The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1895-03-22
MASON COUNTY, WASHINGTON FRIDAY MARCH p 1885,
Cougars and Cougar Hunting.


tiers put together, and when drivon to
hunger is not one bit backward in
taking some poor settlers COW, colt.
sheep. etc., They are very daring
about it, too, and will take a COW down
and kill her in plain sight of owners
house.
1t is but year or so since a large
cougar killed a fine full grown heifer
belonging to john Saunders, living a
short distance above Arcadia. The
helfer was killed i'll plain sight of his
neighbor's house. | was sent for but
did not get word until eleven O'clock
at,night; having been hunting all day
failed to reach home until then. /
went to Mr.. Saunders arriving
at three o'clock in the morning.
After breakfast | walked over where
the cow lay. and turned Don (my dog)
loose, and in about twenty minutes |
had Mr.. Cougar down. He was good
load for two men to carry.
The largest cougar | have ever seen
was one killed at the head of Oyster
Bay on Kennedy creek. E. B. Taylor
and | were out on hunt, near what
is known as "the falls" The snow
was knee deep, and very soft. The
bogs Oon and Sport) started the
cougar but the snow, teing so deep,
prevented the dogs from freeing him,
as he would jump from from twenty
thirty feet every jump. while the dogs
had 10 waliow through the snow.
The dogs had been running about three
noirs and had gone out of hearing
when suddenly heard them coming
| back. Old Sport was giving tongue
like fire bell. | was standing on a
large fir log, looking in the direction of
the dogs when out of clump of frs
jumped the cougar. 1t was sight
worth going miles to see,-he came
bounding over the snow with head
erect and tail swelled out until he got
within Sky yards OF where l stood,
when he stopped and shifted the air.
dropped down on him with my A
and 'fcut-loose." He gave one spring
ii the air, a snort and down he went.
1t took all of Taylor's and my own
strength 10 get him on log so we could
skin HIM after we otherwise dressed him
We started for home but were tired out
bv the time we reached Doc Simmons
After a hot supper we continued
our way home Thehide of this cougar
measured 10 feet and ] inch. sold it
to Mr.. Dam of Kamilche, for $50.
| have killed a number of small cou-
gars and 1 find they will tree much
easier than large ones. I'he latest
cougar hunt l have had was Sunday
March 10th. l took old Don and
struck through the timber back of
Chapman's cove. [ had travelled about
one mile and half, and had arrived
in sight of Mr.. Daniels ranch, when
Don gave snort and started on
keen run. l jumped on log SO as to
see as far as possible, and caught sight
of cougar coming quartering in my
direction with Don a good second. |
should have waited until she treed,
but did not, as event viii show She
was about 80 or 40 rods from me and
running like streak, | raised my
gun and cut-loose, and down she went.
ran as quick as'I could to where she
Law, to be Oh hand in case she was not
dead to give her another shot, and the
first thing saw was the cougar stand
ing on her hind quarters directly In
front of me. Whoofl whoofl! she said
| felt like whoofing it myself when she
made her salaam to me. Her claw
caught my shirt at the shoulder and
took ii off slick and clean. She tried
to take my pants too but missed her
aim and took the top OF my shoe 1t
took but a few seconds for this to oc-
eur-in fact it was like a lightning
stroke to me. Don made grab at
her and she lit out and i, well 7 sat
down and looked at her while she ran
so or go Yards in plain sight with old
Don grabbing at her tail After tying
my hair down and chasing the chllls
hack whence they came | put after
them. By that time she had treed on
a bushy white fir, and as | could not
oct a shot at her head / gave it to her
in the neck, when down she came as
full of fight as ever, ran up and shot
her in the head, being SO close the
nowder burned the hair. She would
have shortly gwen birth to TIVE cubs.
In hunting cougars you heea oogs
w;ll STAY with tlem-dogs that viii not
be afraid nor too bold for if a cougar
Gets clean sweep at dog it is good
bv dog. In approaching tree where
one il treed a person must be very
o.,;es or the cougar viii jump 20 the
round and the dog Is likely to get
,..rt ,,r al an rate have . . hls
work all ossr again.