[Jeff Higgins]

I've always loved these animals, and loved the idea that they are a part of our wilderness, right here in Washington state. I've been priviledged enough to "spend some time" with them in the wild, having encountered them numerous times in my lifetime of woods bumming and wilderness wandering. There is something very special, almost surreal about crossing paths with one out there all by your lonesome. The realization that you are now in second place on the local food chain really gets the juices flowing. Even our local bears don't bring out quite the same emotions and thoughts.

The closest I've ever been to one of these was a good, competetive seed spitting distance. I was out deer/bear hunting, and actually had a cougar tag as well. We surprised one another on kind of a rocky, sage brush covered knoll. I had crawled around some rocks to sit up against them and observe the surrounding country. It looked like he had the same idea. We saw each other at about the same time, with him laying on some rocks no more than 30 feet away. We just sat/laid there for the longest time, staring at each other. It would have been so easy to fill my cougar tag, but the thought never even crossed my mind. I was having a ball. He looked like he could care less after awhile. Finally, after about half an hour, he got up and left. Must have thought this loud, smelly klutz has ruined his spot or something. I'll never forget that experience.