More Cougar Pics - A Great Chase!

[jhelvik]

We caught this beautiful speciman on Sunday. I was able to shoot her with my camera; what an incredible animal! I was able take with me on this hunt a couple of my students (I am a school teacher if you didn't know). They got to see their first live cougar. It was fun to share the experience and thrill of the chase. My hounds chased this cougar for 5.13 miles (according to the Garmin) through some rough country with lots of bare ground. I was proud of the ol' red dogs.

Cat tracks


Some of the country the hounds chased the cat over


My three hounds with the cougar in the tree.


Here is what the hounds had:




Couple of youngsters under their first live cougar.


Cash and Bo on the wood.


Cat snarling


More pics after she jumped the tree.

[Brady Davis]

Very cool pics! I love that cat's color! Man, where were you when I was in school?! What a teacher!!!!!!!!

[twist]

No kidding the only place my teacher ever took me was the principles office great pics and awesome about taking your students out. later, Andy

[Booker]

great pics

[Mike Leonard]

Very nice photos and very desriptive images of a fine mature female cougar. They cetainly got some good schooling that day.

My hats off to you for leaving her to run again and raise more kids for the red dogs to chase!

[pat_kemp]

Nice pictures, thanks for sharing them.

[The Ole' Guy]

Super pictures,Great story,bet your students are ready to go again.

[Cat track]

very awsome. Just curious what kind of camera you use. Very nice looking photos.

[B-N-Trees]

Way to go! Really nice pictures. I always like to see those red dog.

[snowy river black and tan]

Nice pics, did you jump her off a kill? Looks like she has a bit of a belly on her.

[jhelvik]

Just curious what kind of camera you use. Very nice looking photos.

I use a Nikon D200 Digital SLR (single lense reflex) for taking my photos. Great Camera but it is a little expensive and heavy to pack around.

Nice pics, did you jump her off a kill? Looks like she has a bit of a belly on her.

I followed the tracks for awhile but not the whole race and I did not see a kill. I was wondering the same thing though; she did have a bigger belly. The dogs were on track for over 5 miles and I am not positive when the hounds actually jumped her. She jumped the tree a couple of times (without being pushed out; she jumped when she saw us) which seems unusual for a cat with a full belly.

Question; Does anybody think that this cat was possibly pregnant with kittens. Just a thought. Or is just look like a full belly of food. Not sure if one can tell.

[Dig]

Helvik,

I saw on a previous post you shoot a Nikon D200...what lense do you use to capture the closeups?

I'm looking to upgrade to an SLR and have heard good things about the D200.

Thanks!

[jhelvik]

Helvik,

what lense do you use to capture the closeups?

I'm looking to upgrade to an SLR and have heard good things about the D200.

Thanks!

I use a Sigma 300mm lense for the close-ups. As far as quality goes it does a good job and is not too terribly expensive. It also is not too bulky to pack around. The D200 is a great camera for taking quality still shots and action photos. It has every feature that you really need to take great outdoor photos. Someday I would like to upgrade to the D300, but that requires more $; something I always seem to be short on these days.

Hope this helps,

Helvik

[lionslayer]

nice pics Justin glad those hounds are working out so well for ya

[jhelvik]

nice pics Justin glad those hounds are working out so well for ya

Thanks Mark. They have turned out to be pretty good hounds. Sooner or later I would like to make it up your way. Anyway, talk to you soon.

Justin