Crimson Raptor
New member
So I got a little tired of living vicariously through all you fellas who are still hunting and decided to go for a walk in the woods this morning.
I broke out of the house just about sunrise and drove out to one of three public natural areas near me that are surrounded by cattle country that I have been wanting to call for some time. I figure if I'm going to practice calling real wildlife, I'm not going to practice where I'll be calling "for real" in a few months. I wanted to practice my set-ups and calling as if I were there to take.
I brought along my new (used) FX5, my Mojo Critter, my Crit'R-Call Standard (old faithful), and a TC Custom Diaphragm 2 Reed Pup Howler.
This public area is pretty small - only about 6 miles of trails, but really typical of south central Florida. Basically a small wetland area with pine, palmettos, and marsh mixed in with some sand scrub. I really liked the fact it's surrounded by ranchland that is pretty rugged. We're not talking your flat, green pastures here.
There was only one other vehicle there and I determined which trail that person used and promptly walked to a trail going the opposite direction. Don't need any help messing up my stands if you know what I mean.
Within the first 5 minutes of making my way towards a promising location, I saw one otter and two deer and jumped a medium size hog which disappeared into the wet stuff. A good morning already. The only downside - no predator sign.
I made my way to the trail turn which is marsh on the inside - the public park side - and private ranch land on the outside. I could see an elevated hunting blind and two feeders on the ranch side and figured this was as good an area as any to get started.
Although I spent a bit of time with the FX5 in two promising spots, there were no takers except for one hawk who came in to take a look during cottontail distress. As I haven't picked up the "good" rechargeable batteries yet, I wore out the hodgepodge of AA's I had put in the FX5 when I received it and it was done for the morning.
The good news was that between stand 1 and stand 2, I found some fresh bobcat tracks. Things were looking up although the sun and temperature were going up fast and I knew my quality time was running out quickly.
I made my way to the next trail turn which ended up being a pretty large 3 way intersection that also contained a well used small game trail passing into the ranch under the cattle fence. I liked it!
I set up the Mojo Critter in the grass next to a small post so that it could be seen from 3 different directions, put my back up against a pine and broke out the Crit'R-Call.
I didn't really work too hard to conceal myself as there was no coyote sign to be found and you regulars already know how I feel about bobcat smarts. I broke out about 20 seconds of loud and frantic rabbit distress.
BAM!! That was all it took! I catch movement to my right down the trail I had just walked and the bobcat had just popped out onto the trail about 50 yards from where I now sat. I already had my cheap little digi cam out and turned it on.
The first minute or so is grainy and I apologize - I WILL have an HD camera before fall - but the video clears up real well as he walks within 3 yards of me. I make a point to pull back so you can see my feet and the Mojo Critter just to give you an idea how close we are.
Here's a vidcap:
Here's the vid:
You can tell by the cat's body language that he is real uncomfortable with me there, but not smart enough to run away. I think it's a young tom, but it was hard to tell.
The regs know how much I talk about my Crit'R Call, but there is something about the sound that it makes that drives the bobcats nuts.
This is the 5th bobcat that I've called with the Crit'R Call since December. I wish that I could say that I'm a bobcat whisperer, but I have to give the call its due. I hope you like the vid and photo.
Raptor
To T.C. - I practiced barks and howls all the way to the park, Torry, but there was just no sign and it got real hot real fast this morning with rain on the way. I make a pretty good coyote if I do say so myself.
I'm going to be trying another place further out west that has 20 miles of trail in ranch country and I'm pretty confident there are some 'yotes out there that I can talk to. I'm ready when they are! Will keep you posted.
I broke out of the house just about sunrise and drove out to one of three public natural areas near me that are surrounded by cattle country that I have been wanting to call for some time. I figure if I'm going to practice calling real wildlife, I'm not going to practice where I'll be calling "for real" in a few months. I wanted to practice my set-ups and calling as if I were there to take.
I brought along my new (used) FX5, my Mojo Critter, my Crit'R-Call Standard (old faithful), and a TC Custom Diaphragm 2 Reed Pup Howler.
This public area is pretty small - only about 6 miles of trails, but really typical of south central Florida. Basically a small wetland area with pine, palmettos, and marsh mixed in with some sand scrub. I really liked the fact it's surrounded by ranchland that is pretty rugged. We're not talking your flat, green pastures here.
There was only one other vehicle there and I determined which trail that person used and promptly walked to a trail going the opposite direction. Don't need any help messing up my stands if you know what I mean.
Within the first 5 minutes of making my way towards a promising location, I saw one otter and two deer and jumped a medium size hog which disappeared into the wet stuff. A good morning already. The only downside - no predator sign.
I made my way to the trail turn which is marsh on the inside - the public park side - and private ranch land on the outside. I could see an elevated hunting blind and two feeders on the ranch side and figured this was as good an area as any to get started.
Although I spent a bit of time with the FX5 in two promising spots, there were no takers except for one hawk who came in to take a look during cottontail distress. As I haven't picked up the "good" rechargeable batteries yet, I wore out the hodgepodge of AA's I had put in the FX5 when I received it and it was done for the morning.
The good news was that between stand 1 and stand 2, I found some fresh bobcat tracks. Things were looking up although the sun and temperature were going up fast and I knew my quality time was running out quickly.
I made my way to the next trail turn which ended up being a pretty large 3 way intersection that also contained a well used small game trail passing into the ranch under the cattle fence. I liked it!
I set up the Mojo Critter in the grass next to a small post so that it could be seen from 3 different directions, put my back up against a pine and broke out the Crit'R-Call.
I didn't really work too hard to conceal myself as there was no coyote sign to be found and you regulars already know how I feel about bobcat smarts. I broke out about 20 seconds of loud and frantic rabbit distress.
BAM!! That was all it took! I catch movement to my right down the trail I had just walked and the bobcat had just popped out onto the trail about 50 yards from where I now sat. I already had my cheap little digi cam out and turned it on.
The first minute or so is grainy and I apologize - I WILL have an HD camera before fall - but the video clears up real well as he walks within 3 yards of me. I make a point to pull back so you can see my feet and the Mojo Critter just to give you an idea how close we are.
Here's a vidcap:
Here's the vid:
You can tell by the cat's body language that he is real uncomfortable with me there, but not smart enough to run away. I think it's a young tom, but it was hard to tell.
The regs know how much I talk about my Crit'R Call, but there is something about the sound that it makes that drives the bobcats nuts.
This is the 5th bobcat that I've called with the Crit'R Call since December. I wish that I could say that I'm a bobcat whisperer, but I have to give the call its due. I hope you like the vid and photo.
Raptor
To T.C. - I practiced barks and howls all the way to the park, Torry, but there was just no sign and it got real hot real fast this morning with rain on the way. I make a pretty good coyote if I do say so myself.
I'm going to be trying another place further out west that has 20 miles of trail in ranch country and I'm pretty confident there are some 'yotes out there that I can talk to. I'm ready when they are! Will keep you posted.
