Author Topic: Bobcat Down  (Read 1200 times)

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Offline statelinerut

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Bobcat Down
« on: January 20, 2008, 08:49:11 AM »
It was 18 degrees at 9am when I left for the lease. I first set up on an old skidder trail that leads to a creek where we have seen coyote before. Also there was tons of scat and sign as well. 40 minute stand and no takers. Next I went to a hardwood bottom where we have seen lots of bobcat tracks and it leads to a creek that is too thick to walk through. Sat up on the ridge overlooking the bottom and started out with "lucky bird", then "northern flicker", then back to "lucky bird". 40 minute stand and no takers again. Third stand I went to a food plot surrounded by 8 year old pines on both sides. Wind was from my right to left so I set the caller on the right edge of the food plot. This would make any coyote have to expose himself in order to get down wind of the caller. Started out with "lucky bird" for 10 minutes, "northern flicker" for 10 minutes, and then back to "lucky bird" for another 10. At the 30 minute mark I decided I would do a few lone howls to maybe coax a warey male into the plot for a look. As I put the howler to my mouth, I noticed a figure standing about 75 yards that wasn't there 30 seconds before. I ease the howler down and put the scope on it and it was a big bobcat standing there looking at me. I click off the safety put the crosshairs behind the shoulder and it was all over. Big female. I thought it had to be a male to be so big, but I was wrong.

I had set out this year to get my first bobcat and today was the day. Man am I pumped.



"For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6

"Upon a life I did not live, upon a death I did not die; anothers life, anothers death, I stake my whole eternity." Horatius Bonar

Offline rbergum95

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Re: Bobcat Down
« Reply #1 on: January 20, 2008, 11:22:08 AM »
congrats on the cat and nice shooting!

Offline Jerry Lester

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Re: Bobcat Down
« Reply #2 on: January 20, 2008, 04:17:53 PM »
Congratulations on a very nice cat!

That first one can prove to be VERY elusive. I spent many, many frustrating days/months/years(literally) calling for my first bobcat. Then after the first one hit the ground, several more came along within the next couple seasons. The bobcat is my all time favorite animal to hunt, and thankfully, they still don't come easy, or regularly!  :)

Offline navylawdog

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Re: Bobcat Down
« Reply #3 on: January 20, 2008, 04:52:28 PM »
Statelinerut,

Good job on the nice looking bobcat. What caliber were you using? My mom said that dad got a female the other day too. I guess it must be a bad time to be a female bobcat.

Navylawdog

Offline statelinerut

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Re: Bobcat Down
« Reply #4 on: January 21, 2008, 02:31:07 AM »
Statelinerut,

Good job on the nice looking bobcat. What caliber were you using? My mom said that dad got a female the other day too. I guess it must be a bad time to be a female bobcat.

Navylawdog

It definitely was a bad day for her.

The CZ is in 204 using a 40gr Hornady Vmax. The bullet performed really well only leaving about a dime sized exit wound. The 32gr would have been better, but I also hunt coyote as well, and the 40gr I think is better suited for the coyotes we have here in West, TN. They are some big boys.
"For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6

"Upon a life I did not live, upon a death I did not die; anothers life, anothers death, I stake my whole eternity." Horatius Bonar

Offline Jonboy

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Re: Bobcat Down
« Reply #5 on: February 04, 2008, 01:41:14 AM »
Thats a nice cat. Did you get her mounted ?

Offline JerryNH

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Re: Bobcat Down
« Reply #6 on: February 04, 2008, 03:57:43 AM »
Congratulations! Nice cat & nice shooting!!

Offline Ponydog

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Re: Bobcat Down
« Reply #7 on: February 04, 2008, 08:41:22 AM »
I thought that gun looked familiar....I have one just like it.....nice cat....I am in SE Missouri south of Sikeston.......and I do envy you all having those hills and thick stuff there in W Tennessee....here we have flat and flatter....but sure have tons of coyotes...
nice shooting
“when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government.”

Offline statelinerut

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Re: Bobcat Down
« Reply #8 on: February 04, 2008, 12:26:01 PM »
Thats a nice cat. Did you get her mounted ?

She is in the freezer as we speak Johnny. Haven't figured out which pose I want yet.
"For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6

"Upon a life I did not live, upon a death I did not die; anothers life, anothers death, I stake my whole eternity." Horatius Bonar

Offline Jonboy

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Re: Bobcat Down
« Reply #9 on: February 05, 2008, 07:54:49 AM »
My cousin had a cat mounted. It is standing trying to catch a Bobwhite . It turned out great. Maybe I can get a pic of it to send you.

Offline Ladobe

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Re: Bobcat Down
« Reply #10 on: February 05, 2008, 09:24:04 AM »
Great read and pictures.   Good job - thanks for sharing it with us.    Back in 2002 I took a huge female stock/pet killer for a rancher that was WAY bigger than any male I have ever taken.

Cats have always been one my favorite preds to call in.   As much because the canines usually come in first and soil the stand as because of how beautiful they are.   My all time favorite though is to call in lions with a mouth call hunting alone.    Takes a lot of attempts to be successful, but when you are, you're way beyond "pumped", and if anything is soiled it's your pants.

Evolution at work. Over two million years ago the genus Homo had small cranial capacity and thick skin to protect them from their environment. One species has evolved into obese cranial fatheads with thin skin in comparison that whines about anything and everything as their shield against their environment. Meus

Offline navylawdog

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Re: Bobcat Down
« Reply #11 on: February 05, 2008, 02:18:54 PM »


 My all time favorite though is to call in lions with a mouth call hunting alone.    Takes a lot of attempts to be successful, but when you are, you're way beyond "pumped", and if anything is soiled it's your pants.



I would imagine that would be a bit closer to the truth than I would like to find out. I have only seen one once and it was a good two hundred yards off and that was closer than the horse I was riding cared to be.

Navylawdog

Offline statelinerut

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Re: Bobcat Down
« Reply #12 on: February 06, 2008, 11:53:57 AM »
My cousin had a cat mounted. It is standing trying to catch a Bobwhite . It turned out great. Maybe I can get a pic of it to send you.

Man that would be great. I would like to see that.
"For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6

"Upon a life I did not live, upon a death I did not die; anothers life, anothers death, I stake my whole eternity." Horatius Bonar