Not in OR any longer, hounds were outlawed in 1994 for hunting cougars and bears.
Harvesting a cougar without hounds usually takes place when a hunter targeting other game encounters a cat. I have heard of several first hand stories where the cat was stalking the hunter. These cats were taken at very close range, and the cats were not seen until they were within pouncing range of the hunter. Elk bugling, and calling in turkey, will lure in other animals, like big cats.
From everything I have heard, cougar is good eats, like veal.