Possibility of a Bobcat season?

[spainy79]

Bobcat hunting considered - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Wondering what some other opinions are? Not really in favor of a season just yet. Numbers are up but I think they could use a couple more years to help them get a better foot hold for maintaining a population. They did a good interview with Charlie Masheck of Hoosier Trapper Supply. I think it is also cool that they used a couple of my trail cam vids in this news segment. You can see my username in the bottom right hand corner. That's why I like Browning Trail cams because you can name your cams. There are some other trail cams you can do this with too.

 

[JimH]

Would love to be able to hunt them,but I agree that we should wait another year or two.

 

[Wolfhound]

There are quite a few bobcats on my property in Kentucky. I get game camera photos fairly often.

Personally I don't have any interest in hunting them. They aren't over populated and don't provide meat for the freezer like deer. Having said that I am not necessarily against others hunting them.

 

[Hookeye]

Yeah, they had a animal rights lady on there (Humane Society).
If the DNR did a bobcat season, they'd probably monitor it like they do the river otter (hit a certain number, each one checked in- certain number hit- season done).
So.............what would the season limit be?
Would it be less than all the domestic cats euthanized by the Humane Society?
Cats is cats...........or so one would think.

 

[MRP2003]

Pennsylvania has a bob cat season that started out just for trapping and that was on a very limited season. It is a regular season and open for hunting as well now. As the bob cats continue coming north and people start losing their pets occasionally, just like what the yotes do, more people will be open to allowing a hunting season.

 

[two70]

A bobcat season is about 5 years overdue.... so DNR will probably wait another 2 or 3 at least. As with other wild cats, people only ever see a tiny fraction of the population and the tendency is to grossly underestimate the population. Bobcats are established well beyond the core areas where they were re-stocked and it will probably take a pretty substantial harvest quota just to slow the increase let alone stabilize the population.

 

[Porter]

Agree with two70 season is overdue. Martin county where we hunt is loaded with cats. Normal to see one or two while sitting in a deer stand, come into coyote calls etc, there is plenty to go around.

 

[junk]

saw 3 in Jefferson county while deer hunting last fall

 

[SmileDocHill]

Hmm, would it be considered baiting to sit in the woods and simply make the sound of a can opener... sit back and wait forthem to come running to you? :-)

 

[JettaKnight]

Hmm, would it be considered baiting to sit in the woods and simply make the sound of a can opener... sit back and wait for them to come running to you? :-)

Nope, but if you sing the meow mix song it is.

 

[kolob10]

I have seen them here in Brown county on a few occasions. They are not present in huntable numbers as of yet around here.

 

[SmileDocHill]

Nope, but if you sing the meow mix song it is.

Ha! That would make a great meow mix commercial. Video of a hunter demonstrating the different animal calls... dude all camo'd out in the woods... narrator "here we see the hunter using calls. He has selected sounds the animals have developed through evolution to have an irresistible attraction towards. " dude dues turkey to cal in Turkey's, then coyote, then stands up to sing in a loud dramatic way the meow mix jingle and gets bobcat or lion to come out of the woods. "Meow mix,it's what cats crave".

 

[singlesix]

Best method to bait a any cat. Wax car to nice shine, wait until cat jumps on said car and tracks paws print, shoot said cat.

 

[yetti462]

Indiana needs to do something. Their numbers are high in my area (Lawrence Co). With game bird populations suffering and the population of the bobcat rising, Indiana is overdue. I have noticed an increase in bobcat and a decline in turkey on my place in the last 8 years. Steve Backs, game bird biologist with the IDNR is begging for a season. I too was told by a CO that 2017 we'll have it in place.

Biologists were amazed at the success of the river otter trapping season, I think they will be with a bobcat season too.

 

[Hookeye]

I'm almost ready for one............

Need to move the reddot up about a half inch (cut new slot on base)

 

[Wolfhound]

I'm almost ready for one............

Need to move the reddot up about a half inch (cut new slot on base)

Nice handgun! What caliber is it?

Also, congratulations on reaching 9000 posts!

 

[Leadeye]

No shortage of bobcats around here, might make for an interesting hunt. Wonder when they would set the season.

 

[Wolfhound]

No shortage of bobcats around here, might make for an interesting hunt. Wonder when they would set the season.

Nice picture Leadeye.

This is from my property in Lewis County Kentucky.

 

[possumpacker]

these cats were caught on my predator this past winter. i believe we have enough cats for a limited season, see track and sign almost daily. everybody has trail cam pics also. we still have an unlimited season for grey fox in indiana and i havn't seen one in 25 years and that concerns me more than the bobcat thing.

 

[Hookeye]

I haven't seen a grey fox for many moons.

The TC pictured above is in .223 rem. Was looking for a .22 mag bbl, 14" but got a deal on this bbl.