I see the difference now LB

[Furhvstr]

Had a good night the other day.

Good thing because I can't catch a cold lately with the cages.
It's like trapping with one arm behind your back.

[lb]

That's a decent night's work, Mercer. Did you get some corrective lenses, or what? But, quit apologizing, I have been night hunting for over forty years and still get one wrong once in a while.

Good hunting. LB

[flatlander (Jeff Yancy)]

"Good thing because I can't catch a cold lately with the cages."
Really! Have you ever heard of mating season? Hmmmm!!!

[Furhvstr]

Mating season??

Are there some secrets or tricks for that time of year?

I watched a bobcat cage trapping video recently and I don't recall them covering that?

ML

[flatlander (Jeff Yancy)]

Well! Well! Well! That was just a test. You really didnt think I would reveal all my secrets, did you? 'Looks like things are a little spotty down there. How'd ya do this year? 'Aint talk to ya in a while. Give me a call sometime.

[lb]

I'm of the opinion that mating season isn't set in stone. In fact, it's possible that there are two distinct bobcat mating seasons about six months apart? I don't have any hard data, but just observation, kittens, primarily. Anybody know? LB

[Furhvstr]

LB- as long as you have been in the game you have probably seen some things that would cause you to ponder. Small Fall kittens, kittens of various sizes. I now that some in the calling community chase the yotes during times when trappers are at home so maybe they have seen some Mated summer cats? or somethiing else ?
One of the things that can lead to oddball kittens is if a bred female loses her fetus or even her month old kitten she will often come back in heat and be bred provided enviornmental conditios allow it.
Personnaly from my experience, around here I start seeing the cats coming into heat and pairing up the first week of Jan. which seems a little early to most guys but it is what it is. I ran across a bred pair in the middle of the day this year while out with the kids during their Christmas break. I shot the Tom. Figured that some other young bull would be along soon. I have seen them paired into mid Feb but don't get out much after Jan. so I have no idea what happens then.

A test Jeff? Do the guys sending in their $$ know it's a test?

ML

[lb]

Well, yeah. That's right, Mercer.

Things that cause you to scratch your head. I don't study bobcats, just observe. If they all breed this time of year, depending on conditions and location, then why do I see little critters when they should be half grown?

I once killed a genuine pup coyote in January. I mean, it wasn't a runt, it was (at the most) a ten pound pup. What's up with that?

How was your quality season?

[trappnman]

very nice nights work..........

research on cats-

read one report where it was thought some females if bred early, actually had 2 litters a year-

heres some good info-

Bobcats generally breed between January and July, with peak activity noted in March and April. The mean ovulation date was set at March 15th. Bobcats are polyestrous and probably recycle in 44 days.

In Arkansas, Sealander and Fritts (1978) believed that bobcats were capable of breeding all year. I know of a native Arkansas bobcat kitten that had to be no more than 6 weeks old when captured in the middle of December. In our captive bobcat collection most of our females begin cycling in the month of March and are finished for the year by June.

Adult females usually average 5 to 6 mature follicles for both ovaries. (Erickson 1955a) It is believed that bobcats may cycle up to three times per season if they do not conceive. We have found this to hold true for our two non-breeding females in our captive population. There is a difference of opinion as to whether bobcats are induced or spontaneous ovulators.

Male bobcats show little evidence of spermatogenesis until the second year. Crowe (1975a) found that the mean testis volume of male bobcats in July to September to be significantly less than it was from January to June. Few spermatozoa were found in the tubules or epididymides of mature males during the summer months of July and August. Sperm production seems to start in September and October, with mature males fecund until sometime in the summer months. However, at no time was a total absence of spermatozoa observed.

In mating behavior McCord (1974) recorded an elaborate sequence of pursuit or running encounters, bumping and ambushes that occurred before and after copulation. The pair bond appears continues beyond what would be required just for breeding. Mating pairs have been observed to hunt cooperatively and feed on deer carcass.

Lembeck (1978) reported that four of seven males increased their home ranges during breeding season. He reported observations that males and females were scarred about the face and ears during breeding season. Zezulak (1981) could not rule out extreme aggression being possible during breeding season. He observed a male bobcat eating another that had died of bites to the throat region.

[trappincoyotes39]

Most northern cats won't have two litters very rare, also the mt lion can breed all months of a year FWIW.

[lb]

Yeah, I knew that, 39. So, that's why I didn't think I was sticking my neck out too far with a personal opinion based on casual observation.

Interesting info trappnman.

Good hunting. LB

[trappnman]

TC- the 2 litters thing came from the NTA website- they didn't mean it as a norm, just that it wsa observed

[flatlander (Jeff Yancy)]

"A test Jeff? Do the guys sending in their $$ know it's a test?"
You'll have to ask Tracy, As of today I have not received a copy of the video, just a small pittance of the proceeds.

What I can tell you is that I have been in this game for over 30 years and Bobcats (Male and Female) will change there attitude towards traps after the 1st week of January. If your gonna stay in the game, you'll need to do a major change up. I would have thought you would have discovered this during your 2'nd year.

[Furhvstr]

Easy big boy. No need to get the blood pressure up.

I thought I was just taking my turn as you seldom miss a chance to take a poke at me.


Here is my catch pic from this year. You asked how I did and to give you a call. If you wanted to talk to me you would asked for my number a long time ago.

[lb]

You did fine, Mercer, and I have seen how you handle fur. Top quality product, in my opinion. LB

[trappincoyotes39]

Yeh LB you see those coyote pups in Jan because Cali is a progressive state even the critters think so

[trappnman]

Furhvstr - you getting grays, anything else- or just seting in areas or using methods to just catch cats?

in any case, beautiful country and beautiful cats

[Furhvstr]

A few grays in the cat sets here and there.

I ran all desert this year so no coon, skunk or other.

When up in the mtns. like in the pic I catch about 2-1 cats-grays.

A few coons and skunks when I get near the creeks.

Not near the amount of those critters here as many other places.

ML

[joshnaz]

Mercer what are you shooting your critters with?

[Furhvstr]

.19 Badger and .17 Mach IV for night hunting fur.

ML