Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Coyote, Small Game, Varmints => Topic started by: Maverick on March 21, 2011, 10:48:00 AM

Title: how to bobcat hunt
Post by: Maverick on March 21, 2011, 10:48:00 AM: ive been wanting a bobcat for awhile now and was wondering whats the best way to get a shot at them. not asking for a honeyhole, just asking what techniques work best so i can go try to get one for the wall next season. thanks for the help guys.
Title: Re: how to bobcat hunt
Post by: SituationNormal on March 21, 2011, 11:11:28 AM: Agreed. I'd like to know too, but have little clue how to find them.
Title: Re: how to bobcat hunt
Post by: rasbo on March 21, 2011, 11:17:11 AM: call them,look for brush piles ,swamp edges rocks,they hunt with their eyes so if you see an area with small prey and good cover you will find roberts
Title: Re: how to bobcat hunt
Post by: NW-GSP on March 21, 2011, 04:49:21 PM: I have been told by pro callers that if you have ever called in coyotes then you have called in bobcats but you just did not see them
Title: Re: how to bobcat hunt
Post by: bowhunterforever on March 21, 2011, 10:04:23 PM: Quote from: NW-GSP on March 21, 2011, 04:49:21 PM
I have been told by pro callers that if you have ever called in coyotes then you have called in bobcats but you just did not see them
Thats probably the truth, sneaky suckers. Bobcat season is closed just so you know. Good luck next year ;)
Title: Re: how to bobcat hunt
Post by: fair-chase on March 21, 2011, 11:36:47 PM: Quote from: bowhunterforever on March 21, 2011, 10:04:23 PM
Bobcat season is closed just so you know. Good luck next year ;)

Yes, but practice makes perfect and you can always shoot them with a camera which incidentally is just about as hard as shooting them with a rifle. I have yet to get one of those sneaky little buggers with my camera.
Title: Re: how to bobcat hunt
Post by: Maverick on March 21, 2011, 11:50:18 PM: yeah i know the season is closed, just learning now during the off season.
Title: Re: how to bobcat hunt
Post by: Machias on March 22, 2011, 10:28:13 AM: Only problem with calling in the off season, is all your doing is educating them and making them much harder to call in the future. Just a thought.
Title: Re: how to bobcat hunt
Post by: seth30 on March 22, 2011, 11:09:35 AM: Quote from: Machias on March 22, 2011, 10:28:13 AM
Only problem with calling in the off season, is all your doing is educating them and making them much harder to call in the future. Just a thought.
I know for yotes that they forgot quick if the expeirence wasn't negative(getting shot at) is it the same for cats?
Title: Re: how to bobcat hunt
Post by: fair-chase on March 22, 2011, 11:37:27 AM: Well maybe you could put a tasty little treat next to your call and allow them to eat it. Wouldn't that be considered a positive experience and make them more likely to come back to your call. I read "somewhere" that a live chicken hanging from a tree makes a pretty good predator setup. :chuckle:
Title: Re: how to bobcat hunt
Post by: seth30 on March 22, 2011, 11:42:11 AM: No I meant that they show up to a call and your there, and dont shoot they figure that you got there first, and leave.
Title: Re: how to bobcat hunt
Post by: Todd_ID on March 22, 2011, 05:21:27 PM: Good thread! We have 3 different bobcats and a ton of yotes on the 80 acre place I turkey hunt. In the last 4 years I've known the owner the turkey numbers have gone from 400 to 300 to 200 to about 100 now. We've got pictures of the cats but don't have a clue how to hunt them. Maybe sitting in the treestands with a remote caller 100 yards away would work?

Anybody know if a decoy would help or hurt for cats?
Title: Re: how to bobcat hunt
Post by: aer212 on March 22, 2011, 08:00:56 PM: Quote from: Machias on March 22, 2011, 10:28:13 AM
Only problem with calling in the off season, is all your doing is educating them and making them much harder to call in the future. Just a thought.

I'm not sure cats work that way. Reason I say this is I called one in last year and missed the shot, just took off some fur. Went back the next weekend and called it in again.
Title: Re: how to bobcat hunt
Post by: dscubame on March 22, 2011, 09:10:07 PM: I would be interested in a Bobcat if anyone around the Spokane area traps them or shoots them, PM me. Looking to do a mount with Headhunters Taxidermy out of Plaza WA.
Dan
Title: Re: how to bobcat hunt
Post by: Machias on March 23, 2011, 08:29:40 AM: I believe you guys are mistaken if you don't think cats learn, they are not stupid. Can you call in the same cat again, sure you can. But how many other folks are out there calling as well. That's probably not the only interaction that cat has with a person, be it camera or not. I'm not saying don't do it, I'm saying your probably going to alter how the cat responds in the future. Worst thing in the world is guys out before or after a season calling gobblers, bulls, yotes and yes cats as well. It can have no positive effect on the next calling setup. :twocents:
Title: Re: how to bobcat hunt
Post by: saylean on March 23, 2011, 08:49:02 AM: My house cat has learned what "Down" means to get off the counter thats for sure.
Title: Re: how to bobcat hunt
Post by: CAMPMEAT on March 27, 2011, 09:33:33 PM: I just drive around over here when it's colder than snot and see 'em sitting in fields. I shot 5 in 1 year doing that.