ISO Bobcat

swwyocoyote

swwyocoyote

Member
Making plans for next season and thinking of making a trip with bobcat as the main focus. What states/areas should I look into for the highest chance of calling some cats in during the day?

I am not opposed to night calling them or using a guide, just a major itch to get one during the day.
 
Hecouldgoalltheway said:
The real question is: are you looking for anything in particular, or just any old bobcat? If you're going to travel to kill one, are you looking for some 30lb+ furred up cat to mount, or just any old cat?
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30 pound bobcats are like Boone and Crockett deer- few and far between. Hunting for a 30 pounder is fairly unrealistic. They exist, but most people will never kill one, even in Texas which has lots of cars. Mid twenties are very possible, but the difference in a 25-26 pounder and a 30 pounder is about the same as the difference in a 140 buck and a 170. I killed this 26.34 pounder this past weekend, one of 5 we killed. My best is 26.5. I have personally seen two 28 pounders killed by other hunters, but never a 30.

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Yellowhammer said:
30 pound bobcats are like Boone and Crockett deer- few and far between. Hunting for a 30 pounder is fairly unrealistic. They exist, but most people will never kill one, even in Texas which has lots of cars. Mid twenties are very possible, but the difference in a 25-26 pounder and a 30 pounder is about the same as the difference in a 140 buck and a 170. I killed this 26.34 pounder this past weekend, one of 5 we killed. My best is 26.5. I have personally seen two 28 pounders killed by other hunters, but never a 30.

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I also live in a small bobcat dense area (west TN). I've killed 5 in 2025 and probably 15 in the last year. Like you, I've killed a truck full of them between 20 and 25lbs, and 3 or 4 between 25 and 30, but none over that.

But, I know a place much closer to you than me that I've seen 2 that were over 30lbs. I know this area produces monster bobcats.
 
I've never weighed a cat that I shot but the biggest one I've ever seen was a bobcat I found dead while pheasant huntin years ago. My buddy got it mounted for his hunting lodge and it weighed 37 pounds. The taxidermist weighed it. He said it was the biggest cat he'd ever seen. I'd have to agree with him. Biggest one I ever saw too.

To answer the question. If I was going to pick a spot to go bobcat huntin I'd try to go to South Texas or Arizona.
 
Hecouldgoalltheway said:
There are regularly cats turned in at the Texas big bobcat competition that are over 35lbs. Iirc, there have been a few past winners over 40lbs.
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You are right. I didn’t say they don’t exist. However for example, there were 812 teams at the WTBB contest this past month, that were specifically targeting bobcats and killed ONE that was 30.10 pounds. Second was 28. In January the largest was 28. Keep in mind that cats this size bring in thousands of dollars. $56,000 in the case of the 30.10 in February.

www.wtbbc.org

Contest Info | West Texas Big Bobcat Contest

You can find announcements and general information posts here.
www.wtbbc.org www.wtbbc.org

My point was that it would be unrealistic to expect to kill a 30 pounder, although possible.
 
Yellowhammer said:
You are right. I didn’t say they don’t exist. However for example, there were 812 teams at the WTBB contest this past month, that were specifically targeting bobcats and killed ONE that was 30.10 pounds. Second was 28. In January the largest was 28. Keep in mind that cats this size bring in thousands of dollars. $56,000 in the case of the 30.10 in February.

www.wtbbc.org

Contest Info | West Texas Big Bobcat Contest

You can find announcements and general information posts here.
www.wtbbc.org www.wtbbc.org

My point was that it would be unrealistic to expect to kill a 30 pounder, although possible.
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No doubt my friend, but if the op wanted to deer hunt, I'd explain the same scenario. If you want to go to an area that is covered in bobcats, I can tell him about plenty, but if he wants the chance at a real trophy, those areas exist too. I could advise him to come to my neck of the woods and I could absolutely guarantee him opportunities (at night) in a week long hunt, but if wants the chance at a real trophy, it isn't here. It's north Texas and central and southern new mexico.
 
Thank you everyone for all the information, it gives me a good path to start my planning.

Hecouldgoalltheway- a 30lb+ would be ideal :D but realistically a nice mid 20's to mount up would make me happy.
 
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