a try. As far as the visual stimulus. Any suggestions. Something on a string or fishing line perhaps.?
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Calling can and will work. Your set-up, camouflage, and patience will decide it. Probably have lots of the more common predators come in before a cougar shows up though.

As for visual decoys, I don't like carrying any more than absolutely necessary, so I would give the 'feather on a string' a try. 30-50 yrds. out from your position, taking the wind into account, of course. Should help distract them, if you don't give your own position away.

A scoped 223 should work. I'd use the heaviest bullets the rifle would shoot well and hope nothing bigger than a cougar comes to your screams....:D

Best of luck.
 
How to call a cougar:

(1) Go into a mid 40's bar.
(2) YELL, "HEY BABY! LOOKING FOR A GOOD TIME."

mission accomplished.....

I've shot cougars before.
(1) don't get a scope that you can't dial down fast. or if at all. They are dangerous game and can come for you, looking at a fast moving animal charging you with a scope is not an option.
(2) use a powerful round. They are not nice animals and can munch you if you get it wrong. I use a .308 for cougar hunting. It works and is reliable, follow up shots are fast. a 300WM is a bit overkill. Most people want to keep the pelt or have it stuffed so think of that as well. I have a trapper friend that uses a .270 he likes it for that. They are very hard to headshot because of the way they walk. Once found, a quick cougar call "even a hey baby" to get them to turn and look is all you need for a nogan shot. Most of the time you end up shooting them through the side as you would a deer.

cheers.
 
Awesome replies and info. Thanks everyone. If anyone has been doing this type of hunting I'd love to hear what guns and gear you run. I looked at the prices of Foxpro units. :eek::eek::runaway: Anyone need an arm or leg.:slap:
 
jimy said:
Awesome replies and info. Thanks everyone. If anyone has been doing this type of hunting I'd love to hear what guns and gear you run. I looked at the prices of Foxpro units. :eek::eek::runaway: Anyone need an arm or leg.:slap:
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hey..you didn't even try answering my question.

snow and how to read he sign perhaps will set you up with the possibility.

if I were you I would just find a dog that like to chase cats...find a cougar track in the snow..walk it down with said dog..by reading the sign the dog should know when you jumped or run it down yourself..snow will tell you what tree if dog can't.
shoot what is up in tree.
 
horshur said:
hey..you didn't even try answering my question.

snow and how to read he sign perhaps will set you up with the possibility.

if I were you I would just find a dog that like to chase cats...find a cougar track in the snow..walk it down with said dog..by reading the sign the dog should know when you jumped or run it down yourself..snow will tell you what tree if dog can't.
shoot what is up in tree.
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Sorry, I thought I had answered your question. I plan on using an electonic call. Wounded rabbit distress call maybe? If it's possible for me to afford a remote unit I'll get one of those. Then set it up 30-50 yards away and still hunt. Feather on a line for visual if needed. I'm still trying to get my plan together. That's why I'm asking questions and researching here.

What do you guys think of a red dot sight on the Rem 700?. I have an Aimpoint M3 that would work.
 
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I should add, picking a rifle out of my safe a 223 wouldn't be my first choice. But of the two you mention it'd be what I would take.

I'd be happier with a 243/25-06/6.5 etc.

Again, best of luck and hope to see a successful hunt thread this winter.
 
The cat guide we went with is going to get a 25-20 in either a Winchester Lever or a Remington 25. All the oompah you need and only one hole for the taxidermist to patch up.

No scopes needed for a sub 20ys shots and the lighter the gun the better. The above mentioned guns will be in a take down version so it can be stowed in a pack if needed. The lighter the better......did I mention that already?

My BIL used his 270 with a light cast lead bullet and gas check. It worked like a charm taking out the heart and lungs and washing away to nothing by the time it stopped under the hide.

The hair is pretty short on these cats and if you blow them wide open the taxidermist will have a task trying to fill in a gaping hole.

In the quarter bore they'd likely use the 60gr jacketed so the carnage is as much as possible and pass through possibility at minimum chances.

From your three, the 7.62x39 is your closest choice with a 110 HP if it will operate with that bullet. I only say this because it has iron sights. I will assume the other two don't. Is 223 legal to hunt with in BC?
 
jimy said:
I have two that might work. I have a Remington 700 Ltr in .233 and an m305 in .308. Any suggestions and reasons for using a particular gun? I have a Bushnell 3200 10 mil dot scope for each. Also, what calls are you using to bring them in? Thx for any advice.

SW
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Given a choice between those two rifles, take the m305. Myself, having killed a 140 lb cougar, I just can't see using a .223 for something this big with claws and teeth. If you're calling one in, you're going to have to deal with whatever shot presentation the animal gives you, and you may end up needing more penetration and horsepower than the .223 has to offer. And if you're shooting one out of a tree, you REALLY don't want it hitting the ground still alive, as things can get messy in a hurry with the dogs. Trust me -- I used a bow on mine, and it got very interesting before I managed to fire a second arrow...
 
Were are you planning to hunt for one? if it were me the 223 would be out. 308 is good but the SKS in 7.62x39. is a better pic. open site for it is close quorter work when you have one ( VERY CLOSE) As for the hole we have our ways of fixing most but a football size is a bit big.
 
Cougars can be called in but it's pretty rare. One guy I recall on another forum called one in with a fawn bawl sound from a handcall. That is pretty dangerous though in my eyes. I'd want to keep the sound away from me. Who knows, maybe lots of people have called cougars in, they probably just didnt see it ;) .
 
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