Ghost bobcats
Re: Ghost bobcats
Willie: I think you are right on. I have seen several bobcats that were scared and the dogs lose the trail right there. If the cat is walking a head of the dogs most dogs will have to cold trail it. How they do that is another thing altogether. Some dogs are content to trail a track all day and some dogs just go catch it. Scientifically bobcats can't hold their scent, that is as far as we can explain but something does happen once in a while that we just can't explain. Being humans that have to know the answers we make. Sometimes it is OK to just not know. Dewey
Re: Ghost bobcats
Ignorance is bliss? Not for me. I know there is a true scientifically based answer to these questions. Because it is all theoretical, therefore questionable, it doesn't mean they can't be understood.
My thoughts on this phenomenon and I have specific experiences of varying degree even though some of my info and opinions are from observations while bear hunting as well as bobcat. I am a firm believer that it is a mixture of a few variables and when mixed chaotically produce uniqueness in the scenting world.
Scent is the first variable. What Catdogs mentioned about the skin flecks breaking down produces scent. Breath produces scent. Perspiring produces scent. The breakdown of this organic material dictates its intensity. The animals lay scent out there at all times in a mixture depending on the condition of the animal at that moment (hunting, running, sleeping, tired, sick, scared, etc.). Lots of variations possible.
Next is environment. Rock, grass, timber, log, sand, corn field, etc. These are the materials which make up everything else that is inhaled and interpreted in the dogs olfactory. A good example of this variable in extremes is rigging your dog behind another vehicle on a dusty road. The dust the dog inhales plays into his scenting ability.
Finally there is weather. Humidity, temperature, wind and barometric pressure specifically. These variables effect where the scent will be and the condition of it. On the ground, 10ft in the air, dispersing fast, dispersing slow, wind drift, etc.
Couple the infinite variables possible with the quality of dog(s) your hunting and you end up with a huge chart of scenarios possible. Figuring out the reasons for the oddities and making sense out of it is a fun and challenging part of hounding.
My interpretation of the ghost cat, esp. the one that runs across the road in front of you (which is a way different dynamic than the cat who walks in front of the dogs who are trailing it and seems to never be able to get jumped) is that when a cat is meandering through the woods, it is in a low metabolic state. It crosses the road and is spooked, runs 50yrds. (or 1000yrds) and stops. It either sits there or walks away at its original pace. That first 50yrds., the cat is still at a low metabolic rate so he's not breathing hard, yet when he runs off he's probably dropping skin particles, but they have yet to produce scent. Your dogs get out and have no idea there was right there. Very frustrating to say the least. If they find the spot the cat stopped, the race is on. If not, several minutes later, dogs start to wind up and can maybe start the track, maybe not, depending on the outside variables, including you kicking and screaming at them to start that track or DIE!!!
Bottom line on this, as mentioned earlier in this thread, is to wait at least a painful 10 minutes until you put a dog down. Solving this issue is a matter of tactical change by the hunter because as it happens to most every hunter, it is not about a cure, it is about increasing the possibility of success. It is always a good idea to park on the track and when (or if) the scent rises and the dogs can smell it, encourage them to strike out of the box (might help young dogs rig).
Probably a lot more to it, but these are my thoughts.
My thoughts on this phenomenon and I have specific experiences of varying degree even though some of my info and opinions are from observations while bear hunting as well as bobcat. I am a firm believer that it is a mixture of a few variables and when mixed chaotically produce uniqueness in the scenting world.
Scent is the first variable. What Catdogs mentioned about the skin flecks breaking down produces scent. Breath produces scent. Perspiring produces scent. The breakdown of this organic material dictates its intensity. The animals lay scent out there at all times in a mixture depending on the condition of the animal at that moment (hunting, running, sleeping, tired, sick, scared, etc.). Lots of variations possible.
Next is environment. Rock, grass, timber, log, sand, corn field, etc. These are the materials which make up everything else that is inhaled and interpreted in the dogs olfactory. A good example of this variable in extremes is rigging your dog behind another vehicle on a dusty road. The dust the dog inhales plays into his scenting ability.
Finally there is weather. Humidity, temperature, wind and barometric pressure specifically. These variables effect where the scent will be and the condition of it. On the ground, 10ft in the air, dispersing fast, dispersing slow, wind drift, etc.
Couple the infinite variables possible with the quality of dog(s) your hunting and you end up with a huge chart of scenarios possible. Figuring out the reasons for the oddities and making sense out of it is a fun and challenging part of hounding.
My interpretation of the ghost cat, esp. the one that runs across the road in front of you (which is a way different dynamic than the cat who walks in front of the dogs who are trailing it and seems to never be able to get jumped) is that when a cat is meandering through the woods, it is in a low metabolic state. It crosses the road and is spooked, runs 50yrds. (or 1000yrds) and stops. It either sits there or walks away at its original pace. That first 50yrds., the cat is still at a low metabolic rate so he's not breathing hard, yet when he runs off he's probably dropping skin particles, but they have yet to produce scent. Your dogs get out and have no idea there was right there. Very frustrating to say the least. If they find the spot the cat stopped, the race is on. If not, several minutes later, dogs start to wind up and can maybe start the track, maybe not, depending on the outside variables, including you kicking and screaming at them to start that track or DIE!!!
Bottom line on this, as mentioned earlier in this thread, is to wait at least a painful 10 minutes until you put a dog down. Solving this issue is a matter of tactical change by the hunter because as it happens to most every hunter, it is not about a cure, it is about increasing the possibility of success. It is always a good idea to park on the track and when (or if) the scent rises and the dogs can smell it, encourage them to strike out of the box (might help young dogs rig).
Probably a lot more to it, but these are my thoughts.
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Dads dogboy
- Babble Mouth
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- Joined: Sat Mar 21, 2009 2:53 am
- Location: Arkansas
- Location: Central Arkansas
Re: Ghost bobcats
Cobalt,
VERY WELL Said!!!!!!!
Young or Green Bobcat Hunters Print Cobalt's Post out and READ it at least twice each time you go Hunting.
Follow South Texan's advise if you see a Cat cross the road!
Read all the above Posts as they all express things that Good Houndsmen have witnessed for which an explanation is difficult!
Willie,
As Mark, Dewey, CRA, and many others have found out, Dad is full of little sayings that at first seem to be incongruous, but with time and experience make sense. Here is one that applies to this topic..."You can run a Cat till he stops running and starts Walking". Ain't it so, here in AR, FL, OK, TX, OR & CA.
Good Thread with lots of well thought out Posts!
VERY WELL Said!!!!!!!
Young or Green Bobcat Hunters Print Cobalt's Post out and READ it at least twice each time you go Hunting.
Follow South Texan's advise if you see a Cat cross the road!
Read all the above Posts as they all express things that Good Houndsmen have witnessed for which an explanation is difficult!
Willie,
As Mark, Dewey, CRA, and many others have found out, Dad is full of little sayings that at first seem to be incongruous, but with time and experience make sense. Here is one that applies to this topic..."You can run a Cat till he stops running and starts Walking". Ain't it so, here in AR, FL, OK, TX, OR & CA.
Good Thread with lots of well thought out Posts!
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twist
- Babble Mouth
- Posts: 2009
- Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2007 6:28 pm
- Facebook ID: 0
- Location: Columbus, Mt.
Re: Ghost bobcats
Took several more post to come around to get everyone believing what I had said earlier lol. Andy
The home of TOPPER AGAIN bred biggame hounds.
Re: Ghost bobcats
Hey you boys ever consider that the cat is holding its breath. When them hounds get close they have to be smelling the hottest scent the cat is letting off which is its breath! Whether it be cat sweat, cat dander or poopy feet they can't turn that on or off but they can and do c
Re: Ghost bobcats
Control there breathing,
Re: Ghost bobcats
Hummm! 4 pages of Ghost Bobcats and now nothing! You boys holding your breath or what?
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Dads dogboy
- Babble Mouth
- Posts: 1352
- Joined: Sat Mar 21, 2009 2:53 am
- Location: Arkansas
- Location: Central Arkansas
Re: Ghost bobcats
bluedog4,
I think 4 pages were enough to cover a Subject thoroughly and not for the first time!
You bring up another good point, a Bobcat holding it's breath. How long do you think a Cat might hold it's Breath?
I think 4 pages were enough to cover a Subject thoroughly and not for the first time!
You bring up another good point, a Bobcat holding it's breath. How long do you think a Cat might hold it's Breath?
Re: Ghost bobcats
I seen a Coon hold his breath for 15 minutes at a water race when we had a malfunction. Nobody expected the coon to be alive. I would guess to say a cat could hold his breath for at least 5 minutes..................lol
Bluedog
Bluedog