BOBCAT STANDS

MONTANA HUNTER

MONTANA HUNTER

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I'M WONDERING WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A GOOD BOBCAT STAND. IN TERMS OF HABITAT AND ELEVATION. IN WESTERN MONTANA I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HUNT RIVER BOTTOMS AND MOUNTAIN PASSES 7000+ FT. I WONDER WHERE THE BEST PLACES TO LOOK OR BEGIN SCOUTING. I HAVEN'T NOTICED BOBCAT SIGN WHEN HUNTING OTHER ANIMALS. BUT I KNOW THAT THEY ARE OUT THERE. THANKS FOR ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN SHARE.
MONTANA HUNTER
 
I would look for rocky, chaparrel covered country. That should automatically bring you down in elevation in most areas of the state. If your not finding scat or prints, then look for the cats natural prey. It's favorite is usually ground nesting birds, such as quail & grouse. You may also look for other small mammals (ground squirrels, rabbits, etc.)

Another idea would be to drive along roads at night looking for eyeshine in the brush. I can't remember the color, but you can search that on the net, or maybe someonre else can help us.
 
my wife is from clinton MT and her parents still live there. I've been thinking about doing some calling up there this year and asked my father in law, he didn't know any particular pattern in habitat, but he did warn me not to put up a stand where you can't watch your back. you won't know that cat is behind you until you feel his claws. :eek:
 
Montana Hunter, you won't find to many bobcats in Lolo pass, that's for sure lol. Pecci is right by saying cats like rocks, find some rocky hills and you'll find bobcats, they also like river bottoms. I have found that bobcats kind of thin out when you get past 7000 feet. Hey, my wife sang karaoke at your local bowling alley last year, we had a ball. Missoula sure is a great little town, you also have a nice gun store lol, Good Hunting.
 
Most of these guys are telling you about Bobcats from a CA or desert perspective. In Montana most of the bobcats are in heavy brush in the creek and river bottoms. They are difficult to find. On the ranch we see on run past us once in a while. They are very easy to trap. Just hang a chicken in a tree and put traps underneath. Don't even need to bury the trap. They're looking up.

In a nutshell, bobcats like all other predators will be where the food is. Here they eat mostly cottontails, ground squirrels, and fawns. Find them in remote areas and you'll find bobcats.

Mike
 
By the way, check regulations. I think there are limits in Montana.

And don't shoot them in summer. Winter bobcats are worth over $300.

Mike
 
start by finding tracks bobcat hunt a big cercal and almost step in the same spots each round.
they will bed up on a high rock pile during the day and i find them by looking for the highest rocks in the pile i feel they are working.then look for sign there first and work your way down from there looking for litter boxes and tracks.
if you come across tracks call there early in the morning and if that doesn't work try the eavning.
you are trying to catch the cat when he hits that spot in his trail and he will pass sometime in a weeks time.
the trick is to be there when he gets to that point.
litter boxes are good at anytime and trails for me have worked best in the evening bedding spots are most productive at high noon.
 
MCary, I heard some cats from Montana are going for more then $600. California has a limit of 5 bobcats per hunter per season. Brush piles in the desert? I've lived in and predator hunted the desert for many years. Most cats I've taken were taken around rocks and in the foothills, never have I taken one from a brush pile. Come to think of it, what is a brush pile? sounds like something from east of here lol, Good Hunting.
 
I think we're limited to 2 per year. Trappers have to tag them. Around here there's alot of open prarie. The bobcats are mostly where they can find food and cover which is the creek bottoms with cottonwoods and brush (bull berries and rosebushes). In the mountains and foothills I don't know but if you say rocks I would yield to your better experience.

Mike
 
MCary, you don't have to yield to anything I say buddy. Heck, I don't even know what a bull berrie is lol. You said creek bottoms, I think that's the same as river bottoms. We are talking the same thing except for the rocks lol, Good Hunting. PS, who told you I was experienced?
 
I APPRECIATE THE INPUT. I AM DOING SOME SPRING SCOUTING FOR THE FALL HUNTING AND WINTER HUNTING AND TRAPPING SEASONS. I HAVE NEVER TRIED TO CALL IN BOBCAT BEFORE AND I THIS FALL I AM GOING TO TRY MY HAND AT IT. I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THE FAWN DECOY AND DISTRESS. ALSO I'VE HEARD THE BIRD DISTRESS SOUNDS ARE VERY GOOD. LOTS OF ROCKY OUTCROPS AND PLENTY OF BRUSH CHOKED RIVER COUNTRY. I HOPE TO FIND SOME BOBCAT SIGN IN SOME OF THESE AREAS. THANKS AGAIN AND GOOD HUNTING TO ALL OF YOU. MONTANA HUNTER
 
I APPRECIATE THE INPUT. I AM DOING SOME SPRING SCOUTING FOR THE FALL HUNTING AND WINTER HUNTING AND TRAPPING SEASONS. I HAVE NEVER TRIED TO CALL IN BOBCAT BEFORE AND I THIS FALL I AM GOING TO TRY MY HAND AT IT. I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THE FAWN DECOY AND DISTRESS. ALSO I'VE HEARD THE BIRD DISTRESS SOUNDS ARE VERY GOOD. LOTS OF ROCKY OUTCROPS AND PLENTY OF BRUSH CHOKED RIVER COUNTRY. I HOPE TO FIND SOME BOBCAT SIGN IN SOME OF THESE AREAS. THANKS AGAIN AND GOOD HUNTING TO ALL OF YOU. MONTANA HUNTER
 
Missoula's not far from where I live. If you can't find any Bobcats this fall, give me a hollar and I'll take you out and show you lots of them. They're all over where I live.

Mike
 
Get yourself a copy of Slim Pedersen's book Complete Bobcat Trapping Methods...The chapter on bobcat locations is very good...look for cottontail rabbits and you will probably find bobcat sign because the bobcats will be hunting them.
 
MONTANA HUNTER, need to ask you to please remove the all caps when posting.
It'll make your posts much easier to read and won't come across as yelling /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 


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