Hunt cougar with a .22?

[Koda]

I have a group of cougars, the cat kind not older women, that I have been following. I have my tag so I will take one soon and figured I would use my .280 or possibly 3030, maybe a .222 or AR. Not sure. My friend at work has killed about a dozen in his 20 years hunting and said just take your favorite accurate 22 and lung shoot them. Now I know I could but it just seems risky. I don't want to ruin meat with a big bore, yes I want to eat a cougar, but I also don't think 22 has the umph to get it done. Shot coyotes dead chest with a 22 and they run off. Maybe my .17? Or 22 mag? Trapping isn't out of the question and not looking to ruin the hide or meat if possible. What advice could anyone give me? Thanks for taking time to read this. EDIT- shooting within about 30yrds no further, I can get close!

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If your hunting within 30 yards use your AR. The 22 Hornet would work at that distance but I wish all the old tales of using a 22lr for big game would go away its just the worst thing you can recommend regardless if illegal.

 

[Caveman Jim]

Ifn ya wanna blow out their lungs, a 9mm is the way to go…

 

[Joe13]

30 yards…

I might be tempted to go with a 12 ga.

Pick your pellet size and granted there would be more then one hole but you could pick the size of the hole and if patterned well, shoot over or under the lungs so you only hit with a few pellets.


As far as 22lr. My mom tells stories about her dad going out with a .22lr rifle and taking deer in the ear and them dropping straight down.

Now he had a huge ranch in AZ and the advantage of knowing where the game was pretty much all the time but I never met him and unless your trying for the skin, I would go for a larger rifle and just make it a better chance at a clean and fast kill.

An AR would probably be a good option imo as well.