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Washington Coyote Guides
Washington State Predator Hunting Tips
Cougar - Coyote - Raccoon - Bobcat
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- It is currently illegal to use hounds to hunt Cougar in Washington. Hound hunting is virtually the only consistent way of finding cougars.
- It is very important to note that very few cougars can actually be hunted except as incidentally to other hunting. It is an extremely lucky individual who can find one in the wild. Cougars are bright and know their territory better than any other animal.
- Cougar have an excellent sense of smell. Be especially aware of your smell when in Cougar country. Scent tips
- Stands can be used for Cougar. Position the stand in travel corridors between tall timber and fields/clearcuts. Benches between two prominent hills are good places to ambush Cougar moving.
- Calling of Cougar has been known to be effective. They are naturally very curious. A predator call (wounded rabbit, fawn bleat, etc) have been known to bring in Cougar.
- Cougar are primarily nocturnal and will rarely be caught unaware during the middle of the day.
- Snow is your best bet on successfully tracking a cougar.
- Recognize cougar sign. In areas where one night you hear coyotes close by and none the next night can mean that a cougar has moved in.
- Be careful when approaching game that was downed the day before. There are some hunters out there who have successfully tracked their shots from the evening before and in the morning have found their deer or elk already claimed by a cougar. You can recognize the cougar signs by the fact that cougar only eat a bit of their deer or elk until they get full and then cover it up with grass and dirt. Coyotes, however, tend to call in their other pack mates and they eat the entire carcass, guts and all. The Cougar will usually just be within a short range of his cached food unless spooked off.
- Cougar rarely eat dead animals they find. They tend to only prefer animals and birds that they have personally acquired. This is not the case in times of bad winters where food is limited.
- Coyotes are virtually everywhere in Washington State.
- Glassing and Stalking are common ways to hunt coyotes in Washington. Look for coyotes feeding in the open or moving between bedding and feeding areas.
- Coyotes have an excellent sense of smell. Be especially aware of your smell when in coyotes country. Scent tips
- Stands can be used for coyotes. In woodland areas, position the stand in travel corridors between tall timber and clearcuts and along skidder roads. Benches between two prominent hills are good places to ambush coyotes moving. In open areas place a stand where above a gully or wash. The coyotes will use low points in topography to travel so they are not silhouetted.
- Calling of coyotes has been known to be effective. They are naturally very curious. A predator call (wounded rabbit, fawn bleat, etc) have been known to bring in coyotes.
- At this time, electronic decoys and calls are legal for enticing coyotes. These things are lethal.
- Rig a rabbit pelt, a discarded deer tail or coyote tail to a small fishing pole. Attach a length of fishing line to the pole and use the line as a jerk string. This action will visually draw coyotes to the area.
- Stay in touch with your hunting friends or fishing buddies. Or go back to the area you shot your deer or elk the next day. Gut piles and old carp fish piles are wonderful ways to catch a few coyotes unaware.
- Coyotes are extremely social. If you can use a call effectively and sound like another coyote, you can be quite successful.
- Ranchers and landowners may have an issue with you hunting deer or birds on their property, but, may not have any problem with you asking to hunt coyotes on their property.
- Raccoons are virtually everywhere in Washington State.
- Look for Raccoons feeding in the open or rooting around rotting trees.
- Calling of raccoons has been known to be effective. They are naturally very curious. A predator call (wounded rabbit, fawn bleat, etc) have been known to bring in raccoons.
- You will find raccoons in trees, near water, near dumps, anywhere there is a food source.
- There is a growing legion of hunters who are taking to the suburbs and contacting landowners who have issues with raccoons near their homes. A bow or a decent pellet gun can take care of raccoons quietly and efficiently. Take great care in ensuring that it is legal and safe to hunt these suburban raccoons.
- Bobcats are generally located in wooded areas and are virtually everywhere in Washington State.
- Glassing and Stalking are a common way to hunt bobcat in Washington. Look for bobcats feeding in the open at night, early morning, or at dusk.
- Bobcats have an excellent sense of smell. Be especially aware of your smell when in bobcat country. Scent tips
- Stands can be used for Bobcats. Position the stand in travel corridors between tall timber and open fields. Benches between two prominent hills are good places to ambush bobcats moving.
- Calling of bobcats has been known to be effective. They are naturally very curious. A predator call (wounded rabbit, fawn bleat, etc) have been known to bring in bobcats.
- It is currently illegal to use hounds to hunt Bobcat in Washington.
- Look for bobcats in trees, blowdowns, and rock outcroppings.