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It seemed like there were a lot less cats this year or they were really grouped up and would all move and it was hell trying to find them one week they were every where then they would just flat dissapear agian I dunno anyone else have this problem

The weather was a big factor in cat hunting this year. Most people including myself did not do as well. The scent conditions and how the cat moved I think was the difference. Dewey

Its just my observation but there were many days that the atmosphere was inverted air stagnation that's just a opion

It's probably because the good cat hunters dogs catch every cat that they put them on. I wish I could say that, but unfortunately mine get beat every now and then. All kidding aside, there were more coyotes around this year than I have seen in a long time.

I noticed that as well there were a lot more cyotes around and it was strang places I wouldn't normally hit cats I was and the places that I used to say were my honey holes were just Barron it was just a very tough year finding them But I think that it is a good point about the weather and the scent it seemed like the dogs were having truble keeping on them

Food has almost everything to do with bobcat movement. Bobcats have a very high metabolism and a short digestive track. If you get time, read up on this artical about bobcat ecology http://www.bobcatproject.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=57&Itemid=63&lang=en
If you scroll down there is a section on "activity and movements" explaining how a bobact works and why. All kinds of good info on that page really, they talk about the high densitys of bobcats in the south and far west and all the different habitats they live in which make them behave differently in differnt areas.

Kinda interesting none the less. Neat to read things like that, then relate them to your own experences.

Blazenbrat, That is A Very good article.

How many have notice young cats being scarce? Would it help if only toms were harvested when possible? Could it be time for the game commission to limit hunters & trappers to one 15 limit on the west side of oregon? Notice these are all questions not statements. Thanks Al Baldwin

al i have noticed there were very few young cats this year . i treed alot of toms this year . the toms must be killing the little ones . as far as it being a wierd year , around where i hunt there was cats where they have always been . seemed like the tracks took longer to get jumped do to the weather i suspect. freezing at night thawing out during the day.

jc

Blaze, that was a good article, thanks for sharing that. Weird year here also, not enough snow or moisture. Really sucks when you got dogs you want to spend time walkin out a fresh track, but I guess that's the way it works sometimes.

For me it was a season that started off slow for bobs. I'm not sure why. Once it got started it was nonstop action. Other than the days where just nothing moved because of weather. I too found mostly large toms this season. It wasn't that the females were just outrunning me cause when the snow finally came it told the story. Just lots of big toms. Not exactly sure how that works but it worked for me, ha ha.

For me it was an ok season.The fuel prices took its toll though. It is hard to spend the amount of money unless conditions are fair.I really didn't catch many young cat either but i think with prices there may be a few dying. Hopfully the price of everything will come down some.

That has made the most since to me when you hear of ppl taking 30 to 50 cats makes it hard for a guy that works all week. To go out and find a track on the weekend. I would like to see a 10 to 15 cat limit on the west side so the young generation can hunt and train a dog.

al baldwin wrote:How many have notice young cats being scarce? Would it help if only toms were harvested when possible? Could it be time for the game commission to limit hunters & trappers to one 15 limit on the west side of oregon? Notice these are all questions not statements. Thanks Al Baldwin

Ya the cats I got were tough and real dog smart and one day hunted 16 hours straight did cut a single track and it was in an area that the cats were always there but I think people just came in and got a lot just seemed like a very tough year