Question for bobcat hunters.
- Thread starter N Wolf
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ab_bentley
New member
Would you? Adam
ab_bentley
New member
Originally Posted By: N WolfNope. If I took a head on hit from a 60gr sierra varminter, I'd fall over on the spot.
Tu che', Adam
Tu che', Adam
GC
Well-known member
Yes they will hide in a hole, old log, under a cut creek bank, rock crevice, where ever they can hide. And brother, hide they can. One time I called one that my dad blasted off a creek bank with a shotgun load of No. Four Buck. But there was some brush in the way and you could see it all move and shake at the shot. We knew the cat was hit, but we also knew that shot load had plowed through a lot of brush too. It took a heck of a long time to find that cat, there just wasn't much sign down in the creek where it fell. The cat had gone several hundred yards and it had crawled up under that overhanging creek bank so tight when we did finally find it we thought we were going to have to hike out several miles to the truck for a shovel and back because of how far back and how tight that cat had wedged itself.
Originally Posted By: GCYes they will hide in a hole, old log, under a cut creek bank, rock crevice, where ever they can hide. And brother, hide they can. One time I called one that my dad blasted off a creek bank with a shotgun load of No. Four Buck. But there was some brush in the way and you could see it all move and shake at the shot. We knew the cat was hit, but we also knew that shot load had plowed through a lot of brush too. It took a heck of a long time to find that cat, there just wasn't much sign down in the creek where it fell. The cat had gone several hundred yards and it had crawled up under that overhanging creek bank so tight when we did finally find it we thought we were going to have to hike out several miles to the truck for a shovel and back because of how far back and how tight that cat had wedged itself.
And their camo is beautiful. I have seen them take a hit, and lay up under a bush, that I have walked past, back and forth, only to have them spring up and take off running. A lot of time I have found that when they disappear into the brush, and I go trying to circle around them, I find them right where I have seen them last. So if they have a hole to drop into, Ihave no doubt they will, and they can fit into some amazing places. Too bad, sorry for your loss.
And their camo is beautiful. I have seen them take a hit, and lay up under a bush, that I have walked past, back and forth, only to have them spring up and take off running. A lot of time I have found that when they disappear into the brush, and I go trying to circle around them, I find them right where I have seen them last. So if they have a hole to drop into, Ihave no doubt they will, and they can fit into some amazing places. Too bad, sorry for your loss.
BUTCHER45
Member
Originally Posted By: N WolfI should have hit him again. I had the shot but didnt want to put another hole in him. Live and learn I guess.
Yep.....the first Bobcat I shot went down like a bolt of lightening hit it. While I has giving the thumbs-up to my hunting partner (Evil Lurker), the cat jumped-up and ran into the brush and we couldn't find it. Shot placement wasn't as good as it first appeared.
Second Bobcat I shot went down hard (neckshot), and was probably done-for but I shot it again in the heart for insurance. An extra hole or two in the pelt is better than a lost pelt any day.
Yep.....the first Bobcat I shot went down like a bolt of lightening hit it. While I has giving the thumbs-up to my hunting partner (Evil Lurker), the cat jumped-up and ran into the brush and we couldn't find it. Shot placement wasn't as good as it first appeared.
Second Bobcat I shot went down hard (neckshot), and was probably done-for but I shot it again in the heart for insurance. An extra hole or two in the pelt is better than a lost pelt any day.
Crimson Raptor
New member
My avatar bobcat jumped 5 feet in the air at the shot and ran 40-50 yards full speed into the nearest palmetto hammock - with several pellets of #4 buck in her and a rear broken leg.
After 30 minutes and a nervous belly crawl with pistol extended into the thickest part of the hammock, I found her expired almost right where she entered. They don't go far, but they aren't easy to find in their death spot, for sure.
After 30 minutes and a nervous belly crawl with pistol extended into the thickest part of the hammock, I found her expired almost right where she entered. They don't go far, but they aren't easy to find in their death spot, for sure.
The first bobcat that Scott from Specialized Dynamics got with me took a lot of punishment. A coupe of minutes into the stand, during a pause I hear a click. Figured it was him turning off his safety. I restarted the caller, and heard three shots. Then he starts calling for me to come over. He tells me that he has shot a bobcat, but it didn't go down. He and I covered several hundred yards with our handguns drawn, clearing bush to bush. As we circled back around, the cat jumped out of a bush in front of us, and ran up the hill, where Scott was able to put it down with my rifle. Turned out that he had shot the cat twice with his 1911 .45acp, and it still ran about 100 yards or so, and a .223 to finish it off. They are a tough critter.
Kizmo
New member
I've trailed WAY too many bobcats thanks to Georgia's ridiculous rimfire law. Unfortunately, I consider myself an expert on the topic.
If they have enough gumption left, they will frequently circle. I once trailed one 150 yards only to find it less than 30 yards from where I initially lost sight of it. It went down into a bottom and back up to the edge. They always head for the thickest cover around. I once tracked one into a thicket that was so thick I was literally crawling on my belly with my knife in my mouth. I finally hit a point that I couldn't even low crawl any further, and the blood trail just kept on going. I have had many occasions when trailing one that I thought it was going into a hole or a log, but have never had one do it. I suspect that they instinctively don't want to get cornered. Look for tiny blood specks the size of the period at the end this sentence, and don't move from one blood speck until you find the next one. Blood lights help at night, and hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle sometimes helps as well.
Hope this helps. Good luck.
If they have enough gumption left, they will frequently circle. I once trailed one 150 yards only to find it less than 30 yards from where I initially lost sight of it. It went down into a bottom and back up to the edge. They always head for the thickest cover around. I once tracked one into a thicket that was so thick I was literally crawling on my belly with my knife in my mouth. I finally hit a point that I couldn't even low crawl any further, and the blood trail just kept on going. I have had many occasions when trailing one that I thought it was going into a hole or a log, but have never had one do it. I suspect that they instinctively don't want to get cornered. Look for tiny blood specks the size of the period at the end this sentence, and don't move from one blood speck until you find the next one. Blood lights help at night, and hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle sometimes helps as well.
Hope this helps. Good luck.
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Kizmo
New member
Sorry to hear that.
I shot my first cat of this season last weekend. He came to a hole in a thicket to look out at the call. Saw his eyes run to the left after the shot. Went looking at the spot he was sitting. No blood, no fur, nothing. Was sure I hit him, so I wouldn't leave until I found him. Eventually, after about 30 minutes of looking, I just happened upon him. He had run only about 30 yards. Not one single drop of blood anywhere. His exit wound was even bloodless.
In my opinion, pound for pound, they are the toughest animal in woods to find when shot. They don't bleed much, their camo is about as good as The Predator, and they can run a loooong ways even when fatally hit.
One other tip that may help for the next time. If you can get a dog, they seem to be unusually helpful at trailing cats. My buddy shot one a couple of years ago that ran 150+ yards. We eventually ran out of blood and ideas. Next morning, his took his weiner dog (aka dachsund)who went right to it. Unfortunately, the "other dogs" (aka yotes) found it first.
The point is, I think dog's natural aversion to cats can be put to good use. Even a non-hunting dog seems to be able to trail a cat.
I shot my first cat of this season last weekend. He came to a hole in a thicket to look out at the call. Saw his eyes run to the left after the shot. Went looking at the spot he was sitting. No blood, no fur, nothing. Was sure I hit him, so I wouldn't leave until I found him. Eventually, after about 30 minutes of looking, I just happened upon him. He had run only about 30 yards. Not one single drop of blood anywhere. His exit wound was even bloodless.
In my opinion, pound for pound, they are the toughest animal in woods to find when shot. They don't bleed much, their camo is about as good as The Predator, and they can run a loooong ways even when fatally hit.
One other tip that may help for the next time. If you can get a dog, they seem to be unusually helpful at trailing cats. My buddy shot one a couple of years ago that ran 150+ yards. We eventually ran out of blood and ideas. Next morning, his took his weiner dog (aka dachsund)who went right to it. Unfortunately, the "other dogs" (aka yotes) found it first.
The point is, I think dog's natural aversion to cats can be put to good use. Even a non-hunting dog seems to be able to trail a cat.
yotecatslayer34
New member
" An extra hole or two in the pelt is better than a lost pelt any day. " + 1 , Amen to that !