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.
