For those of you who hunt: Nice bobcat I shot this weekend!

[lemming303]

For those of you who hunt in the northern half of Texas, this is a pretty good sized cat. He was 25 lbs. We were varmint hunting Saturday night after a cold front blew through. It was calm, cold and no moon. Perfect conditions to call varmints.

First stand we heard coyotes all around howling. There was a coyote right on the other side of the fence, an older one, probably male. I turned the foxpro on with baby cottontail duet and got him to come to the fence, but when the light hit him he turned and left.

Next stand we saw eyes at the fence line and it looked like they came under the fence. Then we didn't see anythting. Then we saw eyes to the right, trying to circle downwind. It was a young coyote and when my bro in law had a shot he nailed it with the .22-250. Then he told me the eyes at the fence was a cat. We didn't see anything else so I figured it was just the dog. He walked down to it and I saw eyes right in front of him but at the fence. He didn't see them so I told him to get in the truck and we'd chase what I thought was the coyote trying to get away wounded. After we found no blood on the right of way we walked back to where we shot the dog. It was laying right where it was shot so the eyes at the fence was definitely a cat!

Next stand he held the light and we called a cat up to the edge of the trees with the foxpro, but he didn't like something and left. We waited a good 20 mins after first seeing him to move on.

Next stand he held the light again. We saw two coons, one way down in the grass and one in a tree. I was gonna shoot the one on the ground but there was too much grass in front of it. Then we saw eyes moving toward that coon and figured it was the other coon coming out of the tree. Once I saw it was a cat I put the .17 down and grabbed the 22-250. I dropped him in his tracks. It is the first cat I have actually killed. Usually someone else kills it.

I'm going to make a rug out of him.

[DoNotChallengeHer]

 

[69bronzeT5]

 

[cudax34me]

one of our maintenance guys daughter had one of those for a pet.he said it grabbed him by the pants leg and drug him off the couch.   

for bob......

[wagesofsin]

if you cant kill it bare handed, i say leave it alone.

did the cat have a firearm?

hahahahah   

actually i prefer bow hunting.

gonna be a small rug, perhaps a bathmat?

[Moparal]

Very cool storey Lemming. I wanna see the rug when you have it made and stretched

[340Challman]

I wanna see the rug when you have it made and stretched

  Nice cat that will make a nice rug.

But I am confused, You're allowed to spot light game after dark in Texas?   Boy, don't try that here in Wyoming, it would cost you a pretty penny. I'm sorry, a lot of pretty pennies.

I like to hunt Coyotes as well, lots of fun. 

[360 'CUDA]

yup
We have those all over the place here.  Cute little guys and they just sit there as you walk by.   

[426HEMI]

I was out yesterday looking at some land and saw a coyote running across the road.  Used to kill them for a farmer where we hunted deer on his land so they would not kill the deer and other animals

[Topcat]

If you don't eat it why kill it?

When you kill a predator that hunts rodents, you'll have more rodents.

There's plenty of other types of animals to shoot that can be table fare so why shoot one that's not?

I'm sorry I just don't agree with skinning an animal for it's fur. But that's just me.

[moparmaniac59]

Nice cat!!! They taste just like chicken!!! Should make a nice mat, maybe a furry dashpad!! Might match MEK's interior!!



                                         Matt B.

[lemming303]

I knew I would get mixed reactions on this site. It's ok though. I understand everyone's views.

The two main reasons for any type of predator control are to help out the game animal population such as deer and turkeys, and to keep them from attacking livestock. My lease is for hunting, and there is deer, turkey, and quail, although we aren't allowed to hunt the quail. By thinning out the population, and believe me there are plenty of coyotes and bobcats out there, we help the deer and turkey (and pigs) population to thrive. The landowner also has cattle out there, and calves can be killed by predators if they over populate an area.

There is also the issue of mange, which is caused by over population, although I haven't seen any mange in that area yet.

However, there's is also a sporting side to it. If you have never called a predator in within 50-100 yds of you, believe it is rewarding. Especially in the daytime. This one was killed at night though.

Bobcats are actually a very common animal around here, although you don't see them as much as coyotes because they are more stealthy.

Look at California, where mountain lions and coyotes are attacking people. This is caused by a lack of sufficient predator control. The few trappers and hunters that the state employs to help control them don't even put a dent in the population. Once the animal runs out of room and food becomes scarce they look to other sources, like children in suburban areas.

340Challman, it is legal to hunt with a spotlight for non-game animals. Coyotes, foxes, bobcats, ring tail cats, coons, skunks, hogs, and badgers are all considered varmints. It is illegal to hunt at night by any means for any game animal including deer, turkey, quail, dove, pheasant, ducks, geese, and so on.

['Cuda Hunter]

Nice kill.

I would eat it.  Have eaten a few bob cats.  I have a bob cat that was killed in the 50's that is mounted on my wall.  Purchased him at an auction.  Havn't gotten a bob cat myself yet.  I am a bow hunter but have no problem with the whole gun thing!
I remember as a young boy I used to hunt Coons, O'possum, and armadillo's at night,  in Louisiana.  Oh yeah, I have eaten all of them. 
Proper wildlife management makes a huge difference in keeping the animal population healthy.
I live on the edge of a geographical triangle that has North America's largest population of mountain lions. They eat an enormous amount of deer and other game.  Our state allows a relatively large amount of tags for lions. 

Thanks for the pics!!  Please post again on your next kill! 

[lemming303]

Cuda Hunter, I have heard that mountain lions are some of the best meat. We saw one once, but that is the only time I have seen one in the wild. We were hunting turkeys and he happened to walk across one of the right of ways. It was so cool. I wish we could have taken him. I would have got it full mounted, although a cougar rug sounds pretty cool too.

I've never eaten armadillo, possum, or coons. I don't think I will try any of them either. Not what I consider table fare. I'd much rather eat a wild pig. You can't buy pork anywhere that even comes close to a 50 lb wild pig!

[340Challman]

340Challman, it is legal to hunt with a spotlight for non-game animals. Coyotes, foxes, bobcats, ring tail cats, coons, skunks, hogs, and badgers are all considered varmints. It is illegal to hunt at night by any means for any game animal including deer, turkey, quail, dove, pheasant, ducks, geese, and so on./quote]

That's a good deal. The only animals that fall into that category here are Coyotes and Prairie dogs. You have the instrument of choice for prairie dogs (22-250).

Man, I'd love to come down and get a wild hog. Is it still a good deal for out of staters?