Got me first cougar December 31,2024. I hunted extremely hard despite having MS with multiple injuries from my body giving in to rugged Oregon coast. I was hunting bear on my buck tag as I noticed a decline in elk and deer activity do to predators in my zone. I used the fox pro during October every time I knew a predator was near. I had called in the cougar many times and found her perch on an older elk trail. I smelled the ground and smelled the cat 20 minutes before I went looking. Smelled awful as I was downwind of her. Finally, months later, i realized I was calling IN TOO CLOSE TO THE CUT IN THE BOTTOM OF SWAMP. After the coastal rain, the creek was impassable. I set up on the opposite bank up on old deer trail and hid behind a fall down using the root ball as a shooting berm via .212 action bolt slugger. I painted a picture in the swamp with the fox pro starting out with the pecker and gradually increasing to the cougar whistle and in heat. I also blew this whistle intermittently. She came hot looking for the HIDDEN CALL camoed into an old sideway vine maple. She never stopped so i ripped it, boom Texas.She dropped her backend. Then boom front shoulder. Then two more. Then I thought she was dead. Do I turned on fox to cougar growl. She lifted her head. I went down behind her end ended in a neck shot. BEST TENDERLOIN my family has eaten. We get all of the game so it’s no joke. God gave me the wisdom and luck this day. One harvest in 2024! It was a 6 Molly and she has an offspring. I took ovaries to the biologist and he informed me she was 4-6. I will find out in 9 m…I’m on it for the ungulates
You should make a video of you and who you are and a bit of your history and how you got where you are! I have a feeling that many would like to see that! Love that your living the American Dream! Respect!
You ever came literally face to face with a cougar. Happened to me once while night calling using a jackrabbit in distress hand call. Was the first time in my life I got up and personal with an animal that could’ve killed me had it wanted too. Anyhow, excellent video keep up the good work.
Wow! I’ve been pretty close to bears and had cougars stalk me while calling for elk, but nothing quite like that! Thanks for watching! I’m glad you liked the video.
Great channel I am actually planning on moving up to the area I have a friend in Clark fork so watching ur videos seeing the landscape and the wildlife is inspiring
thanx for the videos,.,. I primarily hunt coyotes,, and have had the fortune of calling in 2 cougars , in the last two years,.,. FYI, one came to a woodpecker in distress, and was stalking my motion decoy--- I dropped him at 58 yards,, and he didn't quiver AND believe or not, I was using a 12 gauge shotgun with #2 APEX TSS ammo 58 yards didn't quiver!! the other came up a draw to coyote deer distress,,, dropped him with my 243 at 80 yards
Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I live and predator hunt in Southwest New Mexico. We’ve seen cougar in our area, I will purchase my second double tag in a few weeks and I am determined to get one. I’ve also heard as you have mentioned in other videos that cougar is good eating meat, I’ve eaten bobcat that we have harvested and I’m looking forward to trying cougar also. Great content, keep it coming!
This is awesome video. No information overload. Few easy points for someone to take to the field. I thought some of the rabbit calls on my foxpro sounded too silly but its good to know probably not. BTW I did call one in 5 years ago on my foxpro using fawn distress sound but it only took like 10 min for it to come in. I think ive been to impatient since then so its good to learn I can continuously call for an hour or longer and better the odds. Thanks so much for this video!!.
Hi ray my name is ray also. I also very avid cougar hunter walked down several cats and called in many keep up the good work nothing more satisfying to bag a big cat mabe someday we will meet i like watching your vidios nice job.
I always wonder , if there's ever been a time on when someone put out these bait destress callers and they are facing in the direction where the bait is hoping that the cougar will come from the front within their peripheral vision , but didn't expect it to come from the sides close to where they are standing at or worst case scenario behind the person
Thanks for sharing ! I’ve got a cat tag in my pocket, I’ve been “blind calling” every weekend. Still have yet to find some hot sign. Thanks again for sharing!
Thanks this is very helpful. I'm just getting into the cougar hunting game myself, and learning everything I can. So far I've seen 2, possibly 3, called in one but haven't gotten a shot. Mostly luck so far, but I'm learning. One thing I need to remember is turn down the volume on your videos when you've got the game call going -- our three housecats just go nuts :) Which is pretty good evidence the calls work.
It’s 7MM PRC, I have a number of videos doing load development, which is ongoing still. The precision load isn’t fully developed yet, but it was good enough to take this cougar!
Love your stuff and have talked to you a few times online. I’m in mason county and a friend has had a problem cat for a few years now but only pops for a few weeks then disappears. He gets a ton of footages of it though then nothing. I was thinking about getting an electronic call but don’t have a ton to spend on one at the moment. Is there something you would suggest?
Does hot sign matter that much if you personally have seen the cats around like very regularly? Like if you walk your dog there once a week and you see there’s signs of cats around all the time, is it going to diminish your odds the same if you don’t go on hot sign?
Hmm, knowing a pattern is definitely good as well. In that case, I’d probably wait for or look for very recently activity then jump on it while it’s hot. In an area where there is simply a lot of continuous cougar activity your odds on cold calling are definitely higher though, so I’d likely do some cold calling in such an area too!
Very high so far. If nothing else, the sound quality for what we humans can hear is better. I’ve only called one animal in so far, and it seemed to make a positive difference, but more field testing is needed.
Have you ever done non electronjc calls or calling from your sitting location? I'm gearing up for my first lion hunt and am thinking of these two options. Hope you are well!
Got me first cougar December 31,2024. I hunted extremely hard despite having MS with multiple injuries from my body giving in to rugged Oregon coast. I was hunting bear on my buck tag as I noticed a decline in elk and deer activity do to predators in my zone. I used the fox pro during October every time I knew a predator was near. I had called in the cougar many times and found her perch on an older elk trail. I smelled the ground and smelled the cat 20 minutes before I went looking. Smelled awful as I was downwind of her. Finally, months later, i realized I was calling IN TOO CLOSE TO THE CUT IN THE BOTTOM OF SWAMP. After the coastal rain, the creek was impassable. I set up on the opposite bank up on old deer trail and hid behind a fall down using the root ball as a shooting berm via .212 action bolt slugger. I painted a picture in the swamp with the fox pro starting out with the pecker and gradually increasing to the cougar whistle and in heat. I also blew this whistle intermittently. She came hot looking for the HIDDEN CALL camoed into an old sideway vine maple. She never stopped so i ripped it, boom Texas.She dropped her backend. Then boom front shoulder. Then two more. Then I thought she was dead. Do I turned on fox to cougar growl. She lifted her head. I went down behind her end ended in a neck shot. BEST TENDERLOIN my family has eaten. We get all of the game so it’s no joke. God gave me the wisdom and luck this day. One harvest in 2024! It was a 6 Molly and she has an offspring. I took ovaries to the biologist and he informed me she was 4-6. I will find out in 9 m…I’m on it for the ungulates
Thank you for your knowledge I got my first cat at 5yards away calling it in with fox pro watching your videos helped me a lot in my success
Glad to help
You should make a video of you and who you are and a bit of your history and how you got where you are! I have a feeling that many would like to see that! Love that your living the American Dream! Respect!
I just might! Thanks for the suggestion!
I agree!!
Hunted Lions with hounds for years in Montana and must give much respect for call hunting and the success!!
I like to think of that as hound following 😂 but I will also say I respect the process
I can understand that, but it's not easy in knee deep snow most of the time!! lol@@seanb2491
Just when i needed something new to watch. Badass.
Thank you! More to come!
Awesome tips. Just getting into it. Thank you
I recognized that "Lightening Jack" right away. Such a great call.
Lots of info shared here and then the PROOF x2 at the end. OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You ever came literally face to face with a cougar. Happened to me once while night calling using a jackrabbit in distress hand call. Was the first time in my life I got up and personal with an animal that could’ve killed me had it wanted too.
Anyhow, excellent video keep up the good work.
Wow! I’ve been pretty close to bears and had cougars stalk me while calling for elk, but nothing quite like that!
Thanks for watching! I’m glad you liked the video.
I've taken notes. I've watched this one more than once. Good video Ray. Thank-you for posting and sharing.
Glad it was helpful! Good luck out there!!!
Hey brother. I stumbled onto your channel searching for cougar hunting videos. I’ve watched em all now and I just subscribed. Love your content man!
Thank you very much!!! More to come!!
looking forward to it, great stuff!
Great channel I am actually planning on moving up to the area I have a friend in Clark fork so watching ur videos seeing the landscape and the wildlife is inspiring
I'll be hunting wolves up north of Clark Fork in late April! The film on this video is in NE Washington, but it's fairly similar.
thanx for the videos,.,. I primarily hunt coyotes,, and have had the fortune of calling in 2 cougars , in the last two years,.,. FYI, one came to a woodpecker in distress, and was stalking my motion decoy--- I dropped him at 58 yards,, and he didn't quiver AND believe or not, I was using a 12 gauge shotgun with #2 APEX TSS ammo 58 yards didn't quiver!! the other came up a draw to coyote deer distress,,, dropped him with my 243 at 80 yards
Nice work! Damn! TSS?!!! That is badass! I knew it was a hammer for turkeys, bud damn!
Good advice, hot sign is what you need. Congrats on the recent harvest,,,
he KILLED IT DORK He was not on a mountain lion farm.
Thanks you!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I live and predator hunt in Southwest New Mexico. We’ve seen cougar in our area, I will purchase my second double tag in a few weeks and I am determined to get one. I’ve also heard as you have mentioned in other videos that cougar is good eating meat, I’ve eaten bobcat that we have harvested and I’m looking forward to trying cougar also.
Great content, keep it coming!
Awesome! Definitely share your success! You got this!
It's 2 AM and I have to work in the morning but I can't stop watching your videos 😬😬 I have continue watching it tomorrow great videos
Nice work. Keep after em Ray.
The best video! Thank you
Glad you liked it! 🙏🏽
Rabbits are so good for so many things I love how it's got motion and sound really drive the cat brain crazy
This is awesome video. No information overload. Few easy points for someone to take to the field. I thought some of the rabbit calls on my foxpro sounded too silly but its good to know probably not. BTW I did call one in 5 years ago on my foxpro using fawn distress sound but it only took like 10 min for it to come in. I think ive been to impatient since then so its good to learn I can continuously call for an hour or longer and better the odds. Thanks so much for this video!!.
Do rabbits naturally make those kind of distress calls? I’m not a hunter but I’ve never recall ever a rabbit making those kind calls?
Yes, when wounded. I was a teenager when I first heard it while rabbit hunting… It was disturbing then! Lol!
Have they ever come from behind you to the call?
Not so far, but I try to back myself against something that they’d not have direct access to my rear through.
Hi ray my name is ray also. I also very avid cougar hunter walked down several cats and called in many keep up the good work nothing more satisfying to bag a big cat mabe someday we will meet i like watching your vidios nice job.
Awesome great knowledge thank you
I always wonder , if there's ever been a time on when someone put out these bait destress callers and they are facing in the direction where the bait is hoping that the cougar will come from the front within their peripheral vision , but didn't expect it to come from the sides close to where they are standing at or worst case scenario behind the person
It definitely happens! I called in a pack of wolves just like that! Video is posted!
@apex-livingwithpredators8379 That's crazy and scary
Nice harvest👍🏼
Ray, would you be up to teaching me how to hunt?
Unfortunately I can’t do that for everyone that asks. But do check out the first hunt foundation to find a mentor.
I would like to hear your story on how you became a hunter. If you would share a little bit I would appreciate it. Great video
I might just do a video on that! 😊
Great information thank you, will definitely take your advice. Can’t use dogs in South Dakota.
Great video man! Thanks for sharing
Thanks for sharing ! I’ve got a cat tag in my pocket, I’ve been “blind calling” every weekend. Still have yet to find some hot sign. Thanks again for sharing!
Do you play by the same rules for bobcat?
I was wondering about wind with cats
Thanks this is very helpful. I'm just getting into the cougar hunting game myself, and learning everything I can. So far I've seen 2, possibly 3, called in one but haven't gotten a shot. Mostly luck so far, but I'm learning. One thing I need to remember is turn down the volume on your videos when you've got the game call going -- our three housecats just go nuts :) Which is pretty good evidence the calls work.
Awesome video!
Do you ever worry about being stalked on your way in or out.
What caliber on your mtn reaper?
It’s 7MM PRC, I have a number of videos doing load development, which is ongoing still. The precision load isn’t fully developed yet, but it was good enough to take this cougar!
Thank you! I just bought the exact same rifle same caliber. I’ll watch your other load development videos. Thanks!
Love your stuff and have talked to you a few times online. I’m in mason county and a friend has had a problem cat for a few years now but only pops for a few weeks then disappears. He gets a ton of footages of it though then nothing. I was thinking about getting an electronic call but don’t have a ton to spend on one at the moment. Is there something you would suggest?
Any of the Foxpro calls will do.
Do you have better luck in the cascades or coast range calling in cats ?
So far I’ve been on the east sides of the states. But there’s plenty out west and the cascades.
Cool video my friend…I just subscribed
🙏🏽
good job
Thanks for the video
My pleasure! Hope it’s helpful!
Does hot sign matter that much if you personally have seen the cats around like very regularly?
Like if you walk your dog there once a week and you see there’s signs of cats around all the time, is it going to diminish your odds the same if you don’t go on hot sign?
Hmm, knowing a pattern is definitely good as well. In that case, I’d probably wait for or look for very recently activity then jump on it while it’s hot. In an area where there is simply a lot of continuous cougar activity your odds on cold calling are definitely higher though, so I’d likely do some cold calling in such an area too!
So Ray. How do you rate Freq caller vs. the other one you have used ?
Very high so far. If nothing else, the sound quality for what we humans can hear is better. I’ve only called one animal in so far, and it seemed to make a positive difference, but more field testing is needed.
I thought u couldn’t use electronic calls in wa. Can someone confirm if this is true or not?
what does cougar taste like?
Thanks
Pork, but better!
Have you ever done non electronjc calls or calling from your sitting location? I'm gearing up for my first lion hunt and am thinking of these two options. Hope you are well!
Hey Hey,
Im working on a series called "we the people" I would absolutely love to do an episode on you.
do you set on canon walls
Voodoo child, and a brick red FJ! My kinda guy. Mine's silver, wish it was green.
Looks like the Selkirks/Unit 1 North Idaho
I subbed!
Thank you!
@@apex-livingwithpredators8379 ✊🏿
I wanna go but I can't carry a real weapon it can be a bb gun though. My wife got me a very expensive high power one I'm just scared to go alone😂
If you’re in Oregon I wanna hunt with you
Is that your daughter ?
Nope, but she calls me daddy sometimes! Lol!
@@apex-livingwithpredators8379 good one 😂🙌
@@Leadslinger619 lol! Been waiting forever to say that to someone! Thanks for the opportunity! 😂😂😂
If I am going to call in a cougar in my neighborhood it involves a 6 pack of bud light and soft music!!! 😂
lol!
What a shame to hunt them
It’s all part of ecosystem management.
They make excellent jerky
Awesome video man!!