Actually, living about as close to the border of WA as one can, here in N ID, WA residents can hunt cougars! But WA did away, about a decade ago, of chasing cougars with dogs under much controversy. I suppose many hunters in WA now days purchase a cougar tag and manage to bag one incidental to big game hunting, with cougars being as elusive as they are.

I read the article in the Spokesman about the Bonner Ferry's hunter, he was a lucky puppy! I hunted brown/grizzly bears in AK, when I lived there and can vouch for the speed that they move. I never had any run ins with them and was thankful for that