Get that bobcat you've always wanted.
Bobcats can be tricky to track down. They’re aloof, highly alert, and often way more aware of their surroundings than us humans are. Sometimes, a bobcat's home range can be over 20 miles. That can make it tough to call in a cat in just one hunt. We've learned a few things that may be able to help you on your next hunt.
Bobcats vs Coyotes
Obviously, cats are different than dogs. Even though coyotes and bobcats are both predators, they are completely different animals. Hunters usually call coyotes in with a few distress calls lasting a few seconds followed by a minute or so of silence. However, bobcats will lose interest in those periods of silence and you will be left empty-handed.
Instead, we've had the most luck by calling continuously. If a cat doesn't show within an hour of calling, it may be best to move on to another area.
What Kind of Call Should I Use?
We've found that higher pitched sounds appeal better to bobcats because they mimic birds, rabbits, and other small animals that bobcats love. If you can find a good woodpecker sound on your caller, give it a shot! If you can couple your call with feathers or a decoy to capture their attention once they are called in, you may see better results.
Best Time of Day to Hunt a Bobcat?
I'm not going to tell you that it is impossible to see a bobcat in broad daylight, but it is very rare. If it's a real cold winter day, you may have a better chance at seeing them during the day, but for the most part they are nocturnal animals.
Most bobcats our team has seen and/or harvested have been right around dawn and right at dusk. Shortly after the sun goes down is also a great time to call in a bobcat, as long as you have predator hunting lights that are geared to not spook them. However, this comes as no surprise because that's when you'll be out looking for coyotes as well. Just remember, the key to hunting a bobcat is patience, patience, patience!