I've been starting to learn to video edit, hopefully this year I'll get proficient enough to have my tutorial be in DVD format instead of audio, but these are a start! There's 4 videos there amongst the stories now.
If anyone else has any call-in stories, PLEASE let me know! Thanks!
There's a video called "Callin' Bears" put together by Wayne Carlton. It's really pretty good!
I have a friend who calls bears while lying on his back and waits to hear them rushing him... It's worked for him many times, but then again, he's crazy!
I gotta write up that cougar call-in that I think I told you, when the cat sneaked up close unseen and then growled at me when I picked up the motion decoy. My call in stories have more examples of mistakes not to make than of dead cougars! Am heading for the east coast and post this mostly as a reminder for when I get back.
That call -in story section of yours is way valuable, a real service to anyone who wants to call cougars. I go back and read the stories again every once in awhile, still picking up bits to make my calling better.
Oregon Cougar numbers are rocketing off the charts. I have out of the area family that wants to hunt with me, if we do plan a trip I'm going to go hunt the east slope NF in Southern Oregon. It's just the best opportunity for Cats in the West right now.
Saw a video of a guy bowhunting cats with a couple of hounds. Hounds treed the cat and the hunter was able to make a good vitals shot. After a minute or so the cat bought it and kerplunk down into a couple of feet of snow. Lotta adrenalin ! Cats don't seem to wanna tangle with dogs, even if they outsize them. This will go into my bucket list of "prolly never gonna happen" ! Really enjoy the well told stories here !!! Keep 'em comin'
It was Jerry "Mad Dog" Shriver (SFC E-7)who said: "No, no, I've got them right where I want them -- surrounded from the inside." http://www.macvsog.cc/1969.htm
If you love to work dogs, then hound hunting fits. It's pretty much a slam dunk if you've got good dogs and have some athleticism.
I'm focusing on the calling.
I prefer TOA powered calls like the FoxPro CS24. I have the Krakatoa version of the CS24. I haven't tried the new FoxPro call, shockwave or whatever. For the money I was impressed with the FoxPro Hellfire, I recommend it, and I'd buy it if I needed one right now.
There's really not much competition for FP these days.
I have called in over 20 lions. I have killed 8 of them myself and others another 5 or 6. Quite a few have sneaked off to live another day. There is a guy here in town that averaged 20+ lions a year. He used lion sounds to call them in.
I have also called in more than 20 bears. I find that bears are easier to call than lions. I take my dog with my now as she can hear/smell them coming way before me!
I have called most of mine with hand calls but prefer a foxpro now as I have had a couple of cats sneak up behind me.
NRA Benefactor Member
Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.
I called one cat in AZ, first day of 3 days hunting. Had a vocal response, but it kept its distance and I could never pick it out (next ridge over, 300+yds). I think it saw the truck down in the flat. Cougar paradise down there!
Do you have any stories written up that you'd let me use, dennisinaz?
As a point of education: If you find a cougar kill, Set up down wind a couple hundred yards with your E-caller behind you 50yrds. Turn on the Coyote challenge sequence and let it run. The Cougar may come out to run off the coyotes trying to steal its kill. I watched the Coyotes do exactly that twice. First time I saw the Cougar, The second time I did not. But when I went in to check for tracks, The Cougar had come out and the Coyote did run off. I believe the Coyote are testing the water, If the Cougar doesn't protect its kill. They go in to eat.
The anti American Constitutional party (Democrat). Wants to dismantle your rights, limiting every aspect of your constitutional rights. Death by 1000 cuts is the tactic. Each cut bleeds constitutional rights to control you. Control is the goal.
I've found many kills, but it's funny, none of the local kills I've run across have been cached! All were completely eaten already. A couple looked like the deer exploded, but nothing left but hide and bones! I found two in AZ that were cached, the call-in I mentioned above was on a kill, I wasn't close enough.
If I had shot straighter, That Female with un spotted kitten would have been my third Official Cougar while hunting Cougar. Missed it twice standing broadside at 300 yards. Very disappointing in my shooting to say the least. 2016 Central Oregon Cougar camp is February 5th thru 15th at the regular camping spot.
The anti American Constitutional party (Democrat). Wants to dismantle your rights, limiting every aspect of your constitutional rights. Death by 1000 cuts is the tactic. Each cut bleeds constitutional rights to control you. Control is the goal.
I have a slight concern about taking mamma in that situation... not for survival, but for the indoctrination of the sub-adult. It's possible the 1-2yo would become a rogue without the direction of a mature cat who's been taught to fear. I dunno. Just a thought I've had.
“My horn is full and my pouch is stocked with ball and patch. There is a new, sharp flint in my lock and my rifle and I are ready. It is sighted true and my eyes can still aim.” Kaywoodie
My buddies son had his youth deer hunt this weekend. We hadn't been seeing much but had been seeing coyotes in this area. So we got bored and decided to try and call some coyotes in. So we sat down under a cedar tree that is below some horse pens. Started calling and about the ten minute mark this cat showed up sneaking in. I nudged my daughters boyfriend to alert him to it as he hadn't seen it. So he swung the rifle over, settled the cross hairs on the 260 and pulled the trigger. The cat dropped and rolled down the embankment that he was above. First shot broke his back because the cat knew something wasn't right and was starting to slink away. One more shot between the shoulders put the cat down for good. I was using a red rabbit distress call that I got from Tony Tebbe. He weighed 145# & 7'3" nose to tail. This is his first lion, he shot 2 coyotes last year and a red fox too. 260 used a 139 scenar. There wasn't much left of it on recovery.....I will try to weigh to see how much it lost.
Great story! Thank you for taking time to share it with us.
“My horn is full and my pouch is stocked with ball and patch. There is a new, sharp flint in my lock and my rifle and I are ready. It is sighted true and my eyes can still aim.” Kaywoodie
There's nothing like seeing a cat come in to a call, or even in the wild. They are so sneaky and seems like they'll never give you a shot opportunity. I've been trying to get one in for more years than I can remember. I've called them in before, but never got a shot opportunity. I went to an area last year and had them doing vocals near me, but never showed. I was about a mile away from where thus guy showed up. We are all glad to have this one. Thanks for all the "atta boy's" guys.
I'm glad to share with you guys. I hope that you guys can get one too.
If you love to work dogs, then hound hunting fits. It's pretty much a slam dunk if you've got good dogs and have some athleticism.
I'm focusing on the calling.
I prefer TOA powered calls like the FoxPro CS24. I have the Krakatoa version of the CS24. I haven't tried the new FoxPro call, shockwave or whatever. For the money I was impressed with the FoxPro Hellfire, I recommend it, and I'd buy it if I needed one right now.
There's really not much competition for FP these days.
Slam Dunk...lol maybe where your live ...
I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.
I have a slight concern about taking mamma in that situation... not for survival, but for the indoctrination of the sub-adult. It's possible the 1-2yo would become a rogue without the direction of a mature cat who's been taught to fear. I dunno. Just a thought I've had.
Cat was a long way from civilization. Plus I could have got the additional cougar tag at check in, then killed the young one.
The anti American Constitutional party (Democrat). Wants to dismantle your rights, limiting every aspect of your constitutional rights. Death by 1000 cuts is the tactic. Each cut bleeds constitutional rights to control you. Control is the goal.
Well my caller decision was made for me today when my kids gave me a Foxpro Inferno. Don't know anything about electric callers but I am going to give it a workout.
Sherpa Kurt eschewed his usual "Axe Body Spray" and went retro with Drakkar Noir. He sauntered over to the jukebox upwind of his prey in his legendary Schlitz beer shirt (his only one with a collar) and put in enough of his ill gotten gains to play the entire Journey "Escape" album.
So which caller would a guy buy to use your call sounds, get the best results. Easiest unit to set up, install your sounds.
The anti American Constitutional party (Democrat). Wants to dismantle your rights, limiting every aspect of your constitutional rights. Death by 1000 cuts is the tactic. Each cut bleeds constitutional rights to control you. Control is the goal.
At the yearly Cougar camp we did not kill one this year but got very close. Two young women where calling in an area I had cut fresh tracks and found a fresh Rabbit kill on the previous morning, Then a Deer in pieces. I circled around them to get in a location to check tracks. As I hit the draw the women where calling, I cut a fresh track, Coming right up out of their calling stand area. This was about 1/2hr after they had pulled out and I saw them get to their truck. A little more patience might have did the deed or the cat spotted them. I heard something on the snow fields above me about 200 yards before I cut the tracks. I personally got close twice more but the best I saw was a flash of fur then Tracks where I saw it. Magpie where around every Cougar. If you are seeing Magpie think Predator
The anti American Constitutional party (Democrat). Wants to dismantle your rights, limiting every aspect of your constitutional rights. Death by 1000 cuts is the tactic. Each cut bleeds constitutional rights to control you. Control is the goal.
Needless to say, with a new baby, two AKC litters, and all the cacophony of life around this address... it's been a busy 2018! FINALLY added 4 more cougar call-in stories to my website... R14, R15, O26, & O27. See them here... http://rain-shadow.com/cougar_callin_stories.htm
Hey guys! Cyber Monday post for a GIFT to my former customers, especially you long timers!
Look at your call sequences files... If you DON'T have "Live Whistles S", I'd like to give it to you for Christmas. I think you should have it.
It's Live Whistles, but it's slowed down to a calm communicative pace. Live Whistles was a real life sequence, in real time, but it was a whining, excited, begging teenager. A little overexcited about seeing his trainers. I think slowing it down makes more sense in the field.
So if you're a former customer, email me a pic of your file list or the cd or something to prove it, and I'll email you a link to download "Live Whistles S".
So many guys have asked me about callers and what would be a good unit for a budget, so I thought I'd just mention that today (March 20, 2020 3:15pm) I got an email from gander outdoors saying they had a sale on the FP Banshee for something like $207. That's pretty good...
I have a question for you about lion vocalizations. About a month ago, I went night fishing along an isolated stretch of a small, local river. About dusk there was a steady parade of turkeys into the heavy timber along the river. Shortly after the sun went down, there was a feline call from back in the timber. It was basically "Meow-uhh, Meow-uhh". Not loud or deep but definitely louder than a house cat. There are no farm places within 3 miles of the location and really no reason for a domestic cat to be in that area anyway.
Any ideas?
Thanks!
“My horn is full and my pouch is stocked with ball and patch. There is a new, sharp flint in my lock and my rifle and I are ready. It is sighted true and my eyes can still aim.” Kaywoodie
Hey Johnny, They definitely have a meow type sound they can give out.
100 times... well... Bigger? Deeper? Larger air Volume? Throat volume? Hard to explain.
I've heard several vocalizations, both at the farm with the captive cats, and in the field, that AFTERwards I would have had to call them a 'meow' sound, but when I heard them, that's not what popped into my head!
Possibly the best way I can describe it is... The housecats try to do it, but they're too small! The Cougars do what the housecats are trying to do. Effortlessly. They can do it soft and quiet, but it's still big and still carries. No "Y" sound to it, but the rest of the 'meow' is there. More like a moan. "MuhRoooo" in the upper register, quiet, smooth, with maybe a little gravel on the end.
Bobcats have a varied vocabulary too. Often more nasty than the lions, but they definitely have more sounds than just the nasty growl.
Steve, Thank you for the response. I’m going with a barn cat with a good set of lungs. There could have been some subtle tonal quality that I may have missed. I hate hearing aids and wear mine seldom, if ever. Last year we called in a bobcat while predator hunting. My buddy saw the cat on the other side of the creek and was surprised at how noisy it was while coming to the call. I was 10 feet closer to the cat than he was and I never heard a thing...or saw the cat. Thanks again.
Pete, Yeah, I think we are talking about a different watering hole, different mating call and different kind of pu.... Never mind.
“My horn is full and my pouch is stocked with ball and patch. There is a new, sharp flint in my lock and my rifle and I are ready. It is sighted true and my eyes can still aim.” Kaywoodie
HS Football coach visits friends, they go cat hunting, he runs the stand with his ICOtech and RainShadow sounds.... and he goes 2 for 2 on lion stands (even though he didn't do the shooting!)
No, that isn't 'typical' either!
I told him, someday he'd have the satisfaction of having 30 dry stands in a row... but he's just a beginner, so he can't expect to get to that level immediately!
I will post the story as soon as I get it from the shooter!
Distress and 3 different RainShadow vocals, predominantly "RS S Live Whistles" brought in a young cat. Great story! Lots of fun interacting with these guys over the past couple weeks!
Bears here in northern central Minnesota respond to calls in the fall during season. The only issue is even tho I am very off grid remote, they are incredibly wary. They will not cross any sort of opening/clear cut if they can get around it. I have called from raised stands and during our early fall season with leaves and underbrush still thick they get in awfully close before detection. They disappear even faster.
I have found it too difficult to make an age/size determination in this country with such a short time for the shot. Don’t do it here any more. Fawn bleats.
Osky
A woman's heart is the hardest rock the Almighty has put on this earth and I can find no sign on it.
Bears here in northern central Minnesota respond to calls in the fall during season. The only issue is even tho I am very off grid remote, they are incredibly wary. They will not cross any sort of opening/clear cut if they can get around it. I have called from raised stands and during our early fall season with leaves and underbrush still thick they get in awfully close before detection. They disappear even faster.
I have found it too difficult to make an age/size determination in this country with such a short time for the shot. Don’t do it here any more. Fawn bleats.
Osky
Found the same problem with calling bears: if a bear coming to the call is in brush, it is often hard to tell how big it is. I have called some in open enough country to get a good look however. I prefer to call inside of fairly open forest for almost any kind of critter rather than try to call them out of cover into the open.
Calling bears works but to work well it takes some thinking before the first call sound. My grandsons called several this Fall. On his first bear one grandson killed an average adult at 58 yards that they did not get a good look at till it was dead. Other grandsons combined spot and stalk with a predator call to get a stalked bear to position himself better for a shot or get him to step into a more open spot.
I like to use a call along with spot and stalk, but for spotting we have open alpine berry patches up high and clear cuts at low elevation. If a hunter wants a big bear, it would be good to locate some big bear sign and target that specific bear rather than call cold or in general bear sign.
Bears here in northern central Minnesota respond to calls in the fall during season. The only issue is even tho I am very off grid remote, they are incredibly wary. They will not cross any sort of opening/clear cut if they can get around it. I have called from raised stands and during our early fall season with leaves and underbrush still thick they get in awfully close before detection. They disappear even faster.
I have found it too difficult to make an age/size determination in this country with such a short time for the shot. Don’t do it here any more. Fawn bleats.
Osky
Found the same problem with calling bears: if a bear coming to the call is in brush, it is often hard to tell how big it is. I have called some in open enough country to get a good look however. I prefer to call inside of fairly open forest for almost any kind of critter rather than try to call them out of cover into the open.
Calling bears works but to work well it takes some thinking before the first call sound. My grandsons called several this Fall. On his first bear one grandson killed an average adult at 58 yards that they did not get a good look at till it was dead. Other grandsons combined spot and stalk with a predator call to get a stalked bear to position himself better for a shot or get him to step into a more open spot.
I like to use a call along with spot and stalk, but for spotting we have open alpine berry patches up high and clear cuts at low elevation. If a hunter wants a big bear, it would be good to locate some big bear sign and target that specific bear rather than call cold or in general bear sign.
Ok... about 8 years ago I had father son up here bear hunting. Dad wanted to sit with his son who was 30 something but had never shot big game. We ended up all three up in a stand me filming. Nothing was happening so I hit the call in my pocket. As a fluke I looked in the right direction and saw brush top movement and knew it was a bear. I quieted down, worked the call, and happened to look down to see a second bear at the base of our tree looking up at me. Neither were big. I split the two next evening and the son took a beautiful 6.5 footer from that stand, meanwhile the father far away was impatient at his stand and left just before shooting time ended. Camera showed a terrific bear better than 500lbs strolled in 6 minutes after the guy left. Missed out on a beauty. Our clearings up here are generally logging clear cuts. Bears like those in spring for grass and bugs but come fall they won’t cross them in daylight if given a choice. They stick to thick brush. I have a rule here of no bears may be shot if under 300lbs. Just can’t stick to that here with a calling method.
Osky
A woman's heart is the hardest rock the Almighty has put on this earth and I can find no sign on it.
Calling Lions, most don't care if the cat is a big un. ANY cat is a trophy! Callers either can't or can't afford to run dogs on them, so this is their only option. As such, any cat that comes in get the crosshairs!
Call in a small bear, just shoo it away and keep calling for the big one!
I've been noticing that the call in story page is getting quite LONG!
One thing I've found that you can do to consume it is to have your computer or device read it to you. That way you can reload, or drive or whatever.
You have to kinda focus to get much out of the robot voice, but it does work.
For the computer, for instance, you go to the page, click where you want to start, and then right click, and then click "Read Aloud" or press Control and Shift and U at the same time.
Wanted to let you guys know that I have my website back in business.
If you had a Cougar Call In Story that I haven't posted yet, please let me know. I have them, and I'm planning to update soon. But things are a mess, and a reminder is always handy!
I'll be working on adding the old pics back in and making it more readable and easy to see (don't forget the 'read it to me" right click function.) But meanwhile, It's alive!
If you haven't sent me your story, please think about doing that. I'd love to post your latest encounter with the big cats!
I keep telling it to have the same link, but it keeps refusing... If I can't get it to change, here's the link it's creating...
Just reviving this because I'm seeing a lot of random Archery and Muzzleloader season Cougar Kills on social media and local hunting forums... I'd sure love to get a short story and a pic if you kill a Lion!!!
My only cougar call-in story was an accident. I was archery hunting and was cow calling for elk just after sunset. All of a sudden my "spidy sense" kicked in telling me there was something behind me. When I slowly turned around there, about 15 yards away, was a mountain lion crouched and sneaking up on me. He froze and I froze. Dark was closing in and I didn't want to deal with him in the dark. I figured that no elk was coming in. I needed this guy to leave. So, I spread my arms out and took a step toward him and yelled as loud as I could "hey!!!". He turned and bolted. I walked all the way back to camp with my senses on high alert. For that half hour hike you would not have been able to shove a needle up my ass with a jackhammer.
_________________________________________________________________________ “Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
My only cougar call-in story was an accident. I was archery hunting and was cow calling for elk just after sunset. All of a sudden my "spidy sense" kicked in telling me there was something behind me. When I slowly turned around there, about 15 yards away, was a mountain lion crouched and sneaking up on me. He froze and I froze. Dark was closing in and I didn't want to deal with him in the dark. I figured that no elk was coming in. I needed this guy to leave. So, I spread my arms out and took a step toward him and yelled as loud as I could "hey!!!". He turned and bolted. I walked all the way back to camp with my senses on high alert. For that half hour hike you would not have been able to shove a needle up my ass with a jackhammer.
Can I post that, Big Sky? So many cow calling encounters, that's a great example.
_________________________________________________________________________ “Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
Not a call in but a "bait in" experience. Northern Wi deer season mid november. About ten years before the DNR admitted we had cougars in the state.
Our group hunted a powerline cut, about 20 miles from our cabin. I hunted with my dad. My brother hunted with his now exwife. She was referred to as the gutshot queen. Was not a single deer she ever shot that was not shot through the guts several times. She used a Ruger 44 carbine.
Well right at last shooting light she plugged a big doe. Off course hit it badly. Her and my brother found her about 150 yards off the cut in some super thick popple. Trees were maybe three inch diameter no more than a foot or so apart. Nasty jungle. Deer needed a finishing shot. Brother popped her. Got ready to drag her out. He stepped in a hole and trashed his ankle. Barely made it too the truck without the deer.
Me and my dad get a call at the cabin. We got to go get the deer. Get all ready to go and dressed and head back up there. Took about and hour all told. Now well after dark
Head into the woods with gutshot queen. Can't find the deer right away. She was clueless. They left a orange hat on the deer instead of hanging in a tree where you could actually see it. Colder than hell about 8 degrees. Flashlights ain't working for crap.
We finally find the deer. Well first we smelled it first. Nothing like exploded deer paunch. On top of that I think every stinky rutting buck in the county had a turn with this doe. She just plain stunk. Drag was going to suck. Due to flashlight issues we elected to gut her at the truck despite the extra weight.
Me and dad each grab a front leg. Just as we take the first step a cougar lets out a scream. So damn close you could not even tell which way it came from, surround sound. Hair on the back of my neck stood up. We looked at each other said nothing and started hauling ass.
Here we are middle of the woods pitch black no moon night. Flashlight giving off less light than a cell phone. Kitty cat had a couple hours to get wind of this deer that we smelled from about 50 yards away. No guns. Tell you what if deer dragging was an Olympic sport we would of won gold. You ain't never seen two fat guys move that quick with a deer in tow.
No one believed us. Said it was bobcat or screech owl. Well prior to this I knew what a cougar scream sounded like. Since then I have listened to numerous recordings. Absolute no question it was a cougar.
Oh and the next spring about a mile from the spot guy got pictures of cat with three kittens. Yep no cougars in Wisconsin at the time. I have found tracks in the area numerous times since. Send pictures to the DNR. Tell me they are bear tracks. We got a lot of bears with no claws missing a toe walking around.To this day DNR denies any breeding population just traveling males.
Not a call in but a "bait in" experience. Northern Wi deer season mid november. About ten years before the DNR admitted we had cougars in the state.
Our group hunted a powerline cut, about 20 miles from our cabin. I hunted with my dad. My brother hunted with his now exwife. She was referred to as the gutshot queen. Was not a single deer she ever shot that was not shot through the guts several times. She used a Ruger 44 carbine.
Well right at last shooting light she plugged a big doe. Off course hit it badly. Her and my brother found her about 150 yards off the cut in some super thick popple. Trees were maybe three inch diameter no more than a foot or so apart. Nasty jungle. Deer needed a finishing shot. Brother popped her. Got ready to drag her out. He stepped in a hole and trashed his ankle. Barely made it too the truck without the deer.
Me and my dad get a call at the cabin. We got to go get the deer. Get all ready to go and dressed and head back up there. Took about and hour all told. Now well after dark
Head into the woods with gutshot queen. Can't find the deer right away. She was clueless. They left a orange hat on the deer instead of hanging in a tree where you could actually see it. Colder than hell about 8 degrees. Flashlights ain't working for crap.
We finally find the deer. Well first we smelled it first. Nothing like exploded deer paunch. On top of that I think every stinky rutting buck in the county had a turn with this doe. She just plain stunk. Drag was going to suck. Due to flashlight issues we elected to gut her at the truck despite the extra weight.
Me and dad each grab a front leg. Just as we take the first step a cougar lets out a scream. So damn close you could not even tell which way it came from, surround sound. Hair on the back of my neck stood up. We looked at each other said nothing and started hauling ass.
Here we are middle of the woods pitch black no moon night. Flashlight giving off less light than a cell phone. Kitty cat had a couple hours to get wind of this deer that we smelled from about 50 yards away. No guns. Tell you what if deer dragging was an Olympic sport we would of won gold. You ain't never seen two fat guys move that quick with a deer in tow.
No one believed us. Said it was bobcat or screech owl. Well prior to this I knew what a cougar scream sounded like. Since then I have listened to numerous recordings. Absolute no question it was a cougar.
Oh and the next spring about a mile from the spot guy got pictures of cat with three kittens. Yep no cougars in Wisconsin at the time. I have found tracks in the area numerous times since. Send pictures to the DNR. Tell me they are bear tracks. We got a lot of bears with no claws missing a toe walking around.To this day DNR denies any breeding population just traveling males.
If they admit to their presence, then they have to set up a budget to manage them!
They can be called in northern MN, and I have done so no problem. However in this thick bush country there are too many variables that cause problems. First Cougar I called in was near the Window Rock reservation in AZ many years ago. Watched it coming for a long way, like all cats they do goofy things.
Osky
A woman's heart is the hardest rock the Almighty has put on this earth and I can find no sign on it.
They can be called in northern MN, and I have done so no problem. However in this thick bush country there are too many variables that cause problems. First Cougar I called in was near the Window Rock reservation in AZ many years ago. Watched it coming for a long way, like all cats they do goofy things.
Osky
I attended the cougar calling school of hard knocks in NW washington state... I just wonder how many I never saw. I'd have never seen one hang up this far away.
They can be called in northern MN, and I have done so no problem. However in this thick bush country there are too many variables that cause problems. First Cougar I called in was near the Window Rock reservation in AZ many years ago. Watched it coming for a long way, like all cats they do goofy things.
Osky
I attended the cougar calling school of hard knocks in NW washington state... I just wonder how many I never saw. I'd have never seen one hang up this far away.
Apologies. My comment about the country up here was meant for bears. Incredible how they use cover to come in. When using tree stands and calling I’ve had them at the base of the tree undetected and I have good eyes. They do not come over open ground in daylight here. They are quick to detect something amiss and instantly then evaporate. The big ones that is. My first cougar came from far down a ragged draw. I watched it a long time. As I said, goofy.
Osky
A woman's heart is the hardest rock the Almighty has put on this earth and I can find no sign on it.
Electronically delivered sound sequences and tutorials are still available on the website. Also building hand calls for cougar and everything else, and still doing custom knives! Baby girl is getting older so I can get some more shop time as things progress!
Son, Alex, is still doing budget blades. (1st year of college from home, janitor at our church, studying wildlife biology.)
Son, David, is able to do pens and letter openers, but is moving to focusing more on cleavers and swords and more complicated stuff! (Jr year, homeschool, co-captain of the Selah Vikings football team!)
I just made this for my website and Facebook page…
“Have you considered the feasibility of taking a dedicated predator hunting trip? Especially focusing on cougars? Think it wouldn’t be worth it? Let me give out an early Christmas Present here… I want to up your odds!”
Apologies for the skippy audio, not sure what the dealio is with it.
Also seeing a few stories on the forums from this year! Way to get out there and get 'em! I'd love to get the stories on the site, if you're willing, please reach out to me and I'll get it posted!
ComplEEEEEEETTTly built a new website today. (Yeesh, how do them nerds do it all day every day?!?!)
Same URL, although the www isn't necessary anymore.
rain-shadow.com
Simple.
GoDaddy couldn't handle a 16 file download purchase, or over 200,000 keystrokes on one page, so a couple things had to change...
The Cougar Calling Package is now in three parts, but it's an e-commerce site and it's supposed to download purchases automatically, so it's easy and simple... hopefully!
The Call-In Story Pages are linked from the home page, and easy, and now divided into sections, so it's actually a little easier to find stuff... but the old direct link doesn't work!
Just posted story number RS24... Dave, in South Dakota got another one! His 4th!
Of course, he called cold (which I advise not to do unless you're out of options) on a spot that worked in the past (which I advise is a bad way to pick a stand location) and just WORKED one right in!
It's a long story, but Jeff did a very good job writing it up and it really shows the use of the networked trail camera in real time, so I wanted to leave the whole thing there. Wish I could post pics in with the story on my new website, but these pages are getting so huge that the site can't handle it.
It's Call-in Story Page 1, about 1/3 of the way down. Look for RS25. Another BIG BIG Tom for Jeff!
I built a page on my website and linked my old re-telling videos, and a couple on-site videos, and even one kill on camera (kinda) video as examples of what I'm looking for.
PSA: If anybody has any trouble opening the website to read the new stories, you might have to go to your browser settings and find and old cookie associated with rain-shadow.com and delete it. It was somehow tied to another domain that I let expire. I don't get it, but I know it works if you are getting an expired domain message. rain-shadow.com is still live, just need to clear out the old cobwebs!
Interesting website. We have a ranch in north-central Nebraska and have increasing numbers of cougars. Now getting them on the trail cameras. The state finally approved a season for this year in Jan/Feb. No dogs allowed. No night hunting so calling is probably the only game in town.
Interesting website. We have a ranch in north-central Nebraska and have increasing numbers of cougars. Now getting them on the trail cameras. The state finally approved a season for this year in Jan/Feb. No dogs allowed. No night hunting so calling is probably the only game in town.
Really interesting to hear that about NE. Not surprising, honestly. But it's good for you. Get your caller tuned up with vocals and find one!
I've had quite a few people ask me if I have a Heat sound.
I do now.
I didn't for a long time, because my theory (which I still stand by) is that you draw all Cats with mellow communicative sounds, and you only draw specific Cats with aggressive sounds.
Heat is fairly aggressive.
But as I learn from my own collection of cougar calling stories, Heat can and will call more than just Big Toms. It seems to call others in a territorial response, but other cats are territorial too. So there is more than just that ONE application of a heat sound.
So, thanks to the great trail camera audio captures from Rodney in the South Lake Roosevelt region, now RainShadow has a Heat sequence.
I added it to the Vocals package, but for those of you who already have my vocal sequences, I added it as a stand-alone download (for me it's on page 3 of the e-store, phone and computer) between AFC and MR on the Products page.
Bidenomics notwithstanding, I haven't increased any prices.
Never targeted lions per say, but discovered I had called one in while trying to call bobcat or coyote. There was a couple of inches fresh snow on ground had called for 40-45 minutes with no response but when I walked back to the truck fresh lion track crossed mine about 30 yards from my set up. I followed the tracks for a ways till evidently it got my scent and broke into a loop going straight away. Made me wonder how many other times a cat had checked me out. Called lots of bobcats over the years, they come in slow, got to give them lots of time, I will usually give them 45 or more minutes. Amazing how much movement they will tolerate if you are wearing a good neutral color or camouflage.