Bobcats

[wily]

The oldest boy and i went deer hunting on opening morning. we saw a bobcat early...before the sun came up. jake wanted me to shoot at it, but i was hesitant because i wasn't 100% sure it was a bobcat, and I didn't know the regulations -- Plus I didn't want to scare any deer that might be in the area.

well about 15 minutes passed and we saw 3 does, so we watched them and hoped that they would come out of the brush enough to give me a shot. we watched and watched...after about 15 minutes or so i guess i got antsy and shot a couple times...i thought i might have it hit it with the second shot because it jumped straight up and kicked.

as we were waiting to go look for a blood trail -- another doe came out in the same area. so we watched and watched...waited and hoped. but same deal. the deer wouldn't give us a very good shot, so after a bit the deer seemed to offer a good shot, so i shot a couple more times. this time i was pretty sure i missed. there was just too much brush between us and the deer. so here it is...i've shot every bullet that i brought with me, and haven't gotten a deer...but at least it's been exciting.

we climb down out of the stand and go look for some blood hoping that i hit the first one, but as luck would have it i missed it.

so we went back to the truck -- and called it a morning. my fil had gotten a doe, so at least jake got to watch him field dress it and skin it once we got back to the house...all wasn't lost.

that afternoon i looked up the regulations for bobcats, and realized that i could have shot it. the season opens Nov 15.

sunday morning we went back to the same stand...and it was cold. jake was getting antsy by the time the sun came up. his feet were cold and he was ready to leave. so about 7:30 i started to unload the gun before we climbed down from the stand. the noise of me ejecting the shells must have startled something because about that time we heard some movement. jake and i looked around to see if we could see it...well there it was...the bobcat. about 20 feet from the base of our tree. so i take my aim, and shot but i shot under it. the bobcat jumped twice and was gone across the opening and into a briar patch. it was quite a sight. the bobcat stretched out and raised its tail. it looked like a deer jumping a fence. awesome experience...although i would have liked to have got it.

i think i would have had it mounted if i would have hit it.

we had a greatweekend of wildlife viewing -- 4 deer, the bobcat twice, and a coyote, but i had a terrible weekend shooting.

any of you guys ever got a bobcat?

i read on-line that average density is 1 every 6 sq miles. it was quite an experience to see it -- i'm almost glad i missed.

[denjac]

Glad you missed it too. You would have had to have your small game permit and a fur bearer permit to be legal.

[Phil Lilley]

I heard bobcats are bringing $100 on the market. Coyotes are pretty high too. Might be worth it to buy a small game and fur bearing permit before hitting the woods this year.

[wily]

i have the small game permit because we do quite a bit of squirell hunting, but i didn't even think about a fur bearers permit.

i looked it up on-line, and the way i read it is -- you wouldn't need it -- only if were doing a large volume would you need the additional permit.

Resident Permits PERMIT TYPE FEE

Resident Small Game Hunting Permit*

For frogs, birds (except turkey), mammals (except deer), and frogs, and to sell furbearers taken by hunting. A federal duck stamp also is required by federal regulations for hunting waterfowl and a Migratory Bird Hunting Permit is required by state regulations for hunting waterfowl, doves, snipe, woodcock and rails. $10.00

Resident Trapping Permit

For trapping furbearers, rabbits and groundhogs, and to sell all these except rabbit carcasses. Date Change! Valid until June 30, 2009. $10.00

Resident Fur Handler’s Permit

For possessing, processing, transporting and shipping legally taken pelts of furbearers from February 16 through June 1. Must also have resident hunting or trapping permit to take furbearers or be exempt. Only pelts taken by the permit holder may be possessed. Pelts sold within Missouri to a fur dealer or buyer must be fleshed, stretched and dried. Date Change! Valid until June 30, 2009. $10.00

[Guest kevinkirk]

We used to shoot a lot of bobcats in central kansas while pheasant hunting. They are thick as fleas in some places. Sure take a huge toll on the quail we believe. Its nothing to see them while driving the roads, and you see them hit on the hwys too. If they are $100 there will be a huge effort to trap them. They are easy to catch in a foothold trap or box trap setup.

I havent trapped for many years but might start again doing just damage control for people who have problems with muskrats in dams, beavers and wiley coyotes bothering their animals, etc. Its a lot of fun yet I find it cruel in some ways. HOWEVER, I put us thru college trapping back in the day. Without controls like trapping and hunting, animals soon over populate and rabies then runs rampant in the populations making them dangerous for those of us who encounter them.

Out here, more foxes live in town than out. They are so good at finding the dog and cat food left out for pets and carry off cats andsmall dogs too. See them all the time.

SOUNDS like you might want to practice a little bit on the shooting or get a scope.?

[wily]

SOUNDS like you might want to practice a little bit on the shooting or get a scope.?

LOL

that's what jake, my six year old said too --

the bad thing is -- i took it out two weeks ago and did just that -- practiced at 50 yards. did ok that day -- did terrible this weekend -- it's a cool gun though -- Ruger 44 Deerslayer -- built on the same frame as a 10/22 but shoots 44 mag.

it didn't live up to its name this weekend