Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Coyote, Small Game, Varmints => Topic started by: HunterofWA on August 20, 2016, 04:31:21 PM

Title: How to hunt bobcats??
Post by: HunterofWA on August 20, 2016, 04:31:21 PM: Saw what I though was my younger brother sitting in my clover food plot this morning while headed out to make my fall food plots, (My younger brother is eight, and small... :) ) and then realized it was a BIG bobcat sitting on his haunches waiting for his daily rabbit brunch-fast! I have seen him twice now, both in daylight hours and I think I want to try to see If I can shoot him this winter, so please give me some tips on calling, luring, etc...

By the way, I'm new here so I might as well Introduce my self to this topic board. :hello:
Title: Re: How to hunt bobcats??
Post by: Humptulips on August 20, 2016, 04:56:30 PM: I'm sure a lot of callers will give you good advise but I will just throw this out. Trapping license. It ain't a cinch so I can't guarantee you can catch it in a trap but the trapping bug can hook you for life.
Title: Re: How to hunt bobcats??
Post by: HunterofWA on August 21, 2016, 08:44:26 AM: How do I get it?
Title: Re: How to hunt bobcats??
Post by: Cougartail on August 21, 2016, 11:53:54 AM: Go to the WTA website and find a trappers certificate coarse. Pass it and buy a license just like you would for hunting or fishing.
Title: Re: How to hunt bobcats??
Post by: HunterofWA on August 21, 2016, 06:58:24 PM: I don't really want to trap... because then the predator population will sense a threat to their numbers and then try to keep their population steady. which will lead to to many predators, so I would really like to know how you fellers call in these elusive creatures.
Title: Re: How to hunt bobcats??
Post by: predatorpro on August 21, 2016, 07:15:20 PM: Quote from: Huntersofwashington on August 21, 2016, 06:58:24 PM
I don't really want to trap... because then the predator population will sense a threat to their numbers and then try to keep their population steady. which will lead to to many predators, so I would really like to know how you fellers call in these elusive creatures.
....ummm don't think you need to worry too much about that....
Title: Re: How to hunt bobcats??
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on August 21, 2016, 07:21:42 PM: There are already too many predators out there!

Get yourself a small game license, a couple predator calls, be mindful the wind, sit still, be well hidden and patient.

Good luck.
Title: Re: How to hunt bobcats??
Post by: pd on August 21, 2016, 08:59:47 PM: Hey, HofW, trapping might be a great pastime for you. In the meantime, why not just shoot the cat? Season opens in just 10 days, and will be open until the end of March. The best thing is you can hunt them at night (spotlight them)---just be sure not to hunt at night during deer/elk rifle season. Know your backstop, of course. Let us know how this goes, OK?
Title: Re: How to hunt bobcats??
Post by: HunterofWA on August 22, 2016, 06:50:26 AM: My plan is to call him in with a call but I'm wondering if it's any diff than calling in a coyote?
Title: Re: How to hunt bobcats??
Post by: buckcanyonlodge on August 22, 2016, 07:22:26 AM: I used a snowshoe rabbit in distress call to lure this guy in for Mike. One shot with 12 ga. Hevi-shot dead coyote load did the job. Came in mid-morning on a Nov. day.
Title: Re: How to hunt bobcats??
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on August 22, 2016, 07:42:19 AM: Quote from: Huntersofwashington on August 22, 2016, 06:50:26 AM
My plan is to call him in with a call but I'm wondering if it's any diff than calling in a coyote?

Youtube:
Title: Re: How to hunt bobcats??
Post by: Kit Carson on August 22, 2016, 05:24:03 PM: Quote from: Humptulips on August 20, 2016, 04:56:30 PM
I'm sure a lot of callers will give you good advise but I will just throw this out. Trapping license. It ain't a cinch so I can't guarantee you can catch it in a trap but the trapping bug can hook you for life.

:yeah:
Title: Re: How to hunt bobcats??
Post by: biggfish on August 24, 2016, 11:51:11 PM: Try getting a moving decoy I have a primos crazy critter, I hear bobs are more likely to come into the decoy when calling than coyotes. Can't say for sure I'm horribly allergic to cats and sneeze if they are close, I've blow hunts from running into them.
Title: Re: How to hunt bobcats??
Post by: Blackjaw on August 25, 2016, 05:57:49 AM: I have called in a few over the years and the one thing I can say is try and call them out of cover instead of going into the cover and setting up, cause likely you will never see them in heavy cover even if you call one in.
Title: Re: How to hunt bobcats??
Post by: aer212 on August 25, 2016, 06:30:22 AM: Quote from: Cougartail on August 21, 2016, 11:53:54 AM
Go to the WTA website and find a trappers certificate coarse. Pass it and buy a license just like you would for hunting or fishing.

Or you can go to a wdfw office and take the test. Call the office first.
Title: Re: How to hunt bobcats??
Post by: HunterofWA on August 25, 2016, 07:50:58 AM: I have a clover food plot that is surrounded by thick brush and he frequents it regularly to eat his daily rabbit breakfast. So I think I'll wait till a cold frosty morning when food sources are getting scarce, and then set up the decoy in the middle and hunt from the ridge.