does cougar respawning?

[Missing Person]

hey guys i killed 2 cougars in 2 different places but i dont have more places to hunt more cougars so i am asking if they respawn in the same place i already killed them once?

[M82]

Yes like any other animal they will respawn but there are also more than two places to hunt cougars in RDR2. If you go up the Roanoke river, slowly riding next to the river, you may encounter multiple cougars. Otherwise you can use predator bait (can be bought at trappers or any general store, or crafter with stringy meat and any kind of berry) in a cougar area to draw a cougar

[JuiceWSA]

I have a close personal relationship with the 'Roanoke Ridge Cougar'. That bastid can spawn anywhere along Roanoke Ridge, but I most consistently find it by riding to Reed Cottage and making a save.

Apply Cover Scent.

Then ride North past the intersecting road to the left, continue on a bit until you reach an open field on the left side of the road, with a rather large rock on the right side - this will be your 'Blind'.

Observe the area for a bit (to see if old Toothy is already there), if not run into the field to the West of the road towards the middle and drop a Potent Predator Bait (preferred), or a Regular Predator Bait if that's all you have (Potent works better). Run like Hell back to the East side of the rock and prepare for action.

I like Regular Arrows - 'cause it doesn't raise a ruckus with the rest of the wildlife and further North just over the tracks is a Moose Spawn (maybe) - once we get this Cougar dispatched.

Anywho, if he doesn't show up in 2 minutes, he's not coming. Reload the Reed Cottage save or simply ride back to Reed Cottage to reset the spawn, then turn around and go right back up to the field of play. Repeat the aforementioned actions and you should get Old Claws and Teeth to show up for you.

He's mostly a 3 star, but if he's gotten beat up a bit by one of the Black Bears, you may have to take him out, then repeat until a fresh one spawns back in.

While you're up there notice all the Cougar Poop - that used to have a lot of me in it until I found out how to hunt Cougars - and not be hunted by them.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2674035840

Note: If you see campfire smoke just over the ridge East of the road - There are probably a couple of bodies up there with Murfrees looting them. Go up there and take care of that 'cause a Cougar won't spawn while they're there.

Note 2:
Another Cougar (or the same one) can be found West of the River Around the 'Star Fort'. That area is also a good place to stage an ambush, but there is a scripted Cougar event wherein a tourist is eaten - and there's nothing you can do about it. In fact, if you try to help, you'll notice you'll need to shoot that thing many times to kill it, ruining the pelt. I don't hunt there.

Note 3:
A Moose can also spawn between the 2 Southernmost Fords, Southwest of 'Star Fort', anywhere along the river. The Cougar can make this interesting and he will show up when you least expect him.

Note 4: Drop by 'Star Fort' for a nasty looking Viking Axe. Use it on somebody you love... like those Murfrees up there ruining your Cougar Hunt.

Note 5:
I can also show you how to get that Florida Panther out of Old Harry Fen without a lot of drama - almost every time. Just ask. The Panther Saddle on my Dark Bay Turk looks fantastic:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2674393749