Bobcats Western Washington

[Logan77]

Ran into what me and a friend believed to be a bobcat today outside the honey hole shooting pit past Duvall. We were walking back on a trail from shooting then there he/she was just walking the trail. Light brown skin, flat face, black stripes, and some white on the underside and end of the tail. I estimate the size to be around a medium-large sized dog, like a lab or golden retriever. By the time one of us had a rifle raised it took off. I'm just wondering how common are run ins with these critters around here? It was pretty cool to see one at such a close distance (30 yards or so). We have run into black bears multiple times at this location also.

[billythekidrock]

Lab or retriever size would not be a bobby. That would be a dog, a cougar or your size estimate is way off.

[gr8whthunter]

Lab or retriever size would not be a bobby. That would be a dog, a cougar or your size estimate is way off.

or a linx that would be my guess or a large bob cat, the one in my little picture up above is a large bob cat, size of a lab or a golden retriever maybe a tiny bit smaller but a good size bob cat

[Bigshooter]

I have held a few bobcats that were 35lbs which is a huge bobcat.  When they were alive I would have sworn they were the size of a lab but once you pick them up they get a lot smaller.

[gr8whthunter]

 

[gr8whthunter]

and heres a lynx, quite a bit bigger than a bob cat

[gr8whthunter]

ok here it is forgot to add the picture

[splashcaster]

crap, I accidentally deleted my post...basically, I saw a bobcat this year, around 20 lbs, chasing a rabbit. It had markings like a jaguar almost but with different coloring...from pics online I think it was a young one. I wouldn't say it had stripes, so I'm not sure what you saw was a bobcat. 

[gr8whthunter]

and bob cat, from a distance the dots can make it look striped

[Forrestrover.02]

Lots of Bobcats out there.

[gr8whthunter]

and colors can vary, little more orange little more brown to almost complete black, saw a lynx when i was younger that looked exactly like a rotwieler.. if thats how you spell it

[billythekidrock]

[sirmissalot]

I doubt you saw a Lynx. If it was the size of a lab it wasn't a bobcat, everything else sounds like it could be bobcat. They are pretty common, I usually see them just as you described, running across the road never to be seen again. They are curious critters though often times they will bound into the bushes and sit there and watch you go by. I would compare them in size closer to a coyote or smaller.

[KenPCPilot]

The bobcats I saw last year were pretty small <20 lbs.  most were dark brown colored fur

[mxryder909]

if its my hunting hole, off CV road then likely... I've got a handful of pelts in my garage

[mxryder909]

the larger bobcat i got up in that area was 37lbs, monster kitty

[PredatorWhacker]

OP, yeah, not a bobcat if as big as a lab. However bobcats, like coyotes, often can look bigger than they actually are. Weight is often inaccuratly estimated too. When put on a scale 35 lb bobcats often drop into the 20s. Lol!

There are a lot of bobcats in this state. It's funny talking to people that don't predator hunt around where I live. They will swear there are no bobcats around here because they never see them.  After a fresh snow you won't have to go far to cut tracks. Or go out with a spotlight. Not as easy to find as coyotes of course but there are plenty.

This last storm with its sub zero temps I had a adult and kitten show up at my back door. The kitten spent the night on a pet bed we have out for our domestic cat. Tried feeding it but it wouldn't eat. Adult would run off when I would go outside. Found the kitten froze in the yard the next day. I live in open country where there are no trees for a few miles. There is a good population on both sides of this state.

[Watimberghost]

OP, I hear what your saying. Had a cool experience with one last year not too far from where you were shooting. I was shocked by the size. Got to watch him for about 5 minutes. One of the prettiest things I've ever seen in the woods. And I totally agree with predatorwhacker, after a snow its not uncommon to come across their tracks.

[Moose1134]

To answer the question yes there are lots of bobcats in the area but no it's not real common to run into one like that.


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[haulinbass]

I got one about 4 years ago that went 38 lbs on the scale but I didn't know any better I just shot it cause it was there and so was I. I did a full body mount on it.