bobcat hunting in the north east

[Jim Meacham]

I am new to running bobcats. Other than just 2 bobs that I have killed I have not killed any more because I don't want to be shooting all the females. I have been lucky so far as to killing both toms one being 36 and the other 41 lbs. Just woundering if there is a way to tell the difference between the female and the male in the tree. Help would be great thanks


Jim

[Dads dogboy]

Mr. Meacham,

Hopefully Second Nature, Spruce Mountain, or Mr. Pete Richardson will come on here and give you definitive advise.

For us here in the Southeast the size and shape of the Head comes as close as anything to telling the Sex of the Cat. Generally if you think it is a Sow it is!

If it looks big enough to be a Tom, see how wide the Head appears, A Tom will have a Pumpkin shaped head, whereas a Sow will look more like an upside down Pear.

Just what we go by!

CJC

[Jason Waterhouse]

Sometimes even a big cat is deceiving. My buddy got a 32lbs female a few years back in fairfeild Vt that cat was huge I would of thought it was bigger and a male but it wasnt. Jim got any pics of your cats to share? would love to see that big cat.

[Jim Meacham]

Thanks for the advise guys really appreciate it. Sorry no pictures of the big one. The smaller one is in the process of being mounted. I really had no idea on how big these cats were. Both were shot last year. I figured that they were just average cats but after talking and reading with everyone here I should have had all kinds of pictures and neither of them would have gone anywhere. Thanks again

Jim

[Jason Waterhouse]

Jim that 41lbs cat you got is a big cat. Here is a picture of this biggest cat that i no of that has come out of Vermont. Guy Sandborn and crew got this cat jan 2006 near Danville Vt weight in at 49lbs. Huge bobcat

[Jim Meacham]

Very nice. I have seen close to that but not quite that size. We have a lot of cats down my way just got to get the hounds runnin. Still new to this part of it also. But will take pictures from now on and keep up with the sight and thanks again

Jim

[PLOTTMAN55]

Jason nice cat big.Jim i dont no no method of telling only lions i no how to tell the difference.

[david]

[quote="Jason Waterhouse"]Sometimes even a big cat is deceiving. My buddy got a 32lbs female a few years back in fairfeild Vt that cat was huge I would of thought it was bigger and a male but it wasnt. quote]

The biggest female bobcat I have seen was a 40 lb Minnesota cat. As Jason said, she looked like a male.

In MN, all bobcat carcasses have to be turned in, which makes me a little mad. I mean, they dont make deer hunters turn in the carcasses of their deer. But one thing they have learned in studying the reproductive tracks of the females is this: Those great big females are infertile. They have never had kittens. The point being, if you kill only the big bobcats, you probably are not hurting the population too bad. In snow, it is easy. pick out the big tracks to run.

This will help your speed in track checking too. In the North woods, if it could be mistaken for a fox, dont even slow down, it is too small, and likely a female.

[Jim Meacham]

thanks for the info. I won't run the small tracks, I figured that if it was small the chances of it being a female were very good. Thanks for confirming this for me also. Vermont requires all of the carcasses to be turned in at the end of the season also. Witch I couldn't agree with you more on this subject but it is what it is.

[spruce mountain]

John has about said it all as far as I know.It is pretty hard with bobcats to tell the sex by just looking at it,other than the size of the track and the blocky head.Thats a huge cat Jason.

[Jason Waterhouse]

I got nothing to do with that cat I just like the pic I think Guys hunting partner posted that pic on this site a couple of years ago. Its the biggest cat i no of that has come from this state

[big bite]

Size matters.
I agree with the others on the size issue. If the cat has a track that supports 30lbs put out the dogs and get the guns. If it is less than that put out the dogs and get a camera or a kid with a gun. Of course a kid with a gun is always an option. My group has killed a 34lb female once but usually once the cat weighs more than 25lbs you are good to go here in Michigan.
Regarding big cats, it is my understanding that 57lbs is the state record and is held by Leo Dollins (know for the Dollins line of plots). We have taken a 52lb cat in an area we believe isn't to far from the area Leo took his even though you will never get him to tell you where he harvested his. LOL
Big Bite
Hunts & Hounds
Hounds Rule

[Jason Waterhouse]

Big Bite Got a picture of that 52lbs cat I would love to see that.

[mefishme1234]

i had a very large cat sit 20 feet away from me a few years ago when i was deer hunting. Was at large as my springer or a bit bigger

[Jim Meacham]

Sure would love to see a picture of that cat you are talking about.