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Besides the rut or breeeding season we all know. Does anyone know if there are any migrations or similar?

Reason why I ask is because I have a private ground chunk where only select harvests were done last year (first year in years that anyone had done it as well to my knowledge) with cats still there after the season. This year I've cut 3 tracks there and that is it. I am curious if these cats will move back in or not.

Another theory is did a disease hit them perhaps?

Just really has me confounded.

I think I remember reading one of your posts stating wolves had been spotted in your neck of the woods. That sucks. John.

mmmm

I have a theory where I hunt. In the beginning of the snow season there are cat tracks all over. As the snow gets deeper the tracks get less and less. I believe these cats are traveling before the snow gets deep to find an area with sufficient rabbit(or whatever prey) populations to spend the rest of the winter in. Of course when breeding season comes along the amount of tracks spotted increases again. It's just my theory, what do I know??lol

Just my opinion with a few facts added. Bobcats move up and down the mountain with the weather, heavy snows they will be along the bottoms or in the rims. When the snow crust up they move back up or travel more. Breeding season they move a lot more. High rabbits years as we are having they move to areas of concentration of rabbits. Early on in the winter when the cats are still fat they move less, later in the winter when hungry they move more. Weather conditions effect movement a lot. In my opinion if the habitat is good hunters and trappers can take cats down in numbers but will feed back in shortly. In most of Oregon there is a lot of inexcessable ground that feeds the areas of over harvest. Science [ tooth age counts] show that we are not over harvesting the cats yet. There are not as many cats than there was in western Oregon but do to lost of good habitat [lack of logging or fires]. In eastern Oregon access to ares again is the factor that will limit cat take. Big snow years will limit the trappers access. I have followed the argument as to low numbers of cats for 35 years , they go up and down with fur prices. Man is not as effect as they would like to believe on populations of all animals, habitat is. Man has done more damage trying to protect a species at times than good[spotted owl and Coho salmon] . As far as the DFW in Oregon they did not stop the bear and cougar hunting the people did. They would give it back to us if they could. The bear and cougar population are out of control here and need to be cut back anyway possible. The land owners have the right to take care of damage not the DFW. Until the voters change the law every bear and cougar can be killed that is possible to help control the populations. Just my opinion and I am sure there are a couple of people that disagree with me. I feel under current laws every bear, cougar and wolf should be killed on sight. Maybe that's not what the rest of the world thinks. Dewey

Well lets face facts,killing every cat treed = killing every bear snared its just the same if I had do that for a living I'd drown myself.Take the money out and leave it to sport.Ol'Curt give a call sometime 541 258 4568 570 2863

mondomuttruner wrote:I have a theory where I hunt. In the beginning of the snow season there are cat tracks all over. As the snow gets deeper the tracks get less and less. I believe these cats are traveling before the snow gets deep to find an area with sufficient rabbit(or whatever prey) populations to spend the rest of the winter in. Of course when breeding season comes along the amount of tracks spotted increases again. It's just my theory, what do I know??lol

I agree with Mondo's theory, seems to go the same way here. Tracks don't come as often when the snow gets deep. And when you do find them in deep snow, there normally not to far away. I think its definitely a survival, calorie saving behavior that changes thru out the season. I've heard it said that bobcat movement has almost everything to do with food.

On the other hand, if some of these cat areas had as many hound hunters and trappers as some of the bear training areas I've hunted in, i would think there would be a huge impact.

mmmm

I defend the rights of property owners and the law. The ODFW has no control on what property owners do to control damage. They would like to believe that they do. ODFW has no control on bear and cougar seasons for hound men, yes in some areas they can and do use locals for cougar control. Some of the sport hunters[houndmen] has cause it's own problem in this state and have done very little to correct them. The complaining and attacking that you have done has done the houndmen in this area far more damage than good. That is just my opinion. Most timber companies do not want houndmen to do bear control. I do not think we will ever get cougar and bear back the way you are trying. I think we are as close to getting cougar back as we will ever be. We have to separate cougar, bear and baiting and take one at a time. I do not think a pilot program is a good idea, look how Washington's went. I have talked to you in person and on the phone I feel you are not willing to look at anything but your views. I will say it again I feel you are hurting are chances at getting cougar or bear back by the way you are going. We have to let the professionals with our help and hell of a lot of money to get it back. That is the way we lost it and every time we fail a attempt to get it back we are just pushing ourselves farther from our goals. The ODFG would give us a cougar season back if they could. We have a group working on getting some hunting back, let them do it. The other thing that I feel is a step in the right direction is the governor has given the power for some counties to decide there land use laws [changes in them]. We could have the right to decide county by county what goes own we would be own the right track. Complaining has never accomplish much positive ... actions do. Look at what you are doing for the houndsmen. How has that been working out? AS far as killing the bear, cougar and wolves the way that are managed without hounds there is a over population which is effecting deer and elk herds as well as livestock growers and timber companies. I grew up with bear, cougar, lion, bobcat, hawks, eagles ... as predator. There sure seemed to be more wildlife and less damage to livestock then. In reality there is a happy medium, we are just to far the other way now. Mike you are entitled to your opinion, I would be the last to take that away from anyone., but does it really serve what you say you are trying to do. Dewey

mmmm

Its late and I haven't said anything in along time---but---CAT POPULATIONS DOWN???? I've hunted a few areas this year as in previous years and the numbers of cats are healthy,alive and well.I'm baffled at people not finding plenty of cats providing they are looking in the right habitat,food sources adequate,and dogs that'll strike,trail and find cats off the beaten path aways.I find this year to be a very good year for numbers in areas I was hard on last year,I can't imagine[well maybe I can]whats behind them gates and all that ground that doesn't get hunted,with all that prime habitat.I let you know in a couple of weeks if numbers fill back in my favorite spots,like they have in the last couple years.Based on what I seen today,they allready are.Been hunting another spot that has been reported to have low numbers caught 4 different cats there last week.Been south of me to where theres quite a bit of whining about numbers,low and behold I thought I found a gold mine[plenty of cats].I've visited with the biologist here alittle and he's perplexed as to why hound guys are telling him to limit something that has healthy,growing,renewable population.My conclusion from him and my personal observation is---it's possible to have a stagnant poplulation[only old mature cats]due to under harvesting.Anything in this world can be overdone by man,but the facts aren't supporting the idea to lower numbers.As far as trapping[not my gig at all,no interest]the numbers in most counties show the houndmen take as much or more of the cats.If we limit the number,does anybody really believe the dishonest people are going to somehow change???To me its just the same analogy as gun laws and right being taken from us who are not criminals.Laws are written for the lawless----to me those who believe or who are having trouble with the numbers ought to do the right thing and quit shooting,and possibly take off ayear or two and give these rascals a rest.Kinda just trying to make a point here,some of the guys crying wolf the loudest on this deal are the worst about self control and following their own ideas on the way things should be[not directed at anyone here in particular].I'm not touching the rest of the arguement,I have my own personal disageements and disgusts as well with the ways things should be and the way they are. Good evening---Tim

mmm

mike martell wrote:mmm

I'll second that, Mike. Just my opinion but I doubt there are many people in this state as dedicated to hunting hounds as Mike. That being said, I also understand why those who try to make a living selling dogs and dead cats would not want a limit. Myself, I will not fill more than one card per year. (sorry dogs I have now couldn't catch more anyway lol) Sure, a guy can find cats anwhere especially this time of year but I still think dead cats don't populate.

I was not talking about anything related with limits, it just seemed like one spot I had cats leftover last year seemed to have little to none this year. I have another spot mike that has a trapper and you are right he puts it to em there. I have tons of places to go, more than I can cover (as you well know mike). Just was an odd spot for me.

As for cats filtering back into a spot, I think it takes a long time for here for it to happen. (Less pop than the west side)

Are u seeing many rabbits there? Rabbit sign? They could have cleaned out the rabbits and moved on...