Bobcat Calling Suggestions

[Misterjake23]

     Now that Bobcat season is quickly approaching, I thought it might be nice if some of our more seasoned and experienced could post some advise and pointers as to how they make a set for calling in Bobcats?  We get a lot of people join the PPHA looking for advice, and it might be nice to see how successful hunters go about doing it!

     Thanks for any input offered.

[ZMan079]

x 2

[Buckwheat]

Jake
Like all carnivores they need meat.
So there habbits are more defined then the rest of predators we hunt.

Meaning the better the habitat for mice, rabbits, deer, squirrels and such a female will set up home there.
When bobcats make a big kill they will cover it up and eat on it everyday until it is gone. They may even set up not far from there coach and gard it.

Bobcats are also opertunist.
They will eat any parts of meat another critter might not have finished.

If you can get on there tracks in the snow it will teach you a lot. You can get more information on there current habits this time of year.

I know everybody says cats take a long time to come in. Well I think at night they come in pretty fast. I think the guys that say they take a long time to come in may be daytime hunters.  I just think the cat was setting there a long time before the day time hunter spotted it. At night they can not hide those big red eyes.
Be ready the second you start the call and stay behind the halo of the light and they will come right in. They do not use there noise like canines.  But do not make to much noise they can get nerves and leave.
I can go on more but the adventure after a cat it the fun part. The kill is the end if the adventure.

[Misterjake23]

Ernie,

    Thanks for the words of wisdom.

[Predator100x]

Mr Jake,I have called in many bobcats,for myself and freinds,When ever I find a area that is holding a cat or 2,I try to get up as high as I can,I will put the call below me in a ravine,low spot ect.I NEVER put call on the ground,always in a pine tree,sapling,bush,whatevers avalible.99.9 percent of the time I use bird in distress sounds.Low to medium volume,2-3 minutes,then wait a little while and repeat with same or different sound.I have seen cats take as long as 40 minutes to show themselves,when they do they are sitting right under the call.Sneeky Buggars!When you had enough and are ready to leave give it 5-10 more minutes,this has paid off for me.Good Luck.

[Predator100x]

Here's one from a couple of years ago.  Took me 35 minutes from start to finish.  http://imageshack.com/a/img819/177/h0ic.jpg

[zekedogg]

Jake I also like to use the bird distress calls. I seem to find that the higher pitched and the more frantic it sounds the better they like it but JMO. When we cat hunt we basically run and gun meaning 20-30 minutes tops and we are gone to the next spot. I agree with Ernie when he says they will come in right away you just don't see them during the day where as at night they can't hide from the lights.

[Misterjake23]

Thanks to everyone for posting their tips.  I'm sure many of our members who are first timers appreciate it also.

[shadowchaser]

I called one in during the day while hunting an open field using turkey in distress for coyotes.  The thing just all of a sudden was right next to the call.  There was snow with patches of hay sticking up, but overall mostly snow.  When I went to get the call I back tracked it and it was amazing how it used the small cover and even crawling at times.

[bigben]

I make shorter (15 mins)close together stands rather then one long one. And scout. Alot. I have a post on here from last year that had a lot of info on as well. I usually dont change my sounds though. I have found rabbit distress works as well as bird. Not a big fan of tweeting for 15 mins. I usually start out with a bird distress for a bit. Then a rabbit jack or deer distress then finish with another different sound. I dont think it matters much with the sound as much as the setup and making sure that there are cats there. I like really brushy logging roads with water close by. Good habitat is key.

I agree with ernie. Too many times i have seen a cat sit in the open and wait. Nighttime their eyes givem away

[Hern]

Good post. Sound advice.

I might add to scout, work the south side of the mountain.
During the radio collared Pa. Bobcat study, PGC found that most Bobcats live, eat and travel the south side, sunny side of the mountain.