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Predator Hunting => Predator Hunting => Topic started by: bigben on January 16, 2010, 11:48:41 PM

Title: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: bigben on January 16, 2010, 11:48:41 PM
I did I did.   ;)

Well I tagged out this weekend.  I started north this morning around 4 and got to the happy hunting grounds at daybreak.  I started out at a location that Coyotejeff tipped me on.  I made a few stands and found some cat sign.  at around 11 I turned even further north to see if there was any sign at another location.  I found some but not as good as what I seen in the morning.  So I had enough time to head south to get a few stands in before dark. 

Atleast so I thought.  I ended up getting stuck numerous times as the sun beat on the roads it melted em just enough to be a pain in the side.  After making it down out of the mountain I made it to where I was in the morning and had just enough time for a short daylight stand.  I called for 15 minutes till it was too dark to see.  I walked back to the truck and grabbed the light.  I wanted to make a few stands and then take a break and then do a few more before heading home.  I wanted to make the most out of this trip. 

I setup in front of a dirt pile and was watching a pine tree line of some of the thickest country I have ever called.  I turned on the foxpro to screaming jay and made two sweeps of the light.  There they were.  A set of burning red eyes looking at me from the cover of trees.  I followed the set of eyes threw the trees.  I had to get him to stop soon because the truck was soon approaching to be between us.  I twisted the power up on my scope and made the id.  At the crack of the gun I imagined that I heard the solid thump of a bullet finding its mark but I wasn't sure of the hit. 

I had a good mark so I walked over and checked the spot.  A few drops of blood and paw prints.  I called Jeff and asked if he could come up and help me track it.  After about an hour we took up the trail.  With fresh snow on the ground it was easy to follow the cat.  I was starting to loose confidence as I followed the diminishing blood trail.  The trail went under a group of trees and I looked with my light but didn't find no hide piled up close by.  I walked around that clump of trees and found blood again.  I looked to my right and there he was laying. 

It is a 30 lb tom cat.  It was a 100 yd shot and the cat traveled about 100 yds before he finally collapsed. 
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: bigben on January 16, 2010, 11:50:20 PM
.
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: uncle buck on January 16, 2010, 11:54:58 PM
Congrats!!!!!Outstanding Story too!!!Thanks for sharing that with us.....Wow 30 pounder yet????That is AWESOME!!!!!!!
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: bigben on January 17, 2010, 12:00:22 AM
One more pic yet  ;D

This is the entry side on the front shoulder.  I shot it with a .223 55gr psp.  I had shot through about 4ft of brush and the bullet stayed together.  Try that with a vmax. 
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: Lifes2fun on January 17, 2010, 12:11:19 AM
Nice going bud...Congratulations!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: longhair on January 17, 2010, 01:15:39 AM
Way to go ben !!!! ;)
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: 220_Woody on January 17, 2010, 01:43:04 AM
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

man Ben...i gotta tell ya...i was as pumped as you were when i got your call. i'm so happy for you!! hope to see some pics that are abit larger...i wanna see this cat real good!!!

CONGRATS AND A JOB WELL DONE!! your getting to be a he77 of a cat caller! ;D
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: Renny on January 17, 2010, 05:33:20 AM
Congrats!!!
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: Hern on January 17, 2010, 06:49:09 AM
Good Story, Ben.
Good Job. Congratulations.
A turdy pounder, wow!
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: scott on January 17, 2010, 07:39:54 AM
great story, congratulations. 
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: muttbuster on January 17, 2010, 07:48:29 AM
Great job Ben, be proud of that one. Bigger pics? Looks like a full body mount to me.
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: Leglifter on January 17, 2010, 07:59:59 AM
Great job Ben!!!
Congrats!!!
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: dreamcatcher on January 17, 2010, 08:29:53 AM
Wow. Sometimes we do win. Nice going
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: jaspr1 on January 17, 2010, 08:35:48 AM
Way to go Ben....great pics thanks....
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: predator77 on January 17, 2010, 08:37:09 AM
Awesome Ben! I couldn't have happend to a nicer guy. ;) Congratulations!
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: Pa yote hunter on January 17, 2010, 08:40:43 AM
Congrats on a fine looking cat.+1 on the bigger pics :P
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: Lookn4Fur on January 17, 2010, 08:44:39 AM
Very nice Cat.  Congratulations again Ben.
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: payotechaser on January 17, 2010, 08:53:46 AM
Congrats,nice cat.
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: Leglifter on January 17, 2010, 09:02:50 AM
Congrats on a fine looking cat.+1 on the bigger pics :P

The pics are clickable
Click on the pic  and spin 3 clockwise revolutions on the computer chair to make it bigger
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: 220_Woody on January 17, 2010, 09:52:52 AM
hey thanks for the heads up LL...didnt know they would expand.

wow Ben....that pic of the cat on the hood of the Bronco II is awesome. sure shows how big he is!
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: foxpro51 on January 17, 2010, 10:02:33 AM
Nice cat Ben
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: edhunts5 on January 17, 2010, 10:31:14 AM
congrats on the cat. 
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: foxtrot on January 17, 2010, 01:10:11 PM
Way to go Ben,Looks like the hard work paid off.Quite an accomplishment.
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: swarter2 on January 17, 2010, 01:48:38 PM
Congrats on the cat.  Maybe I'll get a tag next year.
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: uncle buck on January 17, 2010, 03:23:43 PM
Ben did you get it with the Russian 223/12?
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: naildriver on January 17, 2010, 03:47:09 PM
congrats ben
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: bigben on January 17, 2010, 03:56:36 PM
it was killed with the tikka.  the russian gun is benched right now till I get time to get better scope mounts on it.  but I got to tell ya this tikka is starting to become my favorite fur gun.  three shots three kills so far.   ;)
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: uncle buck on January 17, 2010, 03:58:42 PM
Brother Tom has one in the 223 configuration too...Nice Gun For Sure!!!
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: Crowmagnum on January 18, 2010, 08:16:20 AM
Congrats....Nice job !! :)
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: icecube on January 19, 2010, 01:28:01 PM
Congratulations on filling your tag. Getting it mounted???...ED
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: bigben on January 19, 2010, 02:09:45 PM
yep
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: furblaster on January 20, 2010, 10:28:53 AM
One more pic yet  ;D

This is the entry side on the front shoulder.  I shot it with a .223 55gr psp.  I had shot through about 4ft of brush and the bullet stayed together.  Try that with a vmax. 

I ain't  a going to shoot through 4ft of brush. Most hunters would not take such a poor shot. Thanks to luck you killed your cat and it did not run off and die. Congratulations on a nice cat.
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: Pa Goosehntr on January 20, 2010, 11:34:14 AM
Congrats Ben...you and pop now have a pair...
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: bigben on January 20, 2010, 11:39:35 AM
One more pic yet  ;D

This is the entry side on the front shoulder.  I shot it with a .223 55gr psp.  I had shot through about 4ft of brush and the bullet stayed together.  Try that with a vmax.  

I ain't  a going to shoot through 4ft of brush. Most hunters would not take such a poor shot. Thanks to luck you killed your cat and it did not run off and die. Congratulations on a nice cat.

I will offer an explanation and I am surprised that this did not come up earlier.  When I took the shot it was hard to tell that there was brush in front of this cat.  if you have hunted cats you know that they blend in well with their surroundings.  it did not appear that there was brush in front, but there was.  and I do agree that it was only made possible by luck and gods grace that we recovered that cat.  with the fresh snow I was prepared to track till we found it or jumped it.  you can see the shotgun laying on the hood of the bronco.  I actually backed out when I had realized what had happened hoping that with the blood I was seeing he would bleed out.  which he did.    
Title: Re: I tawt I taw a putty tat!
Post by: ysp1503 on January 22, 2010, 10:02:38 PM
way to go Ben!! Great lookin cat!