Here's a photo of a tom I took a couple of weeks ago using a Marlin 25MN .22 Magnum with Remington 33 grain ploymer-tipped ammo. The range was 90-95 yards This was the 2nd largest bobcat I have taken over the years. The largest, trapped in '86 or '87, went an even 30 pounds.

great job! wish i could take one. a feller has trapped one, and shot one not to far from my home. they are getting more populated it seems. congratulations.

Nice cat Bobby.

There's always been a healthy population of them here in south central Texas, although the majority of folks in the area have never seen one. We also have a decent population of gray fox -- and, of course, plenty coyotes.

On predators, I always do a field autopsy to see what they've been eating. This gives me a feel as to what lures or calling methods will have the possibility of faring best. This one had a variety of contents in its stomach and small intestine, including a squirrel, a small rabbit (judging by foot size), several small birds and a bit of some red meat, which I presume to be venison from the head/feet of a couple of deer I had recently taken. Bobcats aren't known to gorge, but there was an explanation for this one's hearty appetite: He was full of large tapeworms.

His overall condition was quite good, but the hair was slipping a bit -- not due to a change in the seasons but due to nutritional deficiencies caused by the tapeworms. Chances are, in a few months, his condition would have begun to deteriorate rapidly.

Bobby, NICE CAT!!

Nice looking cat

Excellent pic. They are few and far between up here. That is the kind of photo, after your long gone, your kids will pull out and say..."That's my Dad". Should still get the classic response too......"Wow".

Nice one,
Mike

Bobby
How did you come across that guy? Did you call him in expecting something else? Or did he just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time?
Rich Jake

Oh by the way that is an excellent picture who took it?

[ 01-29-2003, 03:53: Message edited by: Rich Jake ]

Rich-
He had been picking up a chicken or two around the place, so early one morning, when I thought I spotted a 'cat in the distance, I got out and did some calling (I was planning on going out to call at another location several miles away, but seeing the movement a few hundred yards from the house changed my mind). In just a few minutes, he was there.

I took the photo myself using a Nikon FM2 and a 50mm Nikkor lens. This was tough to do as I had nothing to go by in terms of framing up my height, etc.

I knew the look I wanted -- hunter walking to another calling spot with game in tow -- but wasn't certain about the results until I got to see the film. I don't do digital but have to admit a "preview" would have been nice in this situation. However, as a photographer who still believes in film and manual focus, I can't bring myself to purchase a "digi."

Thanks Bobby for explaining it futher. I have enjoyed the picture as well as the story behind it.
Rich Jake

Bobby, good looking bobcat! He is a "bigun'" LOL. Talked to a hunting buddy the other night. He had been up on the Ks.-Neb. line pheasant hunting. One of the guys he hunts with up there has taken 31 this season!
I have not seen mine in the backyard for about 2 months.
Jeff

Hey Rich... come on... anybody can hunt bobcat out in the open.... in the day time.. when it's not 20�s... and raining/snowing... when they're not in zipped up in a sleeping bag... ~ hehehehe

Bobby,

Nice kitty.... I'm about to spend several months here in Florida trying for a big tom to mount.

I'll be using my VVCG 13" 6mmTCU barrel but can't decide what bullet to use yet...

Need a quick kill cuz our brush is very dense and ability to track is quite limited.

Some of the time I'll have to use a 22mag due to Florida law in some places.

$bob$

Bob-
In your 6 TCU, I'd stick with something like the Sierra 80 grain SSP simply because it won't leave a huge exit. Bullets like the BlitzKing and V-Max will take a chunk out of the hide in a hurry.

I hope you get your cat soon. In "warm" Florida, much like here in Texas, I am sure they'll be in a transitional "shedding" phase soon, which doesn't make for the best taxidermy. Good luck...

Bobby, nice Cat but the photo is nicer. Dont put off going Digi much longer. We couldnt find anyone to do board level repairs on the wife's old Nikon so I bought her a Coolpix 4300 for Christmas....man that thing is fun to mess with. I dont have your talent for composition but I'm working on it.
Dave

Dave-There's a place in San Antonio that specializes in Nikon repair. It's called H.C.S. or Havel Camera Service. The ph # is 210-735-7412. The add. is 1102 Basse Rd; San Antonio TX 78212.

They'll give you an estimate before doing any work.

And thanks for the compliment on composition. But I have to admit getting lucky here as I had to get the camera set, guessing somewhat at the framing, and then scurrying to get the cat over my shoulder and myself into position .

I feel the shot would have looked better with a lens of 135 or 180mm, but there simply was no way to accomplish this without going to the trouble of firing the shutter with a remote or else getting someone here to manually trip it. And I didn't think the cat was worth quite that much effort...

Nice looking cat Bob. I need to get with my brother he live down in San Antonio. and see about doing some hunting down there.We have talk about it but have not got together to do it. He is a cop in San Antonio.