My first called cat

[studabaka]

Bob cat season opened monday here. It was 80 degrees at 4pm and I just didn't feel like making a deer stand so I decided to try a bit of calling behind the house. Set up along the edge of a gulley that comes off the back of a bean field and drops through some hardwoods to a thick [but bone dry] drainage. Set my decoy up high near the top of the gulley and I tucked in 40 yards down along the edge of it. Wind was a bit squirrely, but mostly running diagonally from the top, so most of the time my down wind was the bean field. I had brought a bunch of calls...THO, Hawks Feather, and a nice little Buffalo horn open reed I got from Bearmanric. All got some air time and I was blowing them towards the decoy hoping it would give the impression as the wind carried it back down the gulley that it was coming from up that away. I'd call for 30 seconds or so and then wait a couple minutes. At first I was trying my rabbit stuff but then started trying to make bird sounds on Rick's open read. It was pretty pathetic and a bit slobbery. Probably 40 minutes into this call practice I was deciding if I should give another bird slobber or break stand..... then a bit of movement in the bottom of the gulley. Here comes a nice bob cat up the bottom just walking along steady. It passes behind a little patch of bramble and I raise my 22-250. It's 20-25 yards away. It comes out the other side still walking steady. I pull on it's shoulder and fire. It does a summersault and starts flopping. I'm working to get another round in and trying to watch it at the same time. It jumps up and runs a circle back past me at probably 10 yards. I see blood on it's shoulder, which is the opposite shoulder that I shot so I know I have a through shot, but how is this thing running  I can't get it in the scope as it tears buy and heads back toward the drainage.

I got up and started following it's path. didn't see any blood except I see this little red thing that looked like a seed. Pick it up and the red starts coming off on my fingers and it's a piece of bone. Start doing sections figuring I'm going to come across it at any moment, but as the light faded I still hadn't located it and spoting blood was becoming almost impossible. I ended up quiting the search for the night, but that bugger has got to be really close by and hopefully I will find it in the morning.

That is my first called, shot, and hit critter and I sure hope I'm also able to recover it 

[THO Game Calls]

Way to GOOOOO!   You'll find him, I know you will cause it sounds like you whacked him pretty good.  Congratulations!

Al

[Arkyyoter]

Stay with him Stu.....hang something in a bush at the last spot of blood...then either do grids or concentric circles....he's there....be sure to look under everything...

Congrats!!!


Joe

[Troy Walter]

Good Job and good luck hope you find it.That is something I would love to do is have a chance to hunt bobcats.

[Coulter]

Cool story Stu...way to go man!! I hope you find him. I'd love to come and help ya, but you'll probably have him located before I could get there Don't give up on him and make sure you post some pics when you do get him.

Steve

[Bopeye]

That's awesome Stu.......

I'm proud of ya my friend. I really hope you find the cat, but if not, ya still did it buddy.......

[HaMeR]

You may have hit him in the shoulder & missed the vitals.    The day I went & listened to Byron South speak here in Ohio he told me Bobcats can take a beating. He's shot them with a 75gr bullet from a 243 & still had to bring out the tracking dogs.

Nevertheless,,, don't give up on that cat cuz he's prolly hit good enough that when he lies down he'll stiffen up & you'll find him hidden in the thick stuff!!  Take a little handgun with you too & look near water.  


BTW-- I almost forgot>> CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bob D]

I had something similiar happen last year on my last cat of the season. I called it up and shot it about 30 yards away with a 22-250. It ran like hell for about 50 yards then it fell. You will find it tomorrow if you look hard enough.
Bob

[KySongDog]

Congratulations, Stu!   

You'll find it tomorrow.  We want pics!!

Semp

[Hawks Feather]

Stu,

Way to go on the calling.  Now go find that cat.

Jerry

[iahntr]

  Very cool Stu !! You'll be runnin that a few times through your head tonight. 
That has to be very exciting ! Wish ya the best on findin that sucker tomorrow.

[centerfire_223]

Way to go Stu!!! I called up my first cat last season and I know I was pumped.   

[FinsnFur]

He hasn't reported back........
I'm wondering here. What'd you come up with Stu? Dont make us come find you. 

[Arkyyoter]

I bet he's already out here!!! Good luck Stu and stay with it!!


Joe

[studabaka]

Here kitty kitty ...... I'm heading out now.

Thanks for all the encouragement! Iahntr was spot on. It just keeps replaying. it kind goes something like  :shck:   hopefully I can add a to the ending

[nailbender]

   Good luck Stu! We're pullin for ya!

[Arkyyoter]

I bet ya a pretty he is within 100 yards of where he was last seen...

PICS STU!!!!!!

[5 SHOTS]

When I read through the original post I thought " if that was me out there nobody would know about the cat until I found it because I would be crawling around in the dark feeling for fur 2 states away " I sure hope you find him

[possumal]

Hey Stu:  Congrats on your first called in, shot critter.  Perhaps a cat scan would help?  :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:

[studabaka]

No luck so far.... lots of snakes, turles, and briars, but no cat. Have to do a bit of work work then will try a bit more