Washington state is instituting its first cougar hunting season with hounds since 1996. Hunters if five counties in the eastern part of the state will be allowed to hunt cougars using dogs from December 1st through March 31.
The new hunting season is an effort to control cougar numbers and replaces a previous cougar control plan that offered limited permits to selected hunters to kill problem cougars with hounds.
The quota for the hunt using hounds will be 102 cougars with a sub-quota of 40 female cougars. If either quota is met before March 31, the hunting season will end immediately (although hunters will be allowed to continue to pursue cougars without killing them through March 31 even if the hunt ends early).
Source:
Commission OKs hound hunting pilot program. MacLeod Pappidas, Methow Valley News, October 2004.