Dick Mason

Staff Writer

La Grande outdoorsman Chad Carlson did not confront any black bears who had just awakened from hibernation Wednesday morning while hiking in the Starkey area.

What he did confront would have jolted anyone awake a healthy, 180-pound cougar.

Binoculars in hand, Carlson was scouting for black bears five miles south of Starkey. The hunter was looking out over an open hillside when he glanced behind him and saw a cougar running behind some rocks.

Carlson, who had a cougar tag and a rifle, waited for the mountain lion to remerge.

It soon came out.

The next 10 seconds were heart stopping.

Carlson and the cougar, separated by 20 yards, stared at each other.

"I didn’t feel threatened, I was excited. I was in the right place at the right time. If I had not had a gun I would have been scared,” Carlson said.

He fired and downed the cougar.

So big was the animal that Carlson decided to gut it so that it would be easier to take out. After packing the cougar out with the help of a friend, Carlson took it to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife office in

La Grande.

The mountain lion tipped the scales at 162 pounds. Its weight before gutting was probably 20 to 30 pounds heavier, said Jim Cadwell, an ODFW biologist.

Cadwell said that over the past 2-3 years up to six cougars in this size range have been brought into the La Grande ODFW office. Cougars can be taken in Oregon all year except June and July.

Carlson had a rifle and a cougar tag just in case he encountered a mountain lion.

Carlson’s cougar was about seven years old.

"It was in its prime, in peak condition,” Cadwell said.

The biologist said it was probably the dominant male in the area since it had few scars and no torn ears. Battered cougars are often ones that have been moving through areas trying to establish a territory. Such cougars often have fights with dominant males.

Carlson was scouting Wednesday in preparation for the April 15 opening of spring bear season.

"I was enjoying my day in the woods,” Carlson said.

A day that turned out to be unforgettable.