Cougar Info

[Decker]

Hi all, I have a few questions to ask concerning cougars. I have lived in Southern Illinois all my 41 years and have hunted coyotes, foxes through out. In the last few years there have been several documented cases of cougar sightings in the National Forest areas and additionally there have even been acknowlegements by the IDNR including one dead male cat found by hunters. Recently there was a fresh deer carcuss found pulled up a tree and in the same area several sheep from a local farmer have been killed. No word on tracks but one sighting from a local stating he saw a big cat with long tail in the area. I know leopards pull freash kills up a tree but is this something a cougar would do?
The reason I am asking is because I have friends who live in the area where the deer was found and have permission to hunt. If this is possible fake I do not want to waste my time.
Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Decker