Looking for Real-World Bobcat Caliber/Bullet Advice (Minimal Pelt Damage)

tjonh2001

tjonh2001

Member
Long-time predator hunter here in western ND. I primarily chase coyotes all season, but every year I make about 20 stands specifically hoping for a bobcat. I finally have a couple cats showing up on trail cameras along the river bottoms, which has kicked my motivation into overdrive.

I’m a long-time reloader and feel comfortable that can shoot my rifles accurately, but I’m looking for real-world experience from guys who have actually taken bobcats with different cartridges and bullets. My goal is a clean kill with minimal pelt damage. I will also be carrying my Benelli with buckshot. This property have clear cuts off the river that we will be calling. Assuming my shots will be outside shotgun so i will be take in a rifle incase shots are longer.

Assumed shot distance:
50–300 yards depending on where they come out along the river.

My usual “cat gun”:
17 Hornet with 25gr HPs. I love how gentle it is on fur, but I know it runs out of energy before the 250–300 yard mark. have take coyotes out to 150yds.

Coyote rifles I currently have:
  • .22 WMR
  • 17 Hornet
  • .22 Nosler
  • .223
  • .22-250
  • .22 Creedmoor
I’d consider building something else if there’s a standout option, including a larger .17 if that’s truly the sweet spot for fur and still reaches 300 yards.

Other considerations:
  • I usually carry a rifle even when calling cats because we have plenty of coyotes, and if it gets late in the set I’ll take one.
  • I’ll be doing my best to stay off the shoulders or take frontal shots to preserve fur.
My main question:
For those with first-hand experience actually killing bobcats, what bullet and cartridge setups have given you clean kills with minimal pelt damage? Any success (or disasters) with .223, .22-250, .22 Creed, or the various .17s? Have modern bullets helped with keeping exits small?

I’ve read plenty of articles, but I’m hoping to hear from hunters who’ve have success saveing bobcat pelts.

Any help or experience is much appreciated!
 
I've killed a few with a .22 mag. You ain't gonna have pelt damage unless something goes major league wrong. Your biggest worry with that is having the right bullet that will kill with a shot to the body. Winchester 40 grain JHP or Winchester 45 grain JHP would be my top choices for that cartridge.

22-250, I'd completely ignore that cartridge. Chances are you'll blow the pelt up. You might be okay but you may also blow a hole in it the size of a softball.

I've shot more with a .223 using Hornady 52 grain BTHP's than anything else. It's my go to cat bullet and cartridge. I've never messed up a pelt using that bullet. And most of them I have killed well within shotgun range.

Having said that a shotgun would be my top choice given the circumstances. You'll most likely call a bobcat in close. Close enough to kill with a shotgun. If you're worried about the range you could test TSS shot and extend your range further. That I do not have experience with but from what I've heard it's on another level. Winchester Varmint X 3" BB or #4 buck of your choice would work too.
 
12 gauge is my preferred choice but not practical where your at probly? I’ve shot them with almost every caliber you have listed, I mean if I could get away with a 22 mag I’d do it, if you’re super worried about fur. I’ve shot a lot with a 22 250 and I’ve done some sewing for sure.
 
Planning to carry the shotgun for sure as it will be primary if in range. Being that I have a couple cats routinely on camera hoping that I can capitalize on any opportunity even if it holds up at 100 plus. We don’t see a lot of cats in ND, they are hard to get here.

Have heard a lot about the 52gr bthp being a good round.
 
Not a direct answer to your question but as a taxidermist I will tell you that the exit holes ARE big BUT all the skin and hair/fur is there. You just need to sew it back together then the hole disappears. Sometimes you may have to do a little trimming to get straighter edges.
 
I would say at least 90% of the bobcats we have called in over the years came into easy shotgun range. Bobcats are much easier to kill than coyotes, lead #2 shot or lead BB shot will kill bobcats without doing much damage to the thin skin.
 
I think it’s more about the bullet than the cartridge. Bobcats in my neck of the woods are actually thicker in girth than coyotes. FMJ’s with precision shots will drop them. Avoid “varmint” bullets. Half the time it works great the other half can damage a lot pelt if you hit bone.
 
Really hoping to get one with shotgun. if i need to use a rifle planneing to reload either 22 cal 53gr vmax at 3200fps or 52gr hpbt around 3200fps.
 
OutdoorEdventure said:
I think it’s more about the bullet than the cartridge. Bobcats in my neck of the woods are actually thicker in girth than coyotes. FMJ’s with precision shots will drop them. Avoid “varmint” bullets. Half the time it works great the other half can damage a lot pelt if you hit bone.
Click to expand...
FMJs are a terrible choice . Like GC said not legal for hunting in many places.
 
I've killed cats with .223 ,using 52 gr MHP and 62 gr TSX. I like the TSX better when hunting cats and yotes in pig country. Can shoot any angle and get plenty of penetration with minimal damage.
 
Only cat I've taken i took with a 243. We are allowed 1 per year. Shot mine thru the chest with an 85gr hp game king. It's known to be gnarly on smaller coyotes. This time, zero damage, wouldn't want to try to repeat that shot though. This year I think I'll carry my 17 hornet.
 

Attachments

  • 20250117_210005.jpg
    20250117_210005.jpg
    72.9 KB · Views: 25
Load the Barnes TTSX in any of your hot rods and you'll have a round that will still kill coyotes well and won't blow a cat in two. I load a few every year and use them on stands where I expect a cat. I don't shoot them regularly for coyotes. In my 22 Creed I'm running the Sierra 69 TMK and the 62 grain TTSX shoots in the same hole out to 250 or so, so I can switch back and forth as needed.
 
OKRattler said:
I've killed a few with a .22 mag. You ain't gonna have pelt damage unless something goes major league wrong. Your biggest worry with that is having the right bullet that will kill with a shot to the body. Winchester 40 grain JHP or Winchester 45 grain JHP would be my top choices for that cartridge.

22-250, I'd completely ignore that cartridge. Chances are you'll blow the pelt up. You might be okay but you may also blow a hole in it the size of a softball.

I've shot more with a .223 using Hornady 52 grain BTHP's than anything else. It's my go to cat bullet and cartridge. I've never messed up a pelt using that bullet. And most of them I have killed well within shotgun range.

Having said that a shotgun would be my top choice given the circumstances. You'll most likely call a bobcat in close. Close enough to kill with a shotgun. If you're worried about the range you could test TSS shot and extend your range further. That I do not have experience with but from what I've heard it's on another level. Winchester Varmint X 3" BB or #4 buck of your choice would work too.
Click to expand...

22 mag is my go-to raccoon calling rifle. Have you tried the 45gr ftx from hornady yet? I started using them last month and have had zero pass throughs with them on normal adult coon, and they dump an extraordinary amount of energy on body shots. Even on neck/ head shots. Finding one small pinhole entrance and a completely mangled and destroyed internal cavity with absolutely zero pelt damage. They also shot just as well as almost any other round to 100yd in my testing. This would (and will) be the first thing i put through a cat when i see one.
 
BBK said:
22 mag is my go-to raccoon calling rifle. Have you tried the 45gr ftx from hornady yet? I started using them last month and have had zero pass throughs with them on normal adult coon, and they dump an extraordinary amount of energy on body shots. Even on neck/ head shots. Finding one small pinhole entrance and a completely mangled and destroyed internal cavity with absolutely zero pelt damage. They also shot just as well as almost any other round to 100yd in my testing. This would (and will) be the first thing i put through a cat when i see one.
Click to expand...
I actually got a full box of the Critical Defense 45 grain XTP's ready to try out as we speak. I also have some Federal 50 grain JHP's I need to try out.

I've killed quite a few coyotes with the 30 grain CCI TNT "green" bullets. Most were neck and head shots. It's a pretty good bullet, holds together very well. Almost too well on smaller critters. There's been times when I heard a ricochet after the bullet passed through a prairie dog or jackrabbit.
 
OKRattler said:
I actually got a full box of the Critical Defense 45 grain XTP's ready to try out as we speak. I also have some Federal 50 grain JHP's I need to try out.

I've killed quite a few coyotes with the 30 grain CCI TNT "green" bullets. Most were neck and head shots. It's a pretty good bullet, holds together very well. Almost too well on smaller critters. There's been times when I heard a ricochet after the bullet passed through a prairie dog or jackrabbit.
Click to expand...

IMG_2941.jpeg


Here are what the cci TNT do to a fox squirrel. I have no doubt they would kill a yote or cat very dead.
 
Back
Top