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Hey just another dad perspective: you can’t live in fear. You live in the range of large predators. My kids are very young and we have had kills near the house and plenty of cat sign around. Bear cubs in fruit trees. Rattlesnakes on the porch. I run the dogs out before kids to protect and intercept anything that might eyeball them. contrary to firm townie beliefs that dogs should be on leashes to protect them from predators, I keep mine for the purpose of making me aware of things I can’t see or hear. That is their job. 99% of my target practice is with a 10mm, and it’s on me any time I’m hiking with the kids or even just up behind our place dinking around. Actively hunt that cat and you will likely get it or spook it out. Either outcome is good with little kids. If you kill it, you will likely have another eventually. I assume they are always there and just try to make my yard a terrifying place for an ambush predator in the daytime. “Living with wildlife” be damned, the mule deer come back EVERY night regardless of the dogs, shooting, noise, kids, chainsaws. I assume the cats will too, but they can have the night. They are awesome creatures: truly one of nature’s most spectacular hunters. Kill it or don’t, you’ll be alright if you make your human space unfriendly to them (but keep your head on a swivel 😂)With regard to livestock or pets being actively hunted...I would be looking for that cat.
Checked my camera. No cat just a few yotes
A week. It's back up and taking photos though
Quote from: RadioSquatch713 on February 26, 2020, 08:31:23 PMA week. It's back up and taking photos thoughDo you have only one up ?
I've got a camera you can have to help in your pursuit. I've also got a tag myself and frequent capital state forest. Might go to the range this week and if it's close enough to you I can drop off the trail cam. Best of luck
Quote from: TooTallMike on February 26, 2020, 11:23:12 PMI've got a camera you can have to help in your pursuit. I've also got a tag myself and frequent capital state forest. Might go to the range this week and if it's close enough to you I can drop off the trail cam. Best of luckI appreciate the offer it's payday so I think I'm going to go buy a camera after work
I'm guessing the cats were there all along, but when it was bigger timber they had more space to kill and you didn't stumble upon it. After clear cutting, the cats are still hunting more in the timber; just the timber is more concentrated now. So, it looks like more of a problem. Not a horrible problem to have since it means you probably have a good amount of deer. Just need to get rid of cats for safety and improved deer herds.
Looks like coyote kills from the pics ! Cats will try and hide a kill in thick stuff and will cover it up