Hunting cats in USA and Canada

[Green Chile]

How many of you are chasing the cats of North America...bobcat, lynx and mountain lion? It took me 2 hard trips to get my mountain lion, which I wrote a hunt report here about. https://www.africahunting.com/threads/usa-co-mountain-lion-with-revolver.73045/

I'm wanting to get a bobcat and lynx at some point. Does anyone have recommendations on bobcat hunting around TX? I would love to hear about your bobcat experiences, particularly those who chased them specifically. I know a lot of guys have gotten lucky while hunting sometimes else but how many have focused on getting one? Lynx are obviously a northern species and if you have experiences to share about that, please do so.

 

[Racer00]

We hunt mountain lions in Montana every year. Have had a lot of success. Just got my sons and my lion back from the taxidermist. His was 174 lbs. mine came in at 176.

 

[Green Chile]

Very good lions. Nice.

 

[Firebird]

I’ve taken one bobcat and two cougars over hounds. I love chasing them in the snow, looking for tracks and chasing the primal sound of hound dogs on a hot trail.
Have always wanted to call bobcats and I know they do it successfully on big bobcats in Texas.

 

[Green Chile]

I think lynx are the hardest of the 3 to take consistently. I have taken them trapping in Alaska but look forward to hunting them sometime. Next step for me I think is getting a good bobcat around TX.

 

[TheGrayRider]

I love hunting mountain lions with hounds. Manti-LaSalle National Forest, Utah - January 2021. Happy hunting to all, TheGrayRider a/k/a Tom.

 

[Green Chile]

Similar mount to mine. I will post in a bit.

 

[Mike Van Horn]

I have called in a couple Bobcat in the last 3 years. Mountain Lion is still on the list. Not many in this area so it may take some time to do that. Where are you thinking for the Lynx?
l would contact some of the predator calling outfitters in Texas or Kansas for the Bobcat

 

[Mike Van Horn]

Try PLO Prairieland outfitters in Kansas for Bobcat

 

[Green Chile]

For lynx, I was looking at some outfits in British Columbia. Still researching that. I will contact PLO. Thanks.

Here's a quick photo of my lion (excuse the mess)...wish you could see the deer better underneath it. It's a B&C muley that was killed by this cat. We jumped it off the kill and tracked it down to the bottom of a nasty canyon later that day. The guide said why did it have to kill the biggest freaking muley on the mountain?

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I’ve gotten 2 of the 3. Need a Lynx but never tried for them.

I’ve gotten bobcats in 3 states by chance while turkey hunting, one in Texas in town, and 1 ea with hounds and in trap out west.

 

[Green Chile]

That’s the odd thing…having turkey hunted in 25 states, I’ve never had a shot opportunity for a bobcat. I’ve seen some but no shots.

 

[WildWill]

Lots of bobcats in the Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas area. You'll have to wade through a pile of fox and coyote to get one if you plan on calling them in. Here's a good tom from a couple years ago that's a 160qt cooler he's on.

 

[mrpoindexter]

Starting my cats this season. I have a mountain lion hunt with dogs booked for January in Arizona. Don't know how much running I will have to do to keep up with the dogs, but I have a little time to get in shape once I have a target.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

That’s the odd thing…having turkey hunted in 25 states, I’ve never had a shot opportunity for a bobcat. I’ve seen some but no shots.

TSS does a number on them ….

 

[Wade J VanGinkel]

Good question and I'll be following. Lynx is out of my budget but really want to get a bobcat.
I killed a good lion way back in 97. Guy with hounds offered me the hunt for only $500 as he wasn't doing anything at the time. Pretty sure he spent it all in fuel before we got the Tom on the 5th day.

 

[HankBuck]

How many of you are chasing the cats of North America...bobcat, lynx and mountain lion? It took me 2 hard trips to get my mountain lion, which I wrote a hunt report here about. https://www.africahunting.com/threads/usa-co-mountain-lion-with-revolver.73045/

I'm wanting to get a bobcat and lynx at some point. Does anyone have recommendations on bobcat hunting around TX? I would love to hear about your bobcat experiences, particularly those who chased them specifically. I know a lot of guys have gotten lucky while hunting sometimes else but how many have focused on getting one? Lynx are obviously a northern species and if you have experiences to share about that, please do so.

@Green Chile - I am a very avid “Cat hunter” but NOT a very successful one. Made three (3) different Mountain Lion Hunts for a total of 21 hunting days, all with hounds (2 in Idaho and 1 in British Columbia). Only treed one Lion and let my friend shoot it - great Tom nice big head and 160 lbs. I’m still trying to plan another hunt to get my Mountain lion but there is much luck involved “if” you want a really good Tom - if you will be happy with any Mountain lion 110 - 130 lbs then your chances are very good and I refer to 130 lbs “On a Scale” not Guide’s estimate - which is always on the Heavy side of reality. For me, a trophy Mountain lion is a Tom and starts at 150 lbs…- they are harder to find. Once hounds strike a good cat - especially in snow - the chase can be short and the actually shot is like a Big Squirrel….the thrill is the chase and the dog work. Calling one in would also be a thrill but odds are low.
For Bobcat, Maine has high success rates over good hounds and cats are larger than Texas - 25 lbs to 35 lbs are nice size trophies. I called in a nice Tom in Texas after 5 days of calling day & night - 28 lbs, very long Tom and well spotted…..I like that trophy more then anything I shot in Africa or Alaska.
For Lynx, only Alaska or British Columbia - my Son and I took ours over hounds in BC, fun hunt, good dog work but the shot is another Big Squirrel !!

 

[kitsch]

As stated, BC lynx + bobcat can be found fairly readily based on friends' accounts. Even with hounds, even close to the ski resort your non-hunting companion would enjoy. I havent done it but will ask a pal who did and let you know if he has a lead. This is a midwinter hunt in BC right?

 

[Green Chile]

Lynx hunting is typically done mid to late winter....Dec-March roughly.