Have you always thought about hunting bobcats? Do you want to learn how to hunt bobcats? Hunting bobcats can be very challenging as they are reclusive, smart, and elusive. Bobcats are very good at avoiding detection and have a habit of moving alone. In this article, we discuss tips to help you hunt bobcats.
- Bobcat Scouting
Since bobcats are very elusive, smart and reclusive, you must do a good job of scouting them before you go hunting. Bobcats like dense forest where they can’t easily be detected. When scouting them, target dense forest where they may be residing and keep your eyes open for tracks in the snow, mud and sand along creeks and pond banks.
Brush piles, rocky outcroppings, thick drainages, dense low-lying vegetation, and water sources are areas to target when scouting for bobcats. Additionally, always be on the lookout for bobcat droppings.
Moreover, bobcats prey on small game animals like squirrels, rabbits, mice, coyotes, porcupines, fawns, and birds. If you can find where these small game animals are residing, you just might find bobcats in that area stalking these small game animals. Any sign of a fresh kill of small game animals in the area may be the work of bobcats.
Also talking to the wildlife biologist for the area can give you good information about the activities of bobcats in the area, where they are usually found, their population, what they prey on in the area, and other information.
Look for abandoned barns where mice, squirrels, rabbits, and other small game animals may be living. Bobcats will hunt those areas for their next meal.
- Predator Calls
Predator calls are often used by hunters to lure bobcats out of the areas where they reside. Calls of distressed animals get the attention of bobcats as they always want to get a free meal.
Calls of distressed rabbits have proven to be very effective when hunting bobcats. Additionally, calls of cottontails, jackrabbits, snowshoe hares, and other birds are also effective when hunting bobcats. Use short and intermittent calls when hunting bobcats.
- Trail Cameras
Trail cameras have proven to be very effective for hunting. If you see bobcat tracks, droppings, or signs of a fresh kill when scouting for bobcats, you can set up trail cameras in the area in different directions to capture the movement of bobcats.
This can provide you with valuable information about their travel routes, bedding areas, when they come out, and more information. Trail cameras have become an essential hunting gadget lately as they can capture information 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
This removes the burden off you to stake out late in the night scouting wild game. You can also learn what they are preying on for food. This is valuable information that will help you be better prepared to hunt them.
- Wind Direction
When hunting bobcats, it is very important that you are mindful of the direction of the wind. Bobcats have a very good sense of smell. If they pick up human odors, they will immediately leave the area for a denser forest where they may be safer.
The rule of thumb when hunting is to always hunt downwind of the area that you suspect the animals may be residing that you are hunting. You don’t want the wind to take your human odor to the animals.
- Camouflaged Clothing
To successfully hunt bobcats, you must remain undetected for as long as it is possible. Therefore, to improve your chances of hunting them, you must wear camouflaged clothing that blends with the surrounding that you are hunting in.
Bobcats are very wily, smart, and cautious. They will often see you before you spot them. They are very cautious and you will all of a sudden see them appear out of nowhere. When learning how to hunt bobcats, you want to conceal yourself and control your body movements. - Decoys
Decoys can also be used when hunting bobcats. A decoy with a distressed call is a good combination to get the attention of bobcats. For example, a distressed rabbit call and decoy will be very tempting for a bobcat to ignore.
However, a mature bobcat will be very cautious and will stalk the decoy, remaining undetected until it is within reach of it to investigate. A mature bobcat has lived to grow to become a mature bobcat by being very cautious. The decoy helps keep you undetected as it will focus most of its attention on the decoy.
Conclusion
Bobcats are smart, reclusive, wily, and elusive. They are masters of avoiding detection. They can avoid detection and then appear close to your position. It can be very challenging when hunting bobcats, as you must remain undetected and control your body movements while hunting them.
In this article, we discussed bobcat hunting tips to help you successfully hunt this smart and elusive animal.