11 replies to this topic

[Bill D.]

I headed to the foothills today to the only place I have ever been able to get permission to hunt in the liveoaks. It is a small place (200 acres) but has some nice draws and rugged terrain in places. The little old lady wasn't home so I left a note on her door that I was out calling for coyotes. It has been a year since I hunted the place so I went to the same spot I killed a yote last year. Since the place is small, I was using the FoxPro FX3 at very low volume so I could make a few setups. On the third setup, a huge bobcat came out of a draw and walked right out in front of me broadside.....I couldn't remember if she allowed cats to be killed so it got a free pass. I had fun aiming the TC Hornet at various parts of the anatomy and changing sounds to play with the kitty. It finally walked off.....thank goodness because the temptation was almost too much! When I got back, the lady was home and I told her what happened......she said, "you should have shot the SOB". Told her that I really appreciated a place to hunt and didn't want to mess up. She asked if I tried a spot down the road......she had another corner of the property that I didn't know about. The sun was set so I hauled butt for one last setup. Due to the terrain, I had to place the caller about 75 yards out to see it over the grass from my setup. About 4 minutes into Utah Jack at medium volume, here comes another kitty head-on and just walking. I watched it get bigger and bigger in the scope and when it stopped at 125 yards.....WHOP! The 40 gr. V-Max from the Hornet caught the cat dead center in the chest and put her nose in the dirt......man that felt good!!! A nice adult female with pretty spotting. No exit hole so I am going to skin her in the morning.

[Hylander]

You and that T/C are making me Jelious

[Stiff Neck]

Very nice!

[ShooterJohn]

Demon Kitty! Nice shootin Bill.

[Rimrock]

Well done, Bill. Congrats.

[Thumper Dunker]

Ok thats all you can shoot this year! not fair not fair not fair nice going.

[gunnut]

You must have taken the "good" foxpro today,,,,GRIN Bill's never even called in a bird for me.Goin huntin with him is like losing 2 good men...Hehehe Good callin Bill

[Bill D.]

Bryan (gunnut) is right.....we have tried night calling three of four times in great places he has and have been totally skunked. Bryan kills jillions of coyotes a year doing drive-bys on private dirt roads so we know the critters are there. Guess we are going to have to switch around to some day time calling. Bryan's speed and accuracy with a rifle are second to none.....reminds me of when I was 16 and a .22 rifle was part of my anatomy.Thanks for the nice words, guys......I really enjoy reading all your posts.

[coolvarmint]

Great looking cat Bill. Ive seen 2 walking across my pastures early last month. One was about 20 ft fron the house. First 2 I have ever seen. Scott

[Cranky Farmer]

You going back after the first one you saw?

[Bill D.]

smallblockfuelie - Yeah definitely! It was an exceptional cat with lots of black spots on the sides and probably weighed in excess of 30 pounds. Going to give him a rest for a while since I played with him for a while by changing sounds and going up and down on the volume. A very good cat sound is the meadowlark distress which I will use next time since I didn't play that tune for the kitty. Just hope a coyote doesn't show and mess up the set. Sure wish I would have known at the time that the landowner didn't care about cat killing. I have had a few ranchers flat out tell me not to shoot bobcats which is why the big kitty got a free pass. Have to admit though, it was pretty neat watching the cat for several minutes and not worrying about shooting. It is interesting the way they don't spook from human scent.......the cat walked across my trail several times and never gave any indication of fear or caution. I have killed bunches of bobcats that came from straight downwind. I can only think of two in 40 years of calling that actually circled to downwind and left just like a coyote. I don't get as "nervous" when I see a cat coming because I consider them to be pretty dumb compared to a coyote, fox, or coon. The one thing a cat really has in its' favor is being very sneaky and stealthy. When using a mouth call, I have had several nearly in my lap before seeing them. The e-callers make seeing cats so much easier because they expose themselves so much better to the hunter.

[ShooterJohn]

It can be hard keeping a coyote from running in on you like Bill said. That's usually the problem if there are any around they spoke the bobcat who doesn't want to end up dinner. I think most people get up and leave while a bobcat will just be getting there or watching from cover. That's why most people don't see them. An electronic caller does seem to make seeing them easier. I guess like you say because you're not so busy working the call. If you watch house a cat work your caller just put spots on it and you have your bobcat technique.