The bobcat is not a large creature. The average sized bobcat body is only about two feet long with a tail from four to eight inches long. Although the bobcat originally got its name because of its stubby tail, there are some with longer tails.
Bobcats look very much like a pumped up housecat. The muscle structure is stronger but the face is housecat all the way, only larger. The average bobcat weighs between twelve and twenty-five pounds and its average height is eighteen to twenty-five inches. Bobcat tracks measure around an inch wide with no visible claw marks.
The bobcat is a predatory killing machine. Its claws are long and super sharp. They are excellent for climbing and for holding their prey while they administer the death bite. When Mr. Bobcat is not using those razor sharp claws, they are pulled way back into his toes. Like I’ve said, they won’t be obvious in his tracks.
Their teeth are made for the kill too. The bobcat sports long canine teeth to perfectly stab and hold their prey. Their back teeth are arranged much like a pair of scissors and are perfect for cutting through hide, meat and bone.
The ears of the bobcat are one of its finer assets. This cat has acute hearing and by moving its radar-like ears from front to back, the bobcat can pick up on the distant sounds of mice, rabbits, ground-dwelling game birds and other small critters. Some scientists believe that the little tufts on the top of the bobcat’s ears improve the sound reception, much like we use our hands to cup our ears.
The bobcat has a wonderful, natural camouflage that blends him into a variety of backgrounds. When a baby bobcat is born, his fur is heavily spotted but most of that tends to go away as they get older. The adult bobcats that keep those belly spots are prized for their coats. Bobcats in seasonal areas change their clothes (fur) twice a year. In the winter, the bobcat’s coat can be striped, blotchy and a very dense, almost grayish color. During the summer months, the bob’s coat is more of a brownish-red in color.
The bobcat also has some very unique tricks up its sleeve. When it comes to stealth, the bobcat has a special method for running down its prey. It knows to put its back feet into its front feet’s spot, therefore reducing noise on its stalking approach. Usually, the prey never hears the bobcat coming. The bob is a patient and steady hunter and he doesn’t mind taking all the time needed to carefully stalk its prey. If speed is needed, that presents no problem. The bobcat can sprint to thirty miles per hour and sometimes faster.
Bobcats are not pack hunters. You won’t see a “pride” of bobcats working together to stalk a beast. They are loners that stake out their own separate territories. An alpha-male bobcat can have a territory as large as forty or so square miles. The male bobcat is not a total dud though because he will tolerate several female bobcats in his territory. He does this because he mates with those females. I guess having the ladies around breaks up his territorial patrols. I can understand that.
Unlike some humans, the male bobcat will not only impregnate all of those females, but he will also take full responsibility for feeding the mother and her kittens. Female bobcats have their kittens in the spring and usually birth two or three kittens each year. The little ones are born with their eyes closed (like housecats) and their eyes don’t open for ten days. The little kitties are breast fed for a couple of months and they slowly transition into their hunting classes by the age of five months. They are in no hurry to leave their mother and teacher and can stay with the mother for almost a year before going off to establish their own territory.
Although bobcats are quite common in North America, the bobcat’s natural camouflage is so good, they are rarely ever seen. Like all other cats, the bobcat is a total carnivore. His favorite goodies are mice, squirrels, birds, rabbits and any other meat he can pounce on.
The bobcat has no natural enemies. He is most often the predator and it extremely rare for him to be preyed upon. He is kind of like the barn cat of the wilderness, eating mostly vermin that man has no use for.
North America is inhabited by more than a million plus bobcats. They are not endangered or threatened in any way and sport hunting and trapping is controlled by local fish & game authorities. These creatures are very adaptable and seem to have no problems sharing their territory with coyote , fox and others.
Unfortunately for the bobcat, he has a beautiful coat. A properly tanned bobcat coat is a thing of beauty. The fur is soft and supple and the markings are usually very attractive.
Calling bobcats takes patience. You will rarely have a bobcat charge into the call. They will respond like a housecat. Slowly, cautiously and always taking their time to stop and study the situation.
The best sounds to lure in a bobcat with are high pitched squeaks, bird-like noises and rustling sounds. Expect to devote a half-hour or more to a stand and keep a sharp eye out for the bobcat. He won’t be easy to see coming in and sometimes you won’t even notice him until he “appears” on scene.
Using a small bird decoy or a small bunny decoy seems to work really well for bobcat day hunting. Keep it small because the cat will pick up on even the slightest movement. If you have a remote for your decoy, so much the better because you can taunt the cat with jerky movements. Play the bobcat as you would your housecat and you will have success.
Since the fur is thick his actual body may present a smaller target than you think. The bobcat has soft skin and a smaller caliber rifle works just fine to put him down and save that beautiful fur. Place your round carefully and make certain the bobcat is dead before picking him up. I have seen the aftermath of a hunter that assumed the bobcat was dead and haphazardly tossed the bobcat over his shoulder. Believe me when I tell you, that bobcat opened up a major can of whoop-ass on that hunter and tore him up pretty badly.
The most effective calls to use for a bobcat are a Lil' Pekker, Big Pekker, Nut Cracker, Brassy Alto, Death Screams II or a Mini-Blaster III, all available from RedHunterLLC Store
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