2014 Bobcat

[scottwh]

A couple of weekends ago, we decided to have a look around for some cat tracks in hopes of finding something to let the dogs chase. We didnt get too far up the road and seen bobcat tracks comming down the bank and cross the road. Snow was kinda crappy and old so it was hard to tell how fresh they actually were. Sean looked over the bank on the other side of the road to see where the tracks were headed and seen the bobcat vanish into the thick trees! Tracks were apparently real fresh! Time to let the dogs have some fun!!! Soon as they got on the tracks, it was mountain music and the dogs were off. After a short 400 or so yard chase through the deep snow, the dogs had a bobcat treed. When we finally got there, we could see the cat 60 or so feet up a tree. Couldnt get any real good before pics as I forgot the camera and had to use the iphone for all my pics... Shot the cat with an old Savage hex barrel pump 22 and it dropped to the next branch :( Crap.... Its hung up. Shot it again and it dropped to the ground! Dogs are going nuts as usual with cat hunting. Upon inspection of my bobcat, which isnt a cranker, I found the passenger side paw missing... I must have been caught in a trap at one time and chewed it off... No wonder such a short chase! Not sure what im going to do with it yet as I have previous tom in the freezer still. Might do a double "live" mount of some sort.
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i408/scottwh/a267dc98-2b29-49de-aca3-c9120a95e058_zps238c224c.jpg (http://s1092.photobucket.com/user/scottwh/media/a267dc98-2b29-49de-aca3-c9120a95e058_zps238c224c.jpg.html)

http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i408/scottwh/bobcat2_zpsf9f8e8b8.jpg (http://s1092.photobucket.com/user/scottwh/media/bobcat2_zpsf9f8e8b8.jpg.html)

http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i408/scottwh/fe67d4fc-bda1-4b6f-a7f7-2477795f2eb2_zpsfc1ce4e0.jpg (http://s1092.photobucket.com/user/scottwh/media/fe67d4fc-bda1-4b6f-a7f7-2477795f2eb2_zpsfc1ce4e0.jpg.html)

[todbartell]

very cool, congrats!

[#1fishslayer]

Nice work.......cant wait to get one !!!

[BlacktailStalker]

Makes for a good story, likely saved it from starvation at the same time.

[adriaticum]

Nice kitty!

[adamgarbett]

Congrats again buddy. Looks like your off to a good start to ANOTHER awesome year!!

[RiverOtter]

Congrats on the bobber, they're pretty cool animals.

Curious about the missing paw, was it healed up or fairly recent?

More of a raccoon trait to chew its own paw, once it goes numb in a foot hold, but you never know.

[scottwh]

Congrats on the bobber, they're pretty cool animals.

Curious about the missing paw, was it healed up or fairly recent?

More of a raccoon trait to chew its own paw, once it goes numb in a foot hold, but you never know.

It looked to be mabey a month old? Im sure animals heal fast. You can see it in the pic of me holding it up. I just assumed it was in a trap and chewed off. Could have been from something else too...

[REMINGTON JIM]

Kool Kitty :) there scott - yea that stub still looks fresh - you maybe done him a favor ! RJ

[Ferenc]

Thats Cool !!!!! Make sure to do up the skull...and the pelt and place it in your hunting room...then later you can do a full mount if you want...nice one!!!

[Pete]

It looked to be mabey a month old? Im sure animals heal fast. You can see it in the pic of me holding it up. I just assumed it was in a trap and chewed off. Could have been from something else too...
Good Job in bagging your cat, well done!!!......Those of us in the bush know that Mother nature is a very cruel task mistress...I have seen Bobcats killed by Porcupine, Run over by Vehicles, killed by Coyotes and Domestic dogs, starve to death and much more. I have also seen missing paws caused by gunshot wounds. In the past 10 years I have trapped over 100 Bobcats... I have yet to have one chew out let alone have enough damage to indicate that it was indeed chewing. In the early 1980's it became illegal to set a trap on land where the jaws come together. either soft catches or traps that have a 3/16 space between the jaw set.