Broadside
Hold on the back line of the near front leg, a third to halfway up the body. The chest is narrow and the lungs sit just behind the shoulder. On a cat in a tree, find the leg and elbow among the branches.
Quartering and other angles
In a tree, a cougar is often above you at a steep upward angle. Aim for the chest, and picture the bullet exiting through the far shoulder. Quartering away on the ground, aim for the far front leg.
Do not
Do not shoot a cougar in a tree when the dogs are directly underneath or in the line of fire, and do not use a bullet that will not expand on a thin-skinned cat.
Where they live and the typical miss
Found across western North America, from Canada to Mexico. The typical miss is a rushed shot through branches at a steep angle.
Treed cats
A treed cat gives you time. Tie up the dogs, move to a spot with a clear view of the chest, and take a steady rest.