The Misfit Cat Hunting Thread

[ALEX]

Regarding the tracks in question following the tire tracks and the dirty tracks by the mug, I referenced my mammal tracking book and the 2x pattern in the tire tracks is consistent with canines at a lope or trot. In this case, since the tracks seemed to be less than 2 inches in length, this may be a fox of some variety. Gray or kit, or even a small red, if they have them in Arizona. It's also worth noting that a number of times claw marks won't show on a gray fox track. The dirty tracks by the mug could also be a fox, as kit foxes do burrow (not sure if grays do) which might explain the dirt. Or if the critter just went over some muddy ground without snow on it and then stepped onto the clean snow leaving remnant dirt visible.

[TomJr]

Nice story And Pictures! Just thought I would post a few pictures proving that it is possible to catch Cats in AZ with redbones. I don't have a pretty girl to hunt with though so you are ahead of me... even if you never catch anything as Dan said

I let them catch fox too...

[duck duck goose]

That track bugs me. It has always been hard for me to see a track and not identify it. In a picture you don't get the context of surrounding environment, where the track came from or where it goes. The cup helps, but it is really hard to get the size of it. In the first photo of it, I can see a spot where there are two pine needles, I think. If they are, the track is too small for coyote. There are a lot of animals that will lope like that at times. But the mustelids do it most of the time. I include skunks in that family,(although these days they say they are not) as they have that same gait. Coon do it a lot also.

The dirty tracks made me think skunk or badger, because I see no bare dirt, and both of these usually come out of dirt dens of some kind this time of year. The pine needles make the track look too small for badger. So I am leaning toward other small mustelids: skunk, marten, mink. I have seen gray fox tracks that small. Just can't see enough detail in the track itself. But see no claw marks which says gray fox. I would have to know why the feet were so dirty. The dirt says skunk to me.

All that just says I can't tell what it is. Lol. But it is not because I didn't think about it.

David,

I was pretty sure that it was not a coyote track as well. The critter crossed through a mud hole then got back up on the clean snow which is why the tracks are muddy. I was thinking coon or skunk as the back track seemed too long to be a coyote, but then again, the front track seemed too big to be a coon. The gait seemed small for a coyote as well, and in my opinion the paws were too big to be a fox either.

I never gave thought to a badger, but that might have been our culprit.

For the rest of you guys, that pine needle in the first picture is probably about 7" long and the diameter of the base of my coffee mug is right around the 3" mark.

[duck duck goose]

Nice story And Pictures! Just thought I would post a few pictures proving that it is possible to catch Cats in AZ with redbones. I don't have a pretty girl to hunt with though so you are ahead of me... even if you never catch anything as Dan said

That's awesome Tom! So it is possible. I am going to keep after it, hopefully one day I will be able to post a picture of a cat too.

[pegleg]

I didn't read all the specifics but if it seemed to be similar to a coon but in a area with coatimundi that's probably your explanation where did you see it?

[duck duck goose]

I didn't read all the specifics but if it seemed to be similar to a coon but in a area with coatimundi that's probably your explanation where did you see it?

It was in central AZ. I forgot about Cotimundi, I've never lived in an area that they inhabit before. That is a good possibility too.

[Pagosa]

Duck Goose, I started hunting hounds again three years ago after a long break as a kid hunting coons and bobcats in Oklahoma. I would definitely recommend reading David's book bobcat dogs, a very good book. Secondly keep hunting one dog at a time until they improve, or don't work out.
I have one walker that is completely worthless as a cat hound, she is a great pet, but not what I would consider a good hunting hound. Yes she can tree a coon, but running a bobcat seems to blow her mind. I got a younger Leopard hound and he is making into a very good hound.
Again I took David's advice and got a dog from a local guy that is successful in treeing cats. That alone has helped greatly. And walking out tracks with one dog in good snow conditions has improved his and mine hunting abilities in a month. We still haven't treed a bobcat but we are getting close. I think by the seasons end the Leopard will tree a cat or two. He is 1.5 years old. Spending lots of time in the off season hunting coons, squirrels, or just going on walks and obedience will improve hunting time.
All that matters you are enjoying it with your hounds, and girlfriend/wife. They are very good looking redbones. I bet here shortly they will be treeing game. Keep after it

[dhostetler]

That track bugs me. It has always been hard for me to see a track and not identify it. In a picture you don't get the context of surrounding environment, where the track came from or where it goes. The cup helps, but it is really hard to get the size of it. In the first photo of it, I can see a spot where there are two pine needles, I think. If they are, the track is too small for coyote. There are a lot of animals that will lope like that at times. But the mustelids do it most of the time. I include skunks in that family,(although these days they say they are not) as they have that same gait. Coon do it a lot also.

The dirty tracks made me think skunk or badger, because I see no bare dirt, and both of these usually come out of dirt dens of some kind this time of year. The pine needles make the track look too small for badger. So I am leaning toward other small mustelids: skunk, marten, mink. I have seen gray fox tracks that small. Just can't see enough detail in the track itself. But see no claw marks which says gray fox. I would have to know why the feet were so dirty. The dirt says skunk to me.

All that just says I can't tell what it is. Lol. But it is not because I didn't think about it.

David, I did not do an in depth study on the track. I am more in Clay's camp, not sure what it is but definitely not a bobcat.