BigGameHoundsmen.com

Thanks to all for bringing this forward for us to read and enjoy!! It is not that far away, I guess, but it sounds like a different world altogether. Sure enjoyed the little pokes here and there like "watching paint dry" ha ha. good fun. Be blessed.

Carey,

I sure hope to one day measure up to the kind words. As for taking people up on their offers of a hunt, I sure hope to. Me and Shorty have been trying to get together for a while now just to meet and talk dogs, but our schedules keep getting twisted. I've got boys in school that are hard on the rodeo trail and around here, that makes for a busy parent. Luckily, though, both of my boys like to hunt and the youngest one that's still home likes hounds and horses as much as I do.

I didn't waste any time in sending a PM to Mr. Jimmy about a hunt in the forest. We actually roam some of the same woods, so getting up with him shouldn't be that hard. I appreciate you moving this discussion to the forum so others like him could chime in. Big N' Blue and I will hopefully get our schedules lined up and meet you and your dad in Florida for a hunt there.

I'm a lot like Shorty in that I doubt my schedule would allow me to be the kind of cat hunter that could really make a pack of dogs, so I've got to be at least a little realistic. On the other hand, it doesn't hurt to dream and learn from those who have forgotten more about hounds and hunting than I will ever know.

Here's another question for the uninitiated like me.... what do you look for in knowing where to look for cat sign and a place to turn out? I know mt. lion hunters hope for a scrape or a kill and with coons we know if we turn loose in a good swampy oak flat or on a creek bank, we're likely to strike a track sooner or later. What about bobcats?

Mr. Larry,

I know a little bit about those hectic schedules.....besides taking care of and taking Dad Hunting; trying to attend my 7 year old Daughters Dance recitals and Horse activities and her Fair Projects; keep a wife happy; keep the Bankers Happy, Developing a Sub-division, Consulting in the Farm and Ranch business....there ain't much time left to get into Trouble!

Now how to find where the Bobcats are frequenting......that is the 64$ question. This is what I meant in my original answer to you; when I said that it would take 6 months or so to learn you’re Cat.

In the Country we Hunt, Cat like to travel the roads to go from one place to another, and to try to catch a Bunny Dinner when the Bunny's are feeding on the tender Green Grass that grows beside the Road. (they darn sure do not hesitate to use them to try to escape a hard charging Pack of Hounds). For some reason Bobcat will prefer one road over another even though the two are close together and go the same place. Also Cat will have regular crossings on Roads, Ridges and Swamps that are used for seemingly, Generation after Generation of Bobcat!

Cats are creatures of Habit! They will use the same places year after year….when you catch one and another moves in, it will soon find and use these same established crossings and places. When we go to a new area, for a year or so I will plot on a Map the places that we strike, run and catch Cat. After a few months a trend will develop and soon we have identified the best Roads to try 1st. Cat will continue to use these places until a Major change in the terrain takes place…..an area is Clear-cut, flooded, or Building of some kind takes place.

Some of the ways to identify these places is to look for piles of Cat Scat…..Cat will use the same toilet area every few Days (60 years ago an old State Trapper told Dad that a Cat will be in the same area every 3 Days, this seems about right from Dads experience). When a Cat has awakened from a Cat Nap, in our Country it will come out to a Road to look for a Bunny Lunch….however first it will make a deposit of Yesterdays Bunny Lunch. These piles do not last long as Yote’s look on them as great snack food….also your Hounds will not pass up a chance to Munch down on a Pile when Road Hunting or Casting when you are Mule Back!

Another way to detect Cat activity is to stop at drains the Road Graders have cut to take water away from the Roads. Cats seem to like to prowl down these and lots of the, time will go right down one of these into the Woods or Clear-Cut. Even on Rocky Roads these drains usually have enough dirt and/or sand for the Cat to leave Tracks! It takes very little time to step out of the Truck or ride your Mule over these areas and identify the Critters who have been there.

In the late winter (year round in some places) when the Bobcat Rut kicks in you can find “Cat Kicks”. These are very similar to Lion Scrapes out West. Once you have seen a few, they are easy to spot, even while driving 30 MPH down a Road.

Below is a Picture of two Bobcat Kicks!





Tom Cat makes these to mark their Territory. It tells Females that they should come looking for these Romeos; and other Toms that they are the BADEST Cats in the Woods and that the other Tom should “Look for Love” is some other place. These Kicks will some time have a pile of Scat in them; most of the time the Kick will have a deposit of the Excretion from the Toms Anal Gland, and generally have a deposit of Urine.

Well Dad just reminded me that 2:30 AM will come early so I will add more tomorrow!

CJC

Thanks. That was exactly the kind of answer I was looking for. Remember that when it comes to hunting cats, any kind of cats, I have zero experience. All I have is what I've read and guys like you, Big n' Blue, Mike Leonard and Shorty to pick your brains. However, from what little I've learned, it seems to me that there are some similarities in the habits of bobcats and mt. lions. I think I read an old Full Cry article from one of the Lee Brothers one time that said basically the same thing about mt. lions being creatures of habit and traveling the same country. Keep the information flowing. Believe me, I'm taking it all in. I'm sure if I'm asking these questions, there are others out there lurking who were curious about the same thing. Well, maybe not.

When is the best time to hunt? Day or night? I'm sure the best cat hunters hunt day AND night.

Mr. Larry,

As I said in the short answer, Mornings are the Best Time to Catch a Cat. There are several reasons for this: (Dad likes mornings best….he just likes to leave before Dark so that he is there when the Sun comes up)

You stand a good chance that the Cat you strike will be at the end of his feeding period. Likely the Cat will have fed on a Rabbit or some other food source, like a Rat, or Fawn, or a roosted Turkey. If there are some farmers in the area, any kind of domestic fowl or farm yard animal will suffice to ease the Cat’s hunger pains!

If the Cat is full he will usually be laid up when the Hounds strike him. Then when the Hounds trail into its lair this Cat will usually hold tight till the Hounds make him move. He is much easier to catch as the Cat does not have the lead that it would have if it was struck while feeding. Also trying to run on a full tummy is not good for man or beast.

Now if you are like Dad and want to really hear GOOD Hound work; you want to strike the Ole Shorttail about Dark. This Cat has just started his feeding period. His tummy is empty…..he may have been prowling for an Hour or so….therefore this Cat has a lead on the Hounds before the first Bark is made. If this Cat has been run before by Deer Dogs or Cat Hounds, he will stop, listen, lick his Paws, and then start Trotting.

If the above has happened, like I said earlier a Las Vegas Bookie would blush if he held the odds that this Bobcat has when it comes to eluding the Hounds! The Hounds will have to trail this Cat, and do it in an efficient and ground consuming manner other wise the closest that the Pack will get is where they Barked the first time. Plodding Hounds or Hounds that want to Trail to tight, and want to hang up and tell you that the Cat was here over and over will lose you a Cat every time!

This is the kind of Cat that will give you the multi-hour Race. Once the Track is heated up to where you can say the Cat is jumped, the Cat is still well ahead of the Hounds. This is when the Trickster starts to reach into its “Bag of Tricks” to throw the Hounds off.

If the Hounds happened to be Deer Dogs this is easily done; the jumped Cat will find a Deer Yard or Trail and bring the Pack into proximity of the Deer and his problem is over. Mr. Harold Parker and I have talked about this at length and both of us would love to see the Look on a Smart ole Bobcats face when it realizes that it ain’t Deer Dogs behind it!

If a Bobcat is on a feeding period, the trailing work can be the hardest part of catching the Shorttail. Sometimes you will trail a Cat for miles down roads, across Clear-cuts, up bottoms and across Swamps before the distance between the Hounds and the Cat is close enough to call the Cat Jumped. If it is the time of the year for the Romeo’s to be out “Looking for Love” an ole Tom will travel many miles on the roads looking for a Girl Kitty with Lust on her mind.

Both the Feeding and Loving traveling seem to be less after daylight, however there is absolutely nothing PREDICTABLE about a Bobcat except its UNPREDICTABILITY!

Now when do the Cat like to move the Best…you will have to ask a Bobcat. Sometimes all the strikes you get will be at Night, at times all will be in the Mornings. The Hunters Almanac on the Garmin Astro 220 has been as accurate an indicator as we have found as far as predicting when Bobcats will be moving. When it says Prime time, all game will be stirring…..if it says that it is a POOR day, you can save some Gas money by staying at home….we should but Dad don’t!

Larry this is a very Long Answer to a Short question, hope it helps!

CJC

In this case, it was the long answer that I needed the most. I'm learning a lot, that's for sure.

If you do happen to get on a bob cat do they stay within their boundry or will they go outside their territory , if so how long does it take for them to come back ?

A Good Question Grouse!

What we find is that when Jumped (for Dad that means that the Bobcat really feels threatened) the Cat will take the quickest and most expeditious route home. A Cat knows every little obstacle and features in its home; and will use whatever it can think of to use to throw the Hounds off its Scent. The sooner it can get back to its home Territory the sooner it can unleash its Bag of Tricks on the Hounds,

If the Hounds can control the Cat and not let it get enough “Air” to leave out and head Home, when you jump it off visiting, then the Race will usually be Shorter.

This is where having the “Cunning Running” type Hound to whack the Cat trying to slip out of a Covert is so important. The Track Trailing type Hound just can not hold enough pressure on the Cat to “Make the Cat” do something it might not want to do.

As long as the Bobcat can do what it wants to do ahead of the Hounds, its Life Insurance Company is not going to have to pay the Cats beneficiaries!

At least this is what We find where we Hunt.

CJC

Here is some info that I have posted before that discusses Bobcat population densities and the size of Home Ranges. Hope yall enjoy!


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Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
Dallas Virchow--Extension Assistant-Wildlife Damage Control Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Wildlife University of Nebraska Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69361

Denny Hogeland District Director Nebraska Fur Harvesters Bridgeport, Nebraska 69336

Fig. 1. Bobcat, Lynx rufus Additional Bobcat information


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Identification The bobcat (Lynx rufus), alias “wildcat,” is a medium-sized member of the North American cat family. It can be distinguished at a distance by its graceful catlike movements, short (4- to 6-inches [10- to 15-cm]) “bobbed” tail, and round face and pointed ears (Fig. 1). Visible at close distances are black hair at the tip of the tail and prominent white dots on the upper side of the ears. Body hair color varies, but the animal’s sides and flanks are usually brownish black or reddish brown with either distinct or faint black spots. The back is commonly brownish yellow with a dark line down the middle. The chest and outside of the legs are covered with brownish to light gray fur with black spots or bars. Bobcats living at high elevations and in northern states and Canada have relatively long hair. In southern states, bobcats may have a yellowish or reddish cast on their backs and necks.

Similar Species. The bobcat is two to three times the size of the domestic cat and appears more muscular and fuller in the body. Also, the bobcat’s hind legs are proportionately longer to its front legs than those of the domestic cat. The Canada lynx appears more slender and has proportionately larger feet than the bobcat. At close distances, the ear tufts of the lynx can be seen. The tail of the lynx appears shorter than the bobcat’s and its tip looks like it was dipped in black paint. The bobcat’s tail is whitish below the tip. Lynx commonly occur in Canada’s coniferous forests and, rarely, in the Rocky Mountains. Where both species occur, lynx occupy the more densely forested habitats with heavy snow cover. Male bobcats tend to be larger than females. Adult males range from 32 to 40 inches (80 to 102 cm) long and weigh from 14 to 40 pounds (6 to 18 kg) or more. Bobcats in Wyoming average between 20 and 30 pounds (9 and 14 kg). Nationwide, adult females range from 28 to 32 inches (71 to 81 cm) long and weigh from 9 to 33 pounds (4 to 15 kg). Records indicate a tendency for heavier bobcats in the northern portions of their range and in western states at medium altitudes. The skull has 28 teeth. Milk teeth are replaced by permanent teeth when kittens are 4 to 6 months old. Females have 6 mammae.

Range and Habitat The bobcat occurs in a wide variety of habitats from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean and from Mexico to northern British Columbia (Fig. 2). It occurs in the 48 contiguous states. The bobcat is as adapted to subtropical forests as it is to dense shrub and hardwood cover in temperate climates. Other habitats include chaparral, wooded streams, river bottoms, canyon-lands, and coniferous forests to 9,000 feet (2,743 m). Bobcats prefer areas where these native habitat types are interspersed with agriculture and escape cover (rocky outcrops) close by. The bobcat has thrived where agriculture is interspersed through the above native habitat types, as in southern Canada. Food Habits Bobcats are capable of hunting and killing prey that range from the size of a mouse to that of a deer. Rabbits, tree squirrels, ground squirrels, woodrats, porcupines, pocket gophers, and ground hogs comprise most of their diet. Opossums, raccoon, grouse, wild turkey, and other ground-nesting birds are also eaten. Occasionally, insects and reptiles can be part of the bobcat’s diet. In Canada, the snowshoe hare is the bobcat’s favorite fare. Bobcats occasionally kill livestock. They also resort to scavenging.

General Biology, Reproduction, and Behavior Bobcats are secretive, shy, solitary, and seldom seen in the wild. They are active during the day but prefer twilight, dawn, or night hours. Bobcats tend to travel well-worn animal trails, logging roads, and other paths. They use their acute vision and hearing for locating enemies and prey. Bobcats do not form lasting pair bonds. Mating can occur between most adult animals. In Wyoming, female bobcats reach sexual maturity within their first year but males are not sexually mature until their second year. Nationwide, breeding can occur from January to June. In Wyoming, breeding typically begins in February and the first estrus cycle in mid- March. The gestation period in bobcats ranges from 50 to 70 days, averaging 62 days.

Nationwide, young are born from March to July, with litters as late as October. The breeding season may be affected by latitude, altitude, and longitude, as well as by characteristics of each bobcat population. In Wyoming, births peak mid-May to mid-June and can occur as late as August or September. These late litters may be from recycling or late-cycling females, probably yearlings. In Utah, births may peak in April or May. In Arkansas, births may peak as early as March. Bobcats weigh about 2/3 pound (300 g) at birth. Litters contain from 2 to 4 kittens. Kittens nurse for about 60 days and may accompany their mother through their first winter. Although young bobcats grow very quickly Fig. 2 Range of the bobcat in North America. C-37 during their first 6 months, males may not be fully grown until 1 1/2 years and females until 2 years of age. Bobcats may live for at least 12 years in the wild.

Bobcats reach densities of about 1 per 1/4 square mile (0.7 km2) on some of the Gulf Coast islands of the southeastern United States. Densities vary from about 1 per 1/2 square mile (1.3 km2) in the coastal plains to about 1 cat per 4 square miles (10.7 km2) in portions of the Appalachian foothills. Mid-Atlantic and midwestern states usually have scarce populations of bobcats. The social organization and home range of bobcats can vary with climate, habitat type, availability of food, and predators. Bobcats are typically territorial and will maintain the same territories throughout their lives. One study showed home ranges in south Texas to be as small as 5/8 square mile (1.0 km2). Another study showed that individual bobcats in southeastern Idaho maintain home ranges from 2.5 square miles to 42.5 square miles (6.5 km2 to 108 km2) during a year. Females and yearlings with newly established territories tend to have smaller and more exclusive ranges than males. Females also tend to use all parts of their range more intensively than adult males.

Bobcats commonly move 1 to 4 miles (2 to 7 km2) each day. One study found that bobcats in Wyoming moved from 3 to 7.5 miles (5 to 12 km) each day. Transient animals can move much greater distances; for example, a juvenile in one study moved 99 miles (158 km). Adult bobcats are usually found separately except during the breeding season. Kittens may be seen with their mothers in late summer through winter. An Idaho study found adult bobcats and kittens in den sites during periods of extreme cold and snow. Females with kittens less than 4 months old generally avoid adult males because they kill kittens.

In Canada and the western United States, bobcat population levels tend to follow prey densities. Some biologists believe that coyote predation restricts bobcat numbers. Unfortunately, not enough is known about the relative importance of factors such as litter size, kitten survival, adult sex ratios, and survival rates to predict changes in local bobcat populations. Also, relatively low densities and variable trapping success hinder researchers from easily predicting changes in populations.

Since the late 1970s, state game agencies have been tagging bobcat pelts harvested in their states. Information from these pelts is being used to estimate bobcat population trends and factors that contribute to those changes.

Damage and Damage Identification Bobcats are opportunistic predators, feeding on poultry, sheep, goats, house cats, small dogs, exotic birds and game animals, and, rarely, calves. Bobcats can easily kill domestic and wild turkeys, usually by climbing into their night roosts. In some areas, bobcats can prevent the successful introduction and establishment of wild turkeys or can deplete existing populations. Bobcats leave a variety of sign. Bobcat tracks are about 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) in diameter and resemble those of a large house cat. Their walking stride length between tracks is about 7 inches (18 cm).

Carcasses of bobcat kills are often distinguishable from those of cougar, coyote, or fox. Bobcats leave claw marks on the backs or shoulders of adult deer or antelope. On large carcasses, bobcats usually open an area just behind the ribs and begin feeding on the viscera. Sometimes feeding starts at the neck, shoulders, or hindquarters. Bobcats and cougar leave clean-cut edges of tissue or bone while coyotes leave ragged edges where they feed. Bobcats bite the skull, neck, or throat of small prey like lambs, kids, or fawns, and leave claw marks on their sides, back, and shoulders. A single bite to the throat, just behind the victim’s jaws, leaves canine teeth marks 3/4 to 1 inch (2 to 2.5 cm) apart. Carcasses that are rabbit-size or smaller may be entirely consumed at one feeding. Bobcats may return several times to feed on large carcasses.

Bobcats, like cougars, often attempt to cover unconsumed remains of kills by scratching leaves, dirt, or snow over them. Bobcats reach out about 15 inches (38 cm) in raking up debris to cover their kills, while cougars may reach out 24 inches (61 cm). Bobcats also leave signs at den sites. Young kittens attempt to cover their feces at their dens. Females with young kittens may mark prominent points around den sites with their feces. Adult bobcats leave conspicuous feces along frequently traveled rocky ridges or other trails. These are sometimes used as territorial markings at boundaries.

Adult bobcats also mark trails or cave entrances with urine. This is sprayed on rocks, bushes, or snow banks. Bobcats may leave claw marks at urine or feces scent posts by scraping with their hind feet. These marks are 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm) long by 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) wide. Bobcats also occasionally squirt a pasty substance from their anal glands to mark areas. The color of this substance is white to light yellow in young bobcats but is darker in older bobcats.

Legal Status Among midwestern states, the bobcat is protected in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and in most counties of Kentucky. It is managed as a furbearer or game animal in the plains states. Western states generally exempt depredating bobcats from protected status. They can usually be killed by landowners or their agent. In the more eastern states and states where bobcats are totally protected, permits are required from the state wildlife agency to destroy bobcats. Consult with your state wildlife agency regarding local regulations and restrictions.

Mr Clay , this is a very educational post. Thank you for the reply .

I read every reply in the two pages of this post - alot of great information. Only one problem....it stopped! i was hoping the lessons would continue. I wanted to hear about actual training methods. How do you start pups? Without snow to find fresh tracks, do you free cast a broke dog and cut pups in? Turn a pup loose with the broke dog when you free cast? Do you use training scent and lay drags? Do you ever use barn cougars to get the pups worked up? Just loking for more tips. I have three pups, now almost 7 months old that i want to try on cats.

Cas

Casb,

Look a little further back in the archives and you will find some exchanges with myself and Pegleg that outlines the methods that we use to train and hunt!

If this don't work PM me for the links to some of these, However where you live better information would be found from some of the Folks like Budd Denny, Pete Richardson or any of the good Maine Bobcat Hunters.

The Country we hunt is just too different from where you will be hunting to compare....it would be like Apples to Prickly Pear!

Hope this helps!

CJC

I thought that you were only allowed to shoot a bobcat in louisiana durring deer season and in the daylight only?i know that 15 miles south of new orleans in lafitte the bobcat are plentiful but you would pretty much have to follow the dogs by airplane as it is alot of big water swamps and brush.
tom

Sonorabobcat,

In most all of the Southeastern US Houndsmen are allowed to "Run for Pleasure" Bobcat and Fox year round. This means not carrying a Firearm. Incidental Catches are allowed. LA is one of these. There is a faily high population density from the Gulf Coast all the way north into the Pine Forest of North LA.

More and more States are looking at putting the Bobcat back on the Predator List with Coyotes, as Wild Turkey populations fluctuate.

In Texas, Bobcat are considered a Predator. You can hunt them year round with little restrictions. AR is about to make the change, MS and AL Fish and Game Depts are evaluating this as well.

CJC

I as scanning through the info section and it stated that bobcats are solitary animals which is what i have always seen. However I talked to a cowboy once that told me of once he was eaten lunch and saw four bobcats traveling down a wash together.I don't have any explanation for this and wondered if anyone has ever seen a similar instance?

pegleg wrote:I as scanning through the info section and it stated that bobcats are solitary animals which is what i have always seen. However I talked to a cowboy once that told me of once he was eaten lunch and saw four bobcats traveling down a wash together.I don't have any explanation for this and wondered if anyone has ever seen a similar instance?

I SWEAR THIS IS TRUE.two times in the exact same spot beetween laredo and freer texas i saw a bobcat pretty much sitting next to a badger along the road,both times were around 11am and both times i pulled over and watched in my rear view mirror for a few minutes.anyone else ever see anything like this?