Called in 2 Bobcat - One With MOJO Critter, One Without Decoy - Questions

[flysar]

About 2-3 weeks ago I called in a Bobcat, response was about 10-15 minutes so I must have been fairly close. I didn't see him until he was about 10 yds from the call because he was behind downed log (note: pick a better spot to put caller). He sat (only could see tops of the ears) and moved multiple times in less than 9 yds until w/in 1 yd of the call and then decided to leave... moving in and out of trees so I never got a shot.

Yesterday I went to the same spot, set up the Mojo Critter I recently bought, made sure there were no fallen logs it could hide behind and got set. About 6-8 minutes into the call I see something low to the ground just hauling toward the critter and I have no idea what it is until it pops up within a foot of the critter, does a 180, and is out as quick as he came in; didn't even take a second look. I went silent for 20 minutes and then tried again with no luck.

I hunt mostly older timber and 4-6' high reprod. These sets were in 4-6' high reprod.

Using the decoy definitely got this cats attention and he was in hot but didn't give much opportunity for a shot; shotgun may have worked but it would have been a point & spray ordeal..

Without the decoy I figure he was trying to find the source of the sound and slowly stalked in; better shot opportunity.

What is the best way to stop a cat for a shot, I whooped but it kept on going?

Would you suggest to use the decoy or not?

How soon can I return?

[Kain]

That is how most of my bobcat call ins have gone.  I started putting my caller up a tree or hiding it in a bush.   That way the cat or coyote are searching for the source instead of trying to figure what is wrong with that twirly thing.   

[flysar]

That is how most of my bobcat call ins have gone.  I started putting my caller up a tree or hiding it in a bush.   That way the cat or coyote are searching for the source instead of trying to figure what is wrong with that twirly thing.   

Kain, does that mean you don't use a decoy for Bobcat?

[stumprat]

P.M. sent

[Kain]

I have not been using a decoy so far this winter.  My old Mojo Critter broke on me and I didnt get new one until just recently.  I have seen it work great on coyotes and bobcats and I have seen two coyotes, from different stands, take off running as soon as they saw it.    I called in a bobcat that never stopped moving and I think a decoy would have helped.

Here is the video of that cat.  
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,62791.0.html

I have not decided if they are worth it or not.  I am still learning though so you better get advice from someone else.  

[carpsniperg2]

I have not decided if they are worth it or not.  I am still learning though so you better get advice from someone else.  

We are all still learning bud I am in the same boat. I have called in yotes that have seen the decoy and turned tail and ran as hard as they could. When I feel that if I did not have the decoy out, I would of killed them, or at least had a shot So I am undecided on them as well. I have a quiver critter, it works pretty good. I think I am going to go to the old trappers decoy

[Boss .300 winmag]

That is how most of my bobcat call ins have gone.  I started putting my caller up a tree or hiding it in a bush.   That way the cat or coyote are searching for the source instead of trying to figure what is wrong with that twirly thing.  

Kain, does that mean you don't use a decoy for Bobcat?

Just use a goat, they will come! Worked for me.

[flysar]

That is how most of my bobcat call ins have gone.  I started putting my caller up a tree or hiding it in a bush.   That way the cat or coyote are searching for the source instead of trying to figure what is wrong with that twirly thing.  

Kain, does that mean you don't use a decoy for Bobcat?

Just use a goat, they will come! Worked for me.

I own 4 goats, and don't think I haven't thought about it for the biggest cats! Probably never expected that reply 

[Boss .300 winmag]

It was a case of bob stalking our goats in their pen, it didn't work out to well for him.

[KLRKeith]

I've experience the same thing with my Mojo.  Most times they come in looking at the decoy but at least once or twice a year it scares them.  I actually think it's my scent on it that scares them.  I've called in a bunch of Lynx when I lived in Alaska and only used a snowshoe hair hide stuffed with newspaper for a decoy.  It worked real good and was cheap.  Overall decoys have helped me position a animal for a shot with whatever weird weapon I was using at the time...lol...  I think a turkey feather on a string has worked just as well for me in most cases too.  It's never scared a animal that I know of.  I've called lynx back in the very next weekend after missing a shot.

[flysar]

I've experience the same thing with my Mojo.  Most times they come in looking at the decoy but at least once or twice a year it scares them.  I actually think it's my scent on it that scares them.  I've called in a bunch of Lynx when I lived in Alaska and only used a snowshoe hair hide stuffed with newspaper for a decoy.  It worked real good and was cheap.  Overall decoys have helped me position a animal for a shot with whatever weird weapon I was using at the time...lol...  I think a turkey feather on a string has worked just as well for me in most cases too.  It's never scared a animal that I know of.  I've called lynx back in the very next weekend after missing a shot.

My son lives in Anchorage and is going calling this morning for Lynx for the first time. Some of the guys he works with are experienced and asked him along. I just watched a video of a self-filmed Lynx hunt on PredatorMasters, what a neet looking animal.

[KLRKeith]

The hares up there cycle in extreme 10 year cycles.  I was last there in 2004 and the winter of 2003 was like a cartoon in the woods.  You could go out and within a mile shoot about 50 snowshoe hares.  The lynx population followed about 1-2 years behind.  Last report I got from Fairbanks they were near a peak again so this winter or next should be great.  We once had 4 cats come in at the same time to our call.  I've never seen predators respond like they did the winter after the hares crashed.  They were damn hungry.