Level of bobcat hunting

[dwalton]

What are the different levels of bobcat hunting. For you guys that have read Davids book where he explain it in 4 levels for dogs and hunters don't go there. He has done a great job. I want to hear from people what they think? There seems to be a difference opinion of what a bobcat dog or bobcat hunter is on here to say the least. Whats yours and why? I think David explained it well in a way that would not offend anyone. That says a lot for who David is. I have not been so tactful That just shows my limited ability to communicate without offending someone. I would like to hear from you all that have hunted bobcats. Dewey

[coastrangecathunting]

I don't think years can come into play. I know guys that have hunted for 40 plus years and still don't get it. I think of cat huntin like I think of cutting trees. Some that have only done it for 3 yrs have it more figured out than others that have done it for 40. I also think to put it in levels is a tough thing to do. I know what I know and u know what u know. If your from maine and im from mexico than we are on totally different spectrums. jmo

jc

[dwalton]

JC: Good reply You know what you know and I know what I know. I take it one step farther I don't know what you know and you don't know what I know. Yes I agree years have nothing to do with it. But why do some people catch more bobs than others or does that have anything to do with it? Dewey

[coastrangecathunting]

If I was retired and could hunt everyday I would. Would that make me better? hell yes. If I lived in an area that had a higher cat population , would that help ? hell yes . If I had more patients to let the dogs cold track longer would that help ? hell yes . I can go on and on of the things that could make me better. I believe people catch that many cats. I am not argueing with u. If I hunted any more than I do now I would lose my family. I hunt hard but not as much as I want. I have came to the conclusion that if I am ever going to be in the discussion of top cat hunters I would have to be divorced . lol. The amount of games and birthdays I have missed because of cathunting is a big number. Even if I do make them im not really there in my mind. When im at work all I think about is dogs. I think I need to talk to doctor phil.

jc

[twist]

A person has to be able to learn from their experiences and be able to know when and how to fix what goes wrong. Yes like jc has said years don't matter if you don't know or try to fix what has went wrong on a hunt some just keep doing the same thing even if their success is low. If one has hunted cats for years and has been able to recognize what's right and wrong and correct the issues time should bea factor. For the ones that have prospered to higher levels is do to being competitive (not liking to be second or wanting to be the best) it is like all sports some put their whole heart into things and others don't. Its about wanting to be first and not settling forsecond. Andy

[mark]

I guess i should of stayed home one birthday sooner in 1993 lol. I had some good hounds and i hunted every minute i wasnt working and the wind blew a lot back then too. I caught more cats than most around here. I thought i had it figured out. I dont hunt that hard anymore due to work and other priorities but i have better dogs and catch more cats now. I think i understand cats and dogs better now and hunt alot smarter. Economy and health willing i intend to get back to my old ways within the 5 years. I would define a good cat hunter as someone who gives it their all every minute they can hunt and not neglect the things that cant be neglected.

[mondomuttruner]

How would I put a level on myself without having a different level to compare it to? (and I'm not talking about comparing it to tales on the internet) In my very tiny part of the country that I hunt I would like to think I'm on one of the upper levels but am I really? A lot of people think their the best driver, the fastest runner, the smartest person but until you actually "see" someone better than you it's hard to believe it. This is where I think it does take years to figure it out, to be honest about yourself and your hounds, to experience different ways of getting it done, to experience other houndman and it goes on and on. This does not happen overnight. I'm hoping I'm not getting out in left field so I'll shut up now.....

I live this sheltered life here in central Wis but I sure have plans on experiencing some cat hunting with a few of you guys in OR. I'm sure I'll learn something about myself and how it's done in a different part of the country.

[Unreal_tk]

I just plain ass suck at hunting bobcats.

[dwalton]

Hey guys I didn't mean to put any body down or make one person better than the other. It was intended to show reasons why different people see bobcat hunting different. A guy that can hunt only week ends and catches a cat every time is a far better bobcat hunter that hunts all week and catches a few. A guy that hunts snow and catches every cat he turns out on will have a hard time catching cats in western Oregon on bare ground. David did a great job in a way that shows why different people use dogs and catch different amounts of bobcats. I was looking to see if we as a group could come up with the same thing by brain storming. I had never looked at it quite that way before. As far as bobcats gods their is no such thing their are just people that hunt bobcat at one level or another and their is people that are judgmental or not. The biggest gift we can give people is to expect them. We are all in the same boat. The difference is what we do with it. I was not trying to make one person better than another just to see why we see things different. Dewey

[Big N' Blue]

The hard part of trying to discuss a topic like this is most people cannot write and make it come out like they meant it too. I am looking very forward to going to Oregon and be able to hear instead of read. What is happening on threads like this is a wonderful thing. Gets people to thinking outside the box.
It takes a lot of personal sacrifice to consistently catch 50-100 cats a year. To be a very good bobcat hunter is a lot of hard work and expensive and time consuming. That does not mean that you cant be the best you can be within your means, and be very proud of your accomplishments. We can all learn from one another! Like Dewey said. I dont know what he knows and he dont know what i know but that info can be shared by consenting adults.
Look forward to meeting all you Oregon Gentlemen!

[Dads dogboy]

Folks,

Without stealing some of the Thunder from David's book, here are some of the variables that help to make up his very well described "Levels of a Bobcat Hunter".

Live in area with a high density population of Bobcat.

Live in a State with liberal Game Hound Hunting Laws.

Have a secure Income.

Have raised your Kids, be Single, have understanding Family.

Have Free Time.

Made a "Lifestyle" Choice.

These are just some of the criteria that David reviews to come up with his Levels.

Now then Level 4 is his Top Level. This would be what some would consider a "Pro" Status.

I live with a 4....it damn sure ain't easy! I have known 2 other Level 4 Bobcat hunters in my lifetime. While both always had top Hounds, caught the most Bobcats in their areas, and were revered by their peers; both had less than GREAT family lives. Details will be withheld to protect their and their families reputations and memories.

But I can damn sure tell you about my/our family. While Dad kept his Cat hunting obsession under control while my Sisters and I were in School; he only planned hunts on Tuesday and Saturday nights. But anytime someone called about a Cat he was gone. As time progressed he became very Self centered and completely "OBSSESSED" with raising his Hounds and Bobcat Hunting. Why Mama put up with this is beyond me, but she, like Dad made "Life Style" choices.

When David's book comes out, or if he will give us a Glimpse on here you will see that being a Level 3 or a Level 2(weekend Warrior) is not all Bad. Compare a Level 4 to a Tiger Woods. Look at the sacrifices that he made growing up to become as good as he is. Then look at what a wreck of a Human (lite on the MAN part) he was/is as pertains to his ex-wife and Family. Give me a Phil Mickleson or an Al Baldwin over a Tiger Woods or any Level 4 Bobcat Hunter any day!

Just My Thoughts on a very controversial Topic!

[johnadamhunter]

Dewey,

I think I took your post just as you intended. I also think this can be one of the better posts if we all will be honest and take the time to explain what we do and for what reasons. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best), I am around 1 or maybe a bit less. I am just starting out. I have hunted with dogs for most of my life, mostly bear and coon. I am retired now. I decided about a year ago that I was going to give bobcat hunting a try. I have spent the past 12 or so months researching this sport and hunting with others. BGH has benefitted me a great deal and posts like this one seem to yeild the greatest amount of info. There are not many bobcat hunters in Mississippi, only 2 others as far as I know. I suppose hunting is different in the many areas and terrains of this country. Here the successful hunters seem to all use running bred hounds. I am totally new to using this type of dog and YES, they are a lot different than tree bred dogs and crosses. I not only have had to acquaint myself with the sport but also introduce myself to a different type of hound. I am fortunate to have become acquainted with CJC, Harold Parker, Jimmy Jackson, and others who have taken the time to help me. Through their patience and generousity I have been able to hunt with an experienced hunter who has good dogs and most importantly have some dogs to use, including one old solid broke start dog. Glory be! You can't run a cat if you can't start the track!
Getting back to the subject of this post, I have had these dogs only a month or so and spend my time checking areas to hunt. At this stage of my hunting I spend most of my time in areas that are large enough to run a cat and far enough from roads and highways for my dogs to be safe, not an easy task in south Ms. My goal at this time is to start a runable track. I don't know if there are enough cats in my area to justify feeding a pack of several hounds. Our terrain dictates the use of a sizeable pack of dogs to catch a cat. Our cats do not tree often and because of scenting conditions and density of brush and briars lots of loses occur. A large pack of (running) hounds is recommended by the experienced hunters. That is why I made my first post on this site querying the members as to their knowlege of any hunters in the south successfully hunting bobcats with any type of hound other than running bred dogs. None were mentioned by anyone.
So, after approximately 20 hunts on my own I have started 4 tracks. The longest race was almost 2 hrs. before having a lose that could not be straightened out. I was running the old dog and a pup. I walk hunt my dogs, road them from a 4 wheeler or pickup where possible, and rig from either when I can. Pursuing a bobcat is a great deal different than any other game I have ever hunted. The skills of the dogs are not so much different but these skills must be at a much higher level than is required for bear or coon. The hunter must have a greater awareness of what is happening as well.
In summation I will add that I know so much more than my buddies that have never tried to hunt bobcats and I know ABSOLUTELY nothing about the sport when compared to some of you guys!
John Sumrall

[Big N' Blue]

John Sumrall, You will make a cat hunter! Keep at it and you will be pleased when it all comes together. Even when you get a good pack put together, look for many nights or days with not even a tail wiggle. That is what separates a bobcat hunter in your area to a want to be cat hunter in your area. You will break most of your coon hunting friends in the process! LOL

Good luck to you!

[Nolte]

These are levels I've witnessed here in bobcat starved WI.
1. Guys who talk about bobcat hunting.
2. Guys who go bobcat hunting and struggle.
3. Guys who catch some cats with a special dog that's got it.
4. Guys who can catch cats regardless of what dogs they've got (woodsman).
5. Guys who have had/trained multiple special dogs.

There aren't many that reside in 5 and just a handfull more in 4. You get guys in both 4 & 5 and they could probably catch cats anywhere given time.

In WI, conditions are the great equalizer. Given the right conditions any coon or bear dog can catch a cat. Given the wrong conditions a special dog can look pretty average.

[Trueblue]

I think it was the great HOUNDAWG that once said a man told him that he didn't care much for houndsmen. Why not ? To which he replied,"never had much respect for a man who's life is defined by a pack of dogs." I read that quote a long time ago but it stuck with me,probably because it hit home pretty hard.Running hounds when you have a family is a balancing act like walking a tight rope,you take too many missteps and the results are going to be catastrophic both for you and the people who you love.Chasing these hounds can easily become an addiction and I literally mean that and it can be just as detrimental to a family as any other kind of addiction.I got a hunch that the fella who made that statement above had probably seen some families go down the drain over a pack of dogs.I know I have seen it before.I know that in my own personal situation my family has made A LOT of sacrifices so I can chase my obsession.Was it fair to them ? Not really.They have rarely complained but I am positive that there is some unspoken resentment there.Made many selfish choices over the years and as I get older and the years go by I'm learning to regret my immaturity and lack of consideration for others over years gone by.Unfortunately some of us get smart too late.Somewhere along the line,if a guy ain't careful,this hound game can switch from being a hobby and a source of recreation to being an addiction and we all know how things can change when something goes from recreational use to an addiction.Takes a man with a solid sense of balance to walk the line.