EAST TEXAS BOBCATS

tanman

tanman

New member
im looking for opinions from anyone who has hunted east texas or similar areas for bobcats. I will be taking a 4 day trip and hunting predators most of the time with 2 evenings dedicated do hog hunting.

the area looks pretty this which is new to me but I have found some areas that are not quite as thick or have open fields surrounded by thick woods/pines. am I better off calling in the thick stuff or drawing a cat out into the open fields day and night. obviously the fields are going to be easiest to spot cats in but I know here in MN many times coyotes will hangup on field edges and you wont ever see them. I would assume cats will do the same in daylight but might venture out into the field coming to a call at night?

any other tips you can give for our trip would be greatly appreciated!

thanks everyone
 
I've never hunted east Texas, but have hunted areas as you describe. Obviously drawing a cat out into open land would be prime, but...jmo, don't mistake a coyotes actions to be the same as a cat! They both react differently. I may be wrong, but what I'm assuming your trying to get at, is your posting position? Posting in heavy wooded areas is much harder to see, as you know already. Myself, make sure your in cover and draw the cat out of cover. Hope that makes sense. Good luck and gettem!!
 
right, im assuming the cats arnt just going to waltz out into the fields, but I don't know, haven't hunted cats before...
 
I like to hunt clear cuts (open spots surrounded by trees) and things like that but if it's just trees and not so thick you can't see anything coming,getting down in the trees would work also. If I were you and depending just how thick it is in the wooded areas I'd hunt the clear spots surrounded by trees at night when they're more likely to cross open ground. In the day they'll be layed up in the thick stuff taking a nap. Either way,day or night I'd bet they'll set on the edge of the thick stuff and just watch what's going on. At night you might get one to commit to crossing open ground but my guess is you'll see eyes shining just on the outside of the thick stuff before you'll have one come right out into the open. In my experience they stick pretty close to cover where they feel comfortable when they can.
 
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You might get different opinions but whether you're calling for bobcats in the day time or at night I wouldn't set the call too far from you. They have good eyesight and hearing both. Whether you're using a hand call or electronic call,they'll be looking where the sound is coming from.

When calling in thick stuff where they are I set the e-call close by and hide it or I use a hand call. The idea is to draw them out of hiding and close to where I am so I can get a shot. The problem with calling them in thick cover like that is they'll more than likely be right on top of you by the time you see them so move slow and be as quiet as possible. When calling at night I'd take the call up top if you're hunting in a high rack or sit it on the cab of the truck if you're just standing in the back of a pickup. The reason for that is their attention will be directed towards you when you're shining for them so you'll pick those eyes up right away.

Other people might have better suggestions but that's how I do it. I have alot more experience calling during the day but setting up that way at night will work. I hunt some pretty rugged country in West Texas so I have somewhat of an idea of what you're talking about as far as the type of stuff you'll be calling in.
 
I hunt East Texas regularly. I have called Bobcats across 300 yards of open pasture mid-day but they do tend to hang up at the edge and observe to visually see what the noise is.
Most hunters have a better chance of actually seeing them at night with lights but I kept a record one Fall and I called up 38 and slightly over 50% were in the daytime.
 
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