Airgun Bobcat Wet SIde Oregon

Butcher45 · February 03, 2011, 02:21:34 AM

Hunting Bobcat in Western Oregon, bordering the Siuslaw National Forest. The local sub-species of Bobcat I hunt here on the west side of Oregon is L. rufus fasciatus.

Day started out promising at dawn, then tree workers entered the woods and really made some noise. I trekked away from the commotion as far as I could, and did more stalking than calling for several miles thru the forest.

I wasn't able to do any pre-season scouting, so it was mostly new ground. Got into some ridiculous thick stuff following a foot trail off of a foot trail. What a mess.

If a particular location does not look IDEAL to make a stand, I don't want to sit there and call for an hour when there are better stands to make down the way.

I had finished calling for the day, and was hunting my way back to the gate with as much focus as I could muster. I learned on the last stand on the last legal bobcat hunting day of last season, that it is not over until you have crossed that gate.

15 minutes after my last stand, I was stalking and spotting the bottom border road of a steep reprod clearcut, when I peered around the bend and guess what I saw sitting in the middle of the path quartering away at about 35 yards ahead?

I could tell from where she was that I did not want her going ANYWHERE, as any tracking in that terrain is a nightmare. Reprod to the left, gully with thick overgrown brush on the right. I have been saying that I would try for a headshot on a bobcat if given the opportunity just to be certain it went straight down, but this one was sitting quartered away from me to the right, presenting the perfect neck shot.

Thank goodness I had my rifle cocked and ready to go. That bobcat would have spooked immediately at the sound of an action I am sure of it. Took the neck shot and it worked perfectly.

Here is where she lay. Down the road behind her around the bend is where I was when I took the shot to the neck.

<img src="http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x65/butcher45/100_0185.jpg" alt="[linked image]">

I immediately reloaded, and put an insurance shot into here heart as I approached her....probably at about 20 yards. No way was I going to let that cat get out of sight. Another hole or two in the hide doesn't bother me a bit, but a lost hide sure does!

After I filled out my Bobcat Report Card, I paced off from the bend in the road where I took the shot, where the Bobcat was sitting when I put that EPP/UG into her neck that put her down with authority on video afterwards.

I hunt alone for the most part, but use the self-timer on my camera while afixed to my mono-pod stuck in the ground. Took this picture real quick before putting the tag on her.

<img src="http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x65/butcher45/100_0186.jpg" alt="[linked image]">

I took some more pictures after I hitched a ride to the highway to meet my ride.

<img src="http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x65/butcher45/P1020283.jpg" alt="[linked image]">

<img src="http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x65/butcher45/P1020293.jpg" alt="[linked image]">

After I got home, I took additional pictures of the wounds. This is the entry wound from the neck shot as she was quartering away from me.

<img src="http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x65/butcher45/P1020306.jpg" alt="[linked image]">

The exit wound from the neck shot.

<img src="http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x65/butcher45/P1020305.jpg" alt="[linked image]">

This is the shot I took to the heart as she lay in the road. No exit.

<img src="http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x65/butcher45/P1020331.jpg" alt="[linked image]">

<img src="http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x65/butcher45/P1020333.jpg" alt="[linked image]">

Some shots of her tools

<img src="http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x65/butcher45/P1020297.jpg" alt="[linked image]">

<img src="http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x65/butcher45/P1020302-1.jpg" alt="[linked image]">

Got her home and weighed her..... 14.5 lbs after having bleed out a whole lot. Pelt looks great!

<img src="http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x65/butcher45/P1020317.jpg" alt="[linked image]">

More soon!

Todd Rahm · February 03, 2011, 04:00:53 AM

What happened to the photos?

<--------Just cause I miss Al.

wked · February 03, 2011, 06:05:08 AM

Very impressive butcher. Keep on postin

Carolina Coyote · February 03, 2011, 07:19:15 AM

Very nice Cat, that should make a really nice mount, You need to get the IMG code in Photobucket so it Post the picture instead of the link. Thanks for sharing your Hunt with us. cc

vvarmitr · February 03, 2011, 10:25:21 AM

Snuck right up on her!

Great story, but yeh, you gotta work on that picture thing. We're spoilt around here.

Hawks Feather · February 03, 2011, 10:35:47 AM

Nice Bobcat and it has to be extra special when taken with an airgun.

Jerry

Butcher45 · February 03, 2011, 12:29:44 PM

Thanks guys! Not sure what exactly will be done with her yet.

Quote from: vvarmitr on February 03, 2011, 10:25:21 AM
Snuck right up on her!

Great story, but yeh, you gotta work on that picture thing. We're spoilt around here.

If I knew how to edit my posts I would fix it.

iahntr · February 03, 2011, 06:41:58 PM

Very cool ! Good lookin cat !
Congratulations

Butcher45 · February 08, 2011, 02:09:39 PM

I haven't found a way to edit my post with the pictures, so I'll be sure to thoroughly preview it this time.

Curious to hear how you all would rate the pelt damage.

pitw · February 08, 2011, 02:28:42 PM

The pelt damage from my experience would not be much to fix, a couple stitch's and good to go to market. That is some good looking green in the one picture too

.

Frogman · February 08, 2011, 03:40:57 PM

Wow!

Nice story and pictures. Congrats on the cat!!

Jim

bambam · February 08, 2011, 04:52:45 PM

Pretty cat, good job !

Bluesman · February 08, 2011, 09:51:49 PM

Thanks for the post. Good hunting!

JB in NC

FOsteology · February 09, 2011, 02:03:21 PM

That's pretty cool, and a nice gato!

I must have missed it.... what weight slug, and what PCP airgun did you use? Haven't seen one like that..... looks like you have two air reserves.?

Butcher45 · February 09, 2011, 09:51:43 PM

Quote from: FOsteology on February 09, 2011, 02:03:21 PM
That's pretty cool, and a nice gato!

I must have missed it.... what weight slug, and what PCP airgun did you use? Haven't seen one like that..... looks like you have two air reserves.?

My rifle is a SamYang 909 .45caliber that has been power tuned by BGMF airguns. I have been using a 154grain EPP/UG boolit for predator hunting this season. It's been doing a pretty good job so far!