Well, I’d been seeing a nice ‘cat for a couple weeks now, and this morning, I decided to take him out. I spotted something out-of-the-ordinary at the end of a clearing, and when I took a look through the binocs, I could see it was the cat sitting on its haunches. The black-tipped ears in the light-colored foliage proved to be his downfall and spoiled his otherwise perfect camouflage.

As I got into position, the cat apparently caught movement and stood up. He was facing me at an ever-so-slight quartering angle and looking my way, so I knew the jig was up.

My rest was virtually benchrest solid, so I compensated for the drop and sent a 150 grain Ballistic Silvertip his direction. The audible whap of the bullet’s impact was unmistakable in the still, misty morning air, and the cat went straight down. The bullet took him above the left eye and exited the bottom right abdomen, killing him instantly. Pelt damage was minimal.

The load I used in the 24” 30-30 AI Contender barrel pushes the 150 grain CT-BST at app. 2550 fps and prints eye-popping groups with monotonous regularity. Therefore, I had no qualms about taking the shot – which, after-the-fact, lasered at 297 yards – as I knew the gun was up to the task.

Over the years, I’ve taken dozens of bobcats via trapping, calling and a few incidentals like the one today, but I never had one mounted. Since my health precludes me from much hunting and has eliminated any calling or trapping activities, I am unlikely to take many more as nice as this male bobcat. Therefore, this one will grace our living room.

The taxidermist weighed him at 28 pounds on an electronic scale, which is right at what I figured him to be.

That is a nice Bobcat!

Thats a pretty nice cat there Bobby! It is hard to believe how many people that hunt all their lives and say they have never even spotted one. Good shooting too!

Where are the buck and bullet pics? And stories.

God Bless, Louis

Nice Bobcat.

Nice critter,
great shootin'!

Don't count yourself out yet though.

Best
GWB

great cat! i've never seen one, and would LOVE to shoot one!

Glad to hear that you are going to have him mounted! Great trophy and great shooting! Congratulations, Bobby!

That's a stomper. Good going.

Great shot Bobby! It is good to see you able to get out in the field.

I am going to christen him "Pudge". He sure didn't miss any meals!

Bob

Hey Bobby, don't you remember that there are no bobcats in TX? You sure that ain't a lynx??

Good shot!

Tony-I was wondering if he was going to post and "correct" me about calling this a bobcat!

Bob-Thanks! Yep, that nickname is perfect. Even that cat's neck is pudgy. Whatever he was into, he was definitely eating well.

Louis-I haven't pulled the trigger on a deer this season but still hope to get in some hunting before it's over. I haven't been around the boards much either -- just hadn't felt up to it. But I hope to change that SOON!

And I am hoping this guy -- or his older brother -- happens to show himelf...



Bobby

Good to see your hunting and posting. Take care and keep it up.


.

Very nice cat!!! I took one in Oklahoma several years back that weighed 42 pounds. No more stealing chickens for that guy! He is in my office at this moment.

nice shooting!!!

Nice cat Bobby!

Yeah, mine got called a "lynx" when I posted it's picture too.

Pretty funny really.

Glad you're having yours mounted. I still may have mine done, but where yours had "minimal" pelt damage, mine had "maximum" pelt damage...

Nice 'Cat / Lynx / Critter, Bobby!

-And great shot.

The pelt will definitely look nice in your living room.

I'm glad you are poppin' a few caps and posting a few pix to document such!

Hot damn! I'd like to see a pick of a 42 pound bobcat.

That is a nice one!

I killed a old female in my backyard Sunday morning at 10:00am......she was taking a nap under a Sycamore tree. We watched her groom herself for about 30 minutes, before she decided to take a nap. The shot was ~20 yards with a 22 Hornet. This was in Houston, TX.......just because you don't see them doesn't mean they are not around.