LYNX down, my turn to shoot

[nastygunz]

 We got them here but we can't shoot or trap them. The fish & game commission just approved bobcat hunting,trapping again though,  despite a huge outcry from the angry tree huggers!

[HaMeR]

Thanks for the info Ok!! I would much rather take your word on these things!!   

[Okanagan]

Thanks for the info Ok!! I would much rather take your word on these things!!   

Tikani and pitw likely have more experience with lynx than I do.  Where I hunt is the edge of lynx country and there aren't many of them down our way compared to up north.

 

[bigben]

pretty cool.  Good job on a pretty critter.

[Frogman]

WTG!!  Nice cat!  I have never seen one.  We have bobcats.  Good shooting!!

Jim

[snafu]

Congratulations! Good write up & cool scenery pics as well.

[gravesco hunter]

Congrats very nice cat

[Coulter]

Awesome...That is hands down one of my favorite furs. They are just flat out soft.

Steve

[Okanagan]

Awesome...That is hands down one of my favorite furs. They are just flat out soft.

Steve

Plushest, softest fur I've ever handled.

[Dave]

Just saw your post, Clyde.  What a great hunt and write up!!!
Congrats!
Great pics too.  Can really see what it takes to keep that kitty on top of the snow.

[Okanagan]

Thawed and skinned the lynx today.  Wow.  I learned a lot.

First pic below shows the bottom of the lynx's foot lying on my hand, not extended at all.  That is the pad side!  Somewhere under all of that fur is a black leather pebbly bare pad.



Pics below are the front foot and then the back foot, about 5 1/2 inches wide when really spread.  The toes are long and webbed with skin between them.  It's feet spread as big as a 150 lb. cougar and this one only weighs about 25 lbs.  The hind feet are slightly larger, close to 6 inches wide when toes are spread.  Both photos show the bottom, pad side of the paw.





Hidden somewhere in all of that fur are some super sharp big claws.



Like the claws, the teeth are longer in relation to diameter than other cats I've handled. 



Further discoveries:

1.  The cat was broadside rather than angling toward me as I thought when I shot it. 

2.  The first bullet was tumbling and entered sideways near the last rib, with an oval entry hole almost silver dollar size, and a four inch oval exit which took out the last rib.  Ugly.  The bullet ticked a willow before it hit the cat.  Using a .243 on smallish critters caught up with me.  No regrets.   

3.  My snap second shot as it took off hit the lynx at the back of one hindquarter.  It caught about an inch of the thigh muscle and only made a .24 pencil through, and took enough fur with it to plug the holes tightly.   Makes me feel a little better about my shooting. 

[FinsnFur]

Those are some great pics
Ballz o mighty that thing has some big feet. 

[HaMeR]

If something gets away from those claws they're gonna leave a blood & scent trail for sure!! Don't think I want bit by one of them either!!!! I like the unique characteristics built into wildlife for their survival.  Large padded feet for snow travel yet they aren't clumsy when they run on clear ground.

[Dave]

Thanks for the follow up post
Very interesting pics and observations
Guess they can move like a ghost through (or over) any terrain with all that furry padding