PPHA Forums
Predator Hunting => Predator Hunting => Topic started by: bigben on September 14, 2009, 12:13:51 PM
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for those that recieved a bobcat permit for pa here is a podcast on bobcat hunting that byron south did with a fella named brian downs.
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/audioPop.jsp?episodeId=252332&cmd=apop
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does anyone have any tips for hunting pa bobcats? one thing that I know we encountered was that we were targeting to open of areas. we noticed that both cats came in to right where they could see the area the call was in and then sat down and watched. hunting later in the season we noticed the areas that cats were occupying and that helped out alot. not only is food more scarce but we were able to see how many cats and how often they were coming through an area. I have a lot more but not enough time to post. anyone out there that has an experience or story post it up.
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Ben, I listened to the podcast last night and it was very interesting. As you know, I trapped my cat last year but I tried pretty hard to call one in all season.
I am no expert but here are my feelings on cats. I think your chances are increased when you call them like you trap them. On the sign! Of course it's easier to do this in January and February when there is some snow.
Byron said set up in the thick stuff but not to thick that it affects your sighting them and shooting. I also agree. My cat was caught on a steep ridge edge where the woods met a timbered area that was choked off with briars and tree tops.
The next time I get a tag, I am going to shorten my stands from 45-1 hour to 20-30 minutes. I have found when predator hunting over the years that 90% of the animals I call, come in within the first 10 minutes. Since I want to maximize my time, shorter and more sets should equate to better chances, I hope. I am also going to make my stands no less than a half mile apart.
Another thing I found interesting that Byron said was the sounds he likes to use. He likes the fast and frantic sounds the best. Electronic calls are great for cats because you can keep them running the whole stand. It's real hard to blow a call for a half hour solid. I dare you to try it if you think you can. I had to stop after ten minutes because I thought I was going to die. ;D
Cat hunting / trapping is a blast. It's a great PA trophy for sure. If you ever get the chance, I definately recommend you try it.
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Ben i use a Tweety and Sceery open reed calls in Texas on bobcats. Bobcat may take 45 mintues or longer to come in. Yes, they will sit down 50 to 100 yards or so away. You will know its a cat because they come in slow. Bobcats love brush country. Here are the past kills in PA. 2G 126 cats,3B 123 CATS,3C 42 CATS, 3D 23 CATS, 4D 15 CATS, 2C 34 CATS,2E 14 CATS,2F 41 CATS,2C 34 CATS, 2A 2 CATS, 3A 56 CATS. Last but not least make sure you have a squeaker with you. Most of the time the cat will hang up so you MUST squeak him in.
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Location, location, location is the key.
If you do not live were cats are finding them is the real hard part. Calling is the easier part. I put over 4800 miles on my truck hunting new area in one year. So find some one that knows were cats are if at all possible. It will help your cash in your wallet. Also be sure that the person that gives you information knows what he is talking about, I followed a lot of not so hot spots from inexperienced people giving me information they thought was good. If you end up finding a good spot with a lot of cat sign treat it like gold. Stay on it and call it a lot of different times of the day and night. I called three cats in the other year when I had my cat tag and some came in the first minute and up to around the 7 minute mark. I stayed on stands a little longer time then I do for fox but think it is not worth wile. But this is just my opinion so do not jump on this and think it is wrong. One came in wile using electronic call with me using my hand calls at the same time. The other two came in with just hand calls on rabbit distress. At the end of the season I had no cat to put my tag on. First cat called in that year my partner shot. The second cat I called in stopped at about 55 yards and sat there for a couple of minutes and would not move any farther. I had a shot gun and never took the shot. I will never carry a shot gun again for a cat. The third cat came in to about 60 yards and I shot it and it left a good blood trail for about 50 yards and it went into a thick swamp that even crawling on my hands and knees I could not follow the blood trail. A friend the next day got on the trail and lost it also. I figure I shot the cat right in the face and no body wound. So shoot for the shoulder. When snow came the cats followed the rest of the animals to the bottoms at streams and along the roads at the bottom of the steep mountains. One place I called a trapper told me he could not keeps the cats out of his traps on the bottom once the snow got bad. Need lest to say two of the cats called in were at the bottoms were this trapper had told me. But one cat was called in on the top of a mountain in Bradford County. The other two were called in Clinton County. So if you’re calling a cat in pa you either need to be real lucky or have a good spot. I would go for Location, Location, and Location so start looking.
Ernie
PS. I listened to the pod cast and it was good.
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I got to hunt with one of the research Bobcat bioloigst from the Pa Game Commission a few years back.. He collered bobcagt and tracked them...
The farther North You Go in Pa the better you will be.
I have called two bobcats in Cumberland County...both time it was the cottontail rabbit that got them to come in...
However I would also try the woodpecker....Also none of the play with their brain thing like a coyote....They are not as smart. Let the caller rip for the entire time your on stand.....I like to use the woodpecker because that is one sound that you can use loud on windy days...When birds are hurting they cry loud unlike a field mouse..
If you want to try a mouth call...Take a closed reed COAXER call (Green Lohman AKA Circe ) and make it sound like a chipmunk. Hold your hand tight over the barrel and blow puff and pull air over the coaxer call...Some coxer you can turn around and suck air in instead of blowing. Sit up on a ridge and you may pick one off on the bottom of the ridge doing this....
If I knew a bobcat was in the area skat, sighting, tracks etc. I would stay the 45 minutes...If you are taking shots in the dark in areas you do not know there are bobcats that is where I would call 30 minutes.
I did enjoy the radiocast...Thank you for sharing it with us..
The only thing I disagree with Byron is the 20 minutes time frame for calling here in Pa...It's true you can get more stands in... However just like a house cat they take a long time to come in. I did laugh when I called in bobcat they took so long to come to the calling...
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Unclebuck
LOL I think 20 min in PA is all you need. Any longer on stand will be debated until we die.
I think the 3006 is better then the 270, what do you think?
Ernie
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223 is all you need for bobcats. Anything more is overkill and a bad pelt. Hit them between the eyes at night. 45 minutes or more for cats is often needed.
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(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r195/smsnyder/MVC-808S.jpg)
Just call me the catman.
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Hey PussyMan ;D
If you shoot at there face you may just blow there jaw off. :o
Carnivore man Ernie
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Not with a 223 full metal jacket bullet. Besides that i said between the eyes. I don't miss. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D LOL
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I have good areas. I checked em out last year and both still held cats. so I feel confident I will be calling in good areas. lots of good info here.
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late nights back gravel roads with thickets on both sides on ridges.Where you see rabbits.
a cheap tally ho call works good for them also.
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;) I agree 223 is all you need for Bobcat in Pa[/font]. anything Bigger :o is a overkill