Bobcats, Wildcat, Lynx and facts

A

AfricaPredator

New member
How do you rate the cats in USA? I call African Wildcat and Lynx here in S Africa and I would say that since I started calling from as early back as 1984 I have only seen less than 10 cats approach a call in less than 45 minutes, do Bobcats also take long? I know our Lynx and wildcat do. In the year 2004 I called 23 lynx on farms in S Africa, and I keep note of all my kills, times, weather etc, and 99 percent of them came in after 40 minutes.

How about wind? to our cats it is not important, they dont bother with wind, they are far to stupid. This is another reason why lynx and Wildcats are easily caught in cages, because they are not as clever as the dog. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif

I also think that the reason why they take longer to approach than a dog is that they can hear better, and hear a call at longer ranges than the dog, thus take longer. And also because a cat is a cat. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
I haven't called in a lot of cats. Only one Lynx and a dozen Bobcat. Most of these cats were called in early to mid-winter in cold temps. And most came in rather quickly and straight to the call. I've watched a few cover quite a distance on a hardwood ridge where visibility was good, and they came in on a wire.

I also believe that cats must see differently than dogs, or else they are like African cats and not the sharpest tool in the shed. I've let cats come to within several feet of my position and I'm in the open with winter camo, just sitting against a tree. When I start to move my hands/arms, the cats would just stop and stare, not bolt. At close range, they couldn't seem to figure out what they were seeing. Each time, and this happened several times, the cat would walk away after a minute but continue to stop and look back. Although I rarely have a tag in mid-winter, I could have shot these cats a dozen times over. They're responses are definitely different from other predators.

Oh, one more thing. The Lynx was the only cat I've called that kind of had "body language". It came straight to the call as well and I let it approach to within about 30 feet. Then I reached up and pulled down my mask. The Lynx stopped dead and it's tail popped straight up and quivered. It just stared and walked in a small circle and stared some more. It seemed like it was pi$$ed with the situation but didn't quite know what to do about it. After a minute it turned and walked away, stopping several times to look back. All the while it's tail stayed up.

AfricaPredator, I hope these accounts were kind of what you were looking for.
 
Reason I ask about wind is- a guy I spoke to says wind is everything when hunting Bobcat but in magazines a few guys say- no cats cant smell? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif

Anyway, nice to hear your comments /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
Ya know, you might have something there. When I watch the cats hunting around the barn, they seem to rely heavily on sight and sound. Maybe this thread should be moved to Predator Biology and let Yellowhammer or Mikegranger have a go at it. Just an idea. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
Shortest lynx took less than one minute to arrive, within 15 yards.
Shortest wait for a bobcat was about 1 1/2 minutes, within 6 yards.
Shortest wait for a confirmed cougar was 14 minutes, when he showed himself 50 yards from the call.

However, those above have been the exceptions. Most cats have taken 30-45 minutes or so to show up, mirroring AfricaPredator's experience.

To balance those fast arrivals: at the 35 minute mark once I spotted a bobcat about 450 yards away on a ledge of cliff highlighted by the sun. He watched awhile, then came down into brush heading my direction. I got one more glimpse about ten minutes later when he peeked over the rim of a dry creek bed 200 yards out. Just short of an hour since I'd started calling, he stepped into view 30 yards from me.

Cats don't seem as concerned about wind as coyote/dog type critters do IMO.
 
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I agree that Mr. Bob does not have the nose of Mr. Yote but you cannot ignore wind direction when calling cats. They do use their sense of smell and I have observed several of them drop to their bellies and slither off when they catch my scent.

I have been trying to convey this opinion to AP for several months now be he seems too slow to get it?!? Guess those little African kitties he hunts are just dumber than ours!!


(This post is a good natured poke and AP. I know the guy and consider him a very good friend.)
 
If Bobcats can smell they can not smell much. I killed two last month and one came from down wind and the other circled like a Coyote then stopped directly down wind while I shot it. Some time ago hunting at night I called one up to with in 10 yards while sitting on my 4 wheeler. The Flea and I were aggravating coons in a tree and talking. Almost did not see the Bobcat at all. What is even more amazing is that he never ran away just slowly started walking away after hissing at us. Scared the crap out of the Flea.
 
AfricaPredator, I’m assuming what you call the Lynx is the Caracal. Beautiful cat!

I don’t think you can make any hard and fast rules about cats. They are simply cats, and have a mind of their own. I have had bobcats come in within a matter of 2 - 3 minutes. Of course they had to be very close by when I began the call. Others took a half hour or so. I will need some type of encouragement to spend longer than that on a stand.

I don’t think cats pay much attention to scent; and that goes for cougar as well as bobcat. It isn’t that cats don’t have a sense of smell. They do, or trappers who bait their traps with scent would be wasting their time and money. Cats hunt mostly by sight, and aren’t bothered much by human scent. They don’t pay much attention to it, and likewise I don’t pay much attention to wind directing when I am calling for them. Compared to canines I don’t think the cats are on the same IQ level, but I sure wouldn’t call them stupid. Mainly I think they are curious. I think they will respond to a call even if they are not hungry, which may account for the long time that it sometimes takes them to come to the call; and they stalk the call instead of charging in. That curiosity can also be their undoing.
 
As far as cats and human smell go: Well in my experience of trapping many bobcats in different states over the years I have found it doesn't matter to em.I have set traps with sweat pouring down my face on a hot afternoon just to have a cat in the trap the next day.I will reuse traps that have had all the wax removed from a caught animal and possibly contaminated with stuff like blood,hair and such and I would never do that for a K9.Do they have a good nose? Yes I think pretty darn good.But I don't think they use it much for caution on wind odors like a K9 or deer as a danger signal.Cats hunt with their eyes and ears mostly.There nose will since if it may be toxic to eat something.Thats why cats prefer to kill to get it fresh.There digestive tract won't tolerate or process tainted meats well and makes em sick.So there sences pick up on that.Kinda like finnicky Morris. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gifCats will come in to various rotton smells but just for curiosity.They like skunky odors too but I don't think they will eat one!Any way just my experiences with them mostly trapping.On the ones I called in they seem to be too preoccupied with the sounds of a free lunch to care if I smelled like Old Spice..Kinda hunt em like a turkey.You move and then your busted! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gifJust my experiences but if it makes ya feel better take a shower and lather up with skunk juice. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Well seems /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif some of you guys say yes and some say no, and you all hunt the same thing? Maybe I am slow, then again maybe not /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
I have called cats in WV, PA, and TN... all had one thing in common, they did not react to my movement as a canine would. ballistic_trep nailed it when he said "...they couldn't seem to figure out what they were seeing..."
Most sat strait down and stared at me when I moved. I have had bobs as close as a few feet and as far away as a couple hundred yards. Most did not circle downwind, but constantly rotated their ears and used their eyes to scan. Do cat's use their noses... you bet! Do they use them wisely... I don't think so. Just my two cents... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif

BTW... lets see some pics from Africa!!! Please... there I begged! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Do not have much to add. The one cat I called in came straight in after about two minutes of calling. I have heard they will not necessarily get downwind of you, but can still scent you out pretty good if they do. I also have read that they are not affected by call volume as much as the coyotes. Interestingly, I had my call cranked all the way up when the cat came in. Shot it @ 30 yards.
 
I have pictures from S Africa all over these forums, click on my name to view file locations, or go and look up 6mm he places many photos for me, I also sent you a PM.
 
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