12 replies to this topic

[ratassassin]

Two of the semi-rural properties where my buddy and I have hunting privileges for varmints and small game now have cats roaming the premises. The owners at one beautiful 40-acre property that used to produce scores of cottontails "rescued" 12 feral cats that they now let have the run of the place to keep varmints down. As a result, this year's cottontail hunt was almost a complete bust. Although we got two, we used to see 30 or so over a 2-day period. However, we were able to knock down two large jack rabbits with our .22LR's. Apparently, the feral cats don't do much to keep 5 - 7 lb. jacks away. But it was so disappointing to see the property's small game ruined by cats.

I explained to the owner that the cats were also killing off all the desireable game, including quail, but sadly they were not persuaded that the cats are causing more harm than good.

The other property is a hilly, 8-acre place that my buddy and I hunt from time to time with air rifles. We haven't been out there since last Fall. I phoned the owner yesterday and asked if he had many cottontails and varmints running around. He said not too many because now they have stray cats that they feed to keep the varmints down. Oh no, not again. Frustrated and half joking, I asked if we could shoot the cats. He said no (knowing I wasn't serious), but invited us out anyhow to see what we could get. There are still a few cottontails as well as house sparrows around for us to pop with our air rifles. So we'll make a go of it this weekend and see how we do. But I'm not optimistic about the cottontails.

Darned cats!

[OrneryOlMofo357]

It truely is amazing how much damage feral cats do to wildlife. The numbers can be staggering. Good luck on the hunt.

[ShooterJohn]

How many cats can you legally have in your county? Are they registered and do they get their shots? Call your local animal control and find out your options. Or, you can cage trap them and take them to the local pound or whatever. If they are killing your chickens or pet rabbits you can shoot them.

[asquirrelsworstenemy]

There's lady that lives about three miles from my property has a permit with the county to rescue and care for cats. She has over 250 registered cats and the majority of them reside outside. Ever since she has undertaken this rescue project, the rabbits, quail and squirrels have all but disappeared. I have began a personal war on any cat I see on my property. I am not a fan of cats, and I am especially not a fan of exotic killers to native wildlife. Good luck with whatever you decide to do, and happy hunting!

[Shoot-it]

That sucks Rat what you could do is kill a few of there cats and bury them or maybe that is not a good idea you might get kicked out of there to if caught......
The time of the day helps out a lot with cotton tail get out at first light like 5 am and see if anything is out.Around here when the it heats up they go down.

[ratassassin]

Nope can't and won't shoot their cats. That would breach their trust and get my privileges revoked for sure. Maybe the owners will wise up.

[Thumper Dunker]

Cats are a top target on the properties I hunt. They do not want them around at all. Not too many out there some how they keep getting lead poisoning or die frome running into sharp sticks.

[ShooterJohn]

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[mtn dog]

Are these cat lovers even bothering to spay or neuter their 'rescued' cats?

I don't condone anything short of shooting them but if these nut jobs are feeding a breeding population of feral cats they are seriously damaging the wildlife. It's hard to comprehend this kind of stupidity.

If I were you, I would give every coyote on their property a pass until those cats are gone.

[Fjold]

Shoot, shovel and shut up

[Air Rifle Hunter]

I can totally understand not wanting to upset the owners of the land you are allowed to shoot/pest on, but they are definitely being irresponsible if they are not having those cats spayed or neutered and are not getting them their regular shots. It seems to me they are adding to an already bad problem if they are not.

I hope some of them start to dissappear so that you get more chances at the rabbits.

[cptnmatt]

Cats are the bane of small wildlife, and people that spay/neuter and release feral cats back to the wild should be sited and face heavy fines.
That being said the animal rights groups will not let that happen. I believe in the S/S/S theroy as stated above, but you must be careful, it is against the law to kill domestic animals unless they are harrasing livestock. I will look around for that section in the code book later.

[ShooterJohn]

If you want to read about the DFG and feral cats here is some reading for you.

http://www.dfg.ca.go.../ca_issues.html