Byron South
New member
With things beginning to spring up here in East Texas Sam and I are trying to squeeze the most out of what we have left of the year. Soon the fire ants, chiggers, mosquitos, and snakes will put a halt to the fun. This combined with the leaves and other vegitation budding out making it tough on seeing approaching critters puts a crimp on being able to enjoy the hunt. Plus I hate sweating. Spring and Summer are my two least favorite seasons. Usually by this time I'm getting a little burned out and need a break. This burned out phase usually last about a week or so and that makes the wait until September tough. I'm sure most of you can relate.
Well enough of that. Sam and I went out on Friday evening and made three stands and didn't call a thing. Not to be discouraged we made plans to meet at daylight the next morning. We had a long narrow place to hunt so we started at one end with the wind in our faces and made our first stand. No takers. We moved foreward into the place a few hundred yards and found another small opening. At about 5 minutes into the stand we called up a bobcat. In typical bobcat fashion she came to the edge of the cover and just sat down analyzing the situation. This was just a small field but it had just enough roll in contour that when she sat down I could only see the top of her shoulders and head. She sat there for quiet a while and began to appear nervous. Experience has taught me to be patient with bobcats but when they begin to appear nervous that you had better take the first available shot. With only her head and neck clear I put it just under her chin and let the bullet go. The 55 grain accu-tip struck her just where I intended. The shot wasn't but about 60 yards but when she went down I could no longer see her. I immediately got up and went to her. I've seen many cats that appear dead get up and flee never to be found. This cat however was going nowhere as the bullet had severed her neck for a clean kill.
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We moved foreward on the property another 3-400 yards and began calling again. I began with the cottontail and let it play for a few minutes. I then looked at my watch and realized I only had a short amount of time left before I had to have my son at baseball practice. I made the decision to spice things up a bit and switched the FOXPRO to the coyote pup distress sound. Almost immediatetly Sam spots a coyote coming from the far side of the field. He is coming hard but is on a route that will take him down wind of us and in the woods to our left if I let him continue. As hard as he was going I made the split second decision to try and get him to stop before he made the wood line. he was still about 250 yards out making his swing around us when I WHOOOOOFED loud as I could. This had an almost immediate effect on him and he slammed on the breaks to get a look. I had waited almost too long and he stopped right behind the limbs on a large tree out in the edge of the field. I then rushed the shot and sent the bullet right over his back. Sam was on the camera so when we reviewed the film we could clearly see the vapor trail just and inch or so high over his withers. Oh well we had a bobcat in the bag and had to rush too get Tanner to BB practice. Fun morning. Sure beat sitting on the couch.
Didn't get a chance to get back out until late Sunday. Sam and I met up and made plans to concentrate on bobcats. The Toms this time of year are on the prowl looking for females to breeed with. This is my favorite time of year to call cats (Middle of February through the middle of March). We made two stands in some really good looking bobcat habitat with no takers. At least no takers that we saw. With only a few minutes left of daylight Sam and I decided not to try for cats with the limited amount of daylight left. We headed to a more open spot that had produced coyotes before. I started out as I always do with the rabbits (DSG cottontail). With the light failing I decided after only 3-4 minutes to go to the Coyote pup distress sound. With the light failing this large male came right to the call. I shot him standing no more than 10 yards from the FOXPRO call.
Hope you enjoy the story. Sam and I sure enjoyed the hunt.
Good Hunting and God Bless,
Byron /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Well enough of that. Sam and I went out on Friday evening and made three stands and didn't call a thing. Not to be discouraged we made plans to meet at daylight the next morning. We had a long narrow place to hunt so we started at one end with the wind in our faces and made our first stand. No takers. We moved foreward into the place a few hundred yards and found another small opening. At about 5 minutes into the stand we called up a bobcat. In typical bobcat fashion she came to the edge of the cover and just sat down analyzing the situation. This was just a small field but it had just enough roll in contour that when she sat down I could only see the top of her shoulders and head. She sat there for quiet a while and began to appear nervous. Experience has taught me to be patient with bobcats but when they begin to appear nervous that you had better take the first available shot. With only her head and neck clear I put it just under her chin and let the bullet go. The 55 grain accu-tip struck her just where I intended. The shot wasn't but about 60 yards but when she went down I could no longer see her. I immediately got up and went to her. I've seen many cats that appear dead get up and flee never to be found. This cat however was going nowhere as the bullet had severed her neck for a clean kill.
We moved foreward on the property another 3-400 yards and began calling again. I began with the cottontail and let it play for a few minutes. I then looked at my watch and realized I only had a short amount of time left before I had to have my son at baseball practice. I made the decision to spice things up a bit and switched the FOXPRO to the coyote pup distress sound. Almost immediatetly Sam spots a coyote coming from the far side of the field. He is coming hard but is on a route that will take him down wind of us and in the woods to our left if I let him continue. As hard as he was going I made the split second decision to try and get him to stop before he made the wood line. he was still about 250 yards out making his swing around us when I WHOOOOOFED loud as I could. This had an almost immediate effect on him and he slammed on the breaks to get a look. I had waited almost too long and he stopped right behind the limbs on a large tree out in the edge of the field. I then rushed the shot and sent the bullet right over his back. Sam was on the camera so when we reviewed the film we could clearly see the vapor trail just and inch or so high over his withers. Oh well we had a bobcat in the bag and had to rush too get Tanner to BB practice. Fun morning. Sure beat sitting on the couch.
Didn't get a chance to get back out until late Sunday. Sam and I met up and made plans to concentrate on bobcats. The Toms this time of year are on the prowl looking for females to breeed with. This is my favorite time of year to call cats (Middle of February through the middle of March). We made two stands in some really good looking bobcat habitat with no takers. At least no takers that we saw. With only a few minutes left of daylight Sam and I decided not to try for cats with the limited amount of daylight left. We headed to a more open spot that had produced coyotes before. I started out as I always do with the rabbits (DSG cottontail). With the light failing I decided after only 3-4 minutes to go to the Coyote pup distress sound. With the light failing this large male came right to the call. I shot him standing no more than 10 yards from the FOXPRO call.
Hope you enjoy the story. Sam and I sure enjoyed the hunt.
Good Hunting and God Bless,
Byron /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
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