Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

I have been toying with the idea of getting into predator hunting, but don't know my hiney from a hole in the ground (not true...the ground doesn't normally make as much noise as my hiney) about it.

Recommendation on setups?

What kind of yardage is average when predator hunting?

Any info is greatly appreciated.

What kinds of predators are you looking to hunt? I'm looking to get into it myself. I'd like to it my rusty skills against coyote and fox. Both are supposed to be in my area. My own strategy is to learn to call.

Andy

Coyote, fox, bobcat.

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First stop is the DGIF regulations. Although it seems that they would be the same, regulations are vastly different for coyote (nuisance species) fox and bobcat (furbearers). After that, I would suggest that you concentrate on one until you get a little experience. In my part of Virginia, fox is the most abundant. I also suggest an electronic call, where allowed, until you can use a manual call proficiently. I think that I cleared most of the county of foxes when I first started calling. Probably scared the devil out of them!! After I got an electronic call and got a few to actually come in to it, I learned what I was supposed to sound like. Good luck, and don't forget those regs.

What's the hunting status of cougars in VA?
I met a lady this last weekend that has seen one on her farm in Greene Co.

So, you talkin' about older wimmin prowlin' for younger guys?

AlanM wrote:What's the hunting status of cougars in VA?
I met a lady this last weekend that has seen one on her farm in Greene Co.

I thought DGIF was still saying there are no cougars in Virginia?

No mountain lions?? Ha!! The WV folks say they have no mountain lions (cougars) in the state and yet their lawbook says there is no open season (you can't shoot a mountain lion) on them either.

I've toyed with the idea of getting into varmint hunting (used to hunt ground hogs and crows in WV many years ago) again but just never got around to it. I don't like the chiggers and ticks the heat and humidity. I should have done it as I'm sure my boys would have enjoyed it as well but I just always found something else to take up my time. Maybe here in a couple three years after I retire and have more spare time.

If I do it'll be with a .223 Remington. Either one of the AR15's or my old Rem. M700 varmint special.

Diomed wrote:

AlanM wrote:What's the hunting status of cougars in VA?
I met a lady this last weekend that has seen one on her farm in Greene Co.

I thought DGIF was still saying there are no cougars in Virginia?

Not quite true.

DGIF wrote:There have been unconfirmed sightings in Albemarle, Alleghany, Amherst, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Bland, Brunswick, Craig, Fauquier, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Grayson, Highland, Louisa, Nelson, Orange, Page, Rappahannock, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Spotsylvania, Suffolk, Madison, and Warren counties. This species has been known to adjust to a wide range of habitats, from rugged mountains and hardwood forests to swamps. They often rest in caves, wet or dry not specified. Large blocks of uninhabited forest are beneficial.

I got on the subject of large wild animals with the Charlottesville police officer that lives upstairs and was told that they have problems with black bears quite often in the city.

Lots of bears round these parts, flipped trash cans, raided bird feeders, etc. But still waiting for the game cam shots of teh mountain kitteh...

"Unconfirmed"in their terms means either a dead big cat (it better have died of old age) or a fur sample + foot print + a feces sample (I $h!t you not), I have seen a photograph of one in Augusta County and they had a list of reasons not to use that as confirmation.

While we wait here's one that a friend of a friend took in Hoback Canyon, Wyoming a couple of years ago...

That's one big kitty.

Last year a cougar was spotted in Buena Vista on some farmland by a college student(Rockbridge Co)

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Good advice on checking the regulations. Predator hunting is growing by leaps and bounds in many parts of the country. Plenty of predators in VA. Good luck!