Bobcat population in utah??

[black eye]

I spoke with a buddy of mine at the udwr @ the UHA banquet last week, he told me that 990 bobcats were checked in this year and 3300 last year.

Quite the drop in harvest just wondering what you guys found this winter???

I hit a few of my favorite spots and came up empty, no race.

Let me know just curious??

[TUCO]

I chased one around the cliffs for a few hours. never did get him. And found 4 or 5 other tracks this winter.All to old to do anything with....untill the rabbits rebound, I dont think its gonna get any better. Come On Rabbitts,Breed like Rabbits

[black eye]

I agree seems a few years back there were so many rabbitt tracks I had a hard time keepin myself lined out on a cat then POW the crash hit.

[klane58]

Less tags shorter season later opening date. As you know most Bobcats are taken by trappers.
I felt like there was as many cats as ever in my area.
A large Coyote population in not helping the numbers of Bobcats.
Just know there will be less tags and a shorter season next year to.

[culverz]

Get rid of the competition!! Coyotes mainly, can't do much about the birds of prey and that will help bring back the food supply. Had a bit of parvo or something get into the dogs in an area and knocked the old yotes down. We saw a big increase in rabbits and bobcats this year. I think we have so many damn hawks, owls, and eagles that it is tough on rabbits.

[catketcher60]

i live in ne utah and had a hard time finding much to run. i filled my tags but had to work at it. I did find a couple of nice drainages that always had a cat in it so i guess im lucky

[walker83]

I'll echo the fewer tags and shorter season comment. I am sure that the population is down a little but I don't think that its something to be concerned with. As rabbit populations crash I believe that the cats move to new areas looking at other prey sources. Pack Rats, fawns, gamebirds and mice. Go where the prey sources are and you'll find the cats.

[klane58]

I am hearing that the DWR is going to ask for a no bobcat harvest for 2012.
If that happens we won't get it back.
I can't believe that the Bobcat population is in that bad of shape.
Yes the harvest is down. But look at all the factors.
With all the changes that the DWR did last season the harvest had to be less.
There are places that the cats are over harvested. But with the late season opening the trappers are limited to a lot smaller area putting more pressure on that same area.
Weather is the biggest factor on the bobcat harvest.
All I can say is when you get your Questionare in the mail make sure you tell the DWR what they need to here not what they lead you to tell them with there leading questions.
Trust me the nongame section of the DWR is not your friend.
Later

[Pops]

Get rid of the competition!! Coyotes mainly, can't do much about the birds of prey and that will help bring back the food supply. Had a bit of parvo or something get into the dogs in an area and knocked the old yotes down. We saw a big increase in rabbits and bobcats this year. I think we have so many damn hawks, owls, and eagles that it is tough on rabbits.

on average i SEE about 6-8 large raptors per mile of road out where i live now. i have seen exactly 4 jacks, 3 pheasant, and zero quail, cottontail, fox or coyote in the area. they need to change the law and put a short take season on the raptors. might also want to regulate he jacks because the ones i've seen get up & run at 400-600 yards. which means they've been shot at from that far away & learned to run early.

[timothy]

Pops your right about regulating the raptors. Im glad to hear someone else say that. As hunters swe use conservation as our number 1 excuse at keeping the antis at bay. How can we say we are managing our wildlife if we are only managing a portion of it. to sucesfully manage a species you have to manage them all.