sex of cougar question?

[elkhntr09]

Hey im new to the site I know in oregon we cant run cougars with hounds but how do you destinguish if it is a male or femal when they are in the tree? is there certain things you looking for or does it start at the road or whereever by the size of the track? thanks for your help.

[pegleg]

Its usually fairly easy especially here. However sometimes a female may fool you if she has never bred they can have some tom traits bigger blocky build . But the best way is to check their feet like the little girl said. It can be hard at a distance on the ground running so tree it get under and look up besides build and general indicators torn ears scars the dark spot under their legs tells you by its forward or rear location what the fur n hides covering up. I believe Colorado state has a online identification course or something

[FullCryHounds]

Here is a link to the lion identification exam. All lion hunters in CO. must complete this 'test' and carry the card with you when hunting lions. The test is free and you can take as many times as you need to pass. It has helped lower the number of females taken.

http://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/LionExam.aspx

[elkhntr09]

Sweet thanks for you help guys. now I know this is a lion thread but maybe you guys would know is it the same way with bobcats? or completly different? sorry I prolly sound like an idiot but I would rather be knowledgable about the stuff befor I go and tree a bobcat or kill a cougar and find out it was a female. thanks

[1bludawg]

The dark spot and head shape are your best indicators of sex for cougars.Del Cameron has a chapter in his book describing how to do it . Bobcat are a lot more difficult ,especially when they're a 100 feet up a Douglas fir. I usually go by the track size and head shape then ,with binoculars and that's not fool proof .