Cat track ID.

[Rich_D]

Cougar, Lynx or Bobcat?

.270 round shown for comparison.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj311/CyaN1de_01/IMG_20140111_084350.jpg

[325]

Looks like cougar to me?

[landphil]

Lynx. The marks from the furry paws are clearly visible around the pad marks.

[Pete]

Did you take a picture of the line of sign?

[BCHunterTV]

Lion track

[BiG Boar]

Cougar 100%
cant see pads on a lynx, just general toe shapes as the entire bottom of the foot is furry. Also in snow there is an elongated heel on a lynx.

[adriaticum]

Cougar I think.
Depth of that track makes me thing it's a cougar. Lynx are much lighter and wouldn't sink as much.
That track is as wide as it's long about 3.3 - 3.5 inches judging by the length of the bullet.
Also heel pad is closer to 2 inches for cougar as opposed to 1 inch for lynx.

[tomcat]

Lynx. The marks from the furry paws are clearly visible around the pad marks.
I agree, looks just like the lynx track in this picture:

http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt231/tomcat37-2009/014-1.jpg (http://s615.photobucket.com/user/tomcat37-2009/media/014-1.jpg.html)

These are cougar tracks:
http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt231/tomcat37-2009/IMG.jpg (http://s615.photobucket.com/user/tomcat37-2009/media/IMG.jpg.html)

[adriaticum]

Show the whole trail pattern if you have it.

[BiG Boar]

I've got the hounds in the truck. When was the picture taken and where is the cats? We will go chase it and find out for sure. That's the only way to know.

[tomcat]

Depth of that track makes me thing it's a cougar. Lynx are much lighter and wouldn't sink as much.
That track is as wide as it's long about 3.3 - 3.5 inches judging by the length of the bullet.
Depth and clarity of the track depends upon the snow conditions and the size of the track is normal for an adult lynx.

[Rich_D]

Sorry I didn't get a pic of the track line.

Lots of track up around the road as you could see it was hunting for something. Lots of stops and starts.

Might head back up that way this evening, will take better pics if I do.

Snow was pretty wet as it had been raining but the tracks were definitely made this morning sometime, I got to this area around 8:30-9ish.

[Rich_D]

Just found this on another site, pretty sure the tracks were farther spread apart than shows in this pic. Then again, my memory isn't known to be the best either.

http://www.ualberta.ca/~gyates/pictures/lynxtracks1.jpg

[tomcat]

I notice you show no location for yourself or the track. What's its general location, NWT or Texas?

[adriaticum]

Just found this on another site, pretty sure the tracks were farther spread apart than shows in this pic. Then again, my memory isn't known to be the best either.

http://www.ualberta.ca/~gyates/pictures/lynxtracks1.jpg

That could be lynx.
Also depends where you live. Tail pattern is narrower and tracks are closer together.
I agree with tomcat that depth depends on the snow but it is more likely that the snow is harder.
This book I'm reading about tracking says the best way to tell the lynx from cougar is the depth of the track and the size of the heel pad. Big lynx can have a track as big as medium size cougar.

[eastkoothunter]

Lynx. The marks from the furry paws are clearly visible around the pad marks.

cougars can make the same mark around the track, just not as much as lynx. I'd guess cougar from the pic shown. Very clean track, but depends how wet the snow is and elevation

[BCHunterTV]

first picture is clearly a cougar, second...lynx

[Rich_D]

Kamloops area for those that need to know.

And the track pic I posted was from a Lynx info site so I definitely know THAT was a Lynx....LOL.

Didn't get back out today but may go in there tomorrow and do some calling as there were plenty of dog tracks around as well.

[Jagermeister]

I believe the first picture is not a cougar track. The reasoning is that a 270 coal is 3.2" and by comparison, this track is too small and solitary so it cannot be that of a juvenile cougar. So rule that out. However, the track could be that of a bobcat and we cannot tell for sure. A clue could be the habitat where the track was laid. The OP mentioned that the tracks were along a road which would suggest to me that the cat was hunting along the road. Probably looking for mice or voles under the snow. This would be more the modus operendi of a bobcat.
Lynx diet is made up in large by rabbit and hare. Bobcats rely more on mice and voles for their groceries.
At best my guess is bobcat, but we will never know for sure.

[Sofa King]

my guess is lynx.
the gait distance would be the determining factor though I think.

[300rum700]

Cleanest pic of a cougar track as you can get.

[Rich_D]

Gonna pick up a Lynx tag this week. Will take the Foxpro out when it arrives and see if I can make the determination in the flesh. :-D

I assume, if it is a Lynx, that they are resident to a certain area like Coyotes? If it's there this week it will still be around next week?

Doubt it would be worth it to get a Cougar tag as I have no hounds. Not sure if they would come to a caller?

[BiG Boar]

Don't buy a lynx tag. You would be wasting your money if you're gonna hunt there.

[adriaticum]

Hey buy both tags, that way you won't make a mistake ;)

[dabber]

Doubt it would be worth it to get a Cougar tag as I have no hounds. Not sure if they would come to a caller?[/QUOTE]
My Dad used to film cougars, and used a recording to call them out. I'd say give it a try, cats are very curious.

[BiG Boar]

Gatehouse called one in a few years back. So it's very possible. Read your core manual on cougar vs lynx tracks. Lynx are bigger on average.

[Rich_D]

Hey buy both tags, that way you won't make a mistake ;)

The thought had crossed my mind. I asked the wife if she would like a Cougar mount in the house and she said "You didn't shoot a Cougar did you?" followed by "Where the Hell would we put it?" LOL

Thanks for all the info. Just based on the majority here and from pics I have seen online I too am leaning toward Cougar. All the Lynx tracks pics that I look at seem to have much smaller rear pad in relation to the size of the toe marks than the pic I posted.

[chilcotin hillbilly]

Cougar no if ands or butts! I would say a mature female.

[chilcotin hillbilly]

Gatehouse called one in a few years back. So it's very possible. Read your core manual on cougar vs lynx tracks. Lynx are bigger on average.

Your right Big boar, especially when lynx are trying to stay on top.

[Blainer]

Cougar!!!
BigBore and the Hillbilly told me.
Buy a tag!

[Jagermeister]

Gatehouse called one in a few years back. So it's very possible. Read your core manual on cougar vs lynx tracks. Lynx are bigger on average.Yeah and she never left.:mrgreen:

[horshur]

the deal with a single pic is that there is no context, throwing down the shell gave a whole bit more but when judging tracks it is worthwile to spend some time on them you will not be wasting your time it will be a good education.....this is what I would recommend doing next time you see some...lace up your boots and have a look to see what the puss is up too...if for what ever reason walking the track worries you walk it backward....I have seen some real kool things trailing a cat and eventually along the trail you will smack your head duhh?? it is obvious!!

[Rich_D]

Size 10.5 Elktrackers for comparison. No fresh tracks this morning.
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj311/CyaN1de_01/IMG_20140112_084140.jpg
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj311/CyaN1de_01/IMG_20140112_084119.jpg

[tomcat]

OK I now agree it's a cougar track as it is sunk to deep in the snow for a lynx. And, I would agree with "chilcotin hillbilly" probably a female.

[Jagermeister]

OK I now agree it's a cougar track as it is sunk to deep in the snow for a lynx. And, I would agree with "chilcotin hillbilly" probably a female.agreed here too

[adriaticum]

This is not the same set of tracks as the original pic, is it?

[Rich_D]

This is not the same set of tracks as the original pic, is it?Same cat. This was about 100yds away from where the other pic was taken. Snowed last night up there and covered the tracks on the road.

[Rich_D]

Double tap.

[landphil]

OK I now agree it's a cougar track as it is sunk to deep in the snow for a lynx. And, I would agree with "chilcotin hillbilly" probably a female.

x2, and there's no sign of the furry "snowshoes" in those tracks, must have been just the way the snow crumbled around the track in the original pic. A good lesson here, lots can be observed from looking at more than one or two prints.