Calling Cats

[romans117]

I can call a dog. I want to learn to call cats. I can find nothing on the subject. I have tweety and psycho tweety. The questions I have are: How long do you call for cats versus dogs? Setting and waiting is not a problem for me. I use hand calls. Is constant calling the key? Obviously you need to hunt where there are cats.

[lb]

You have the right idea. Stretch out your stands, a little. Hunt where they are.

The only thing that will increase your odds is to use a remote machine, at least until you have a few successes. Cats come to a call but they don't miss any movement, such as hand movement, and they are content to sit and watch for a much longer time than you.

Surprisingly, I have never addressed the question: Is constant calling the key?" in relation to cats? That's (primarily) a coyote question that never seems to go away. With a bobcat, I don't think it matters a whole lot, use your best judgement.

But, if you recognize good cat cover, they are not all that difficult to call. Sometimes they come in fast, with a lot of movement, like a coyote, but other times, you won't see them move, at all. They are just there, where they weren't, the last time you focused on that spot.

Pay attention to shapes.

Good hunting. LB

[SteveCraig]

Romans117,
Leonard just gave you some very good advice. I agree with everything he said.
One thing though......
It is my opinion......that to call alot of cats, you need to keep the caller playing constantly. They will lose interest if you stop for too long of a time. Bears will do the same thing. So do lions.
Steve

[lb]

Thanks, Steve. Actually, in my own hunting, I much prefer constant sound, but there are a few successful people that use pauses, and I'm not a crusader; if a man is a hand caller, he is probably going to want to use pauses? Also we could get into changing sounds, but why complicate the question?

Good hunting. LB

[SteveCraig]

Heck......Lets complicate it a while! ;D

Students/clients , some are long time callers, are amazed when they hear me playing several different sounds on a cat calling stand.
Birds,rabbits,deer,goats,lambs,crows,ravens,kittens,bobcats, etc., are just many of the bobcat calling sounds I use, and I use many of these all on the same stand.

Lets open this one up for a little discussion.
;D
Steve

[RShaw]

I will use 2 or 3 different sounds on cat stands. Mostly rabbits or birds. I am trying to get a visual response. However, if I have started with a rabbit and the cat shows up while the the bird is on, who is to say which sound the cat actually responded to. I sure don't know, but I will continue to use multiple sounds.

The only advice I can give about calling cats is to listen and watch the other wildlife. We have squirrels here and they will definately tip-off an approaching cat. Blue Jays help some, but I have found they lie once in a while.

Randy

[SteveCraig]

Really good point, Randy.

Birds hate bobcats and you can actually track a bobcat coming to your call just by watching the birds dive bombing them.
Steve

[mostinterestingmanintheworld]

I was calling coyotes one day set up against a rim rock overlooking a big flat.

After a while something told me to look left.

There was a cat sitting there, he took off when I moved.

The best I could tell he was watching the flat like he was my hunting partner wanting to see a coyote die. lol!!

Joel

[bobCATching]

Good thought Joel, your little furry buddyon stand!
I had an interesting thing happen while night calling one time. Had these eyes show up above me right at the tree line. They moved a little and then completely shut off. I kept calling for another 15 mintues and turning my light back on occasionally, never saw another eyeball. When I felt I was thru at that stand I figured it probably was a coyote since it disappeared like it did, but I decided to hike the hill and see what tracks were in the snow. I carried my flashlight and when I got to the trees I used it to look ahead of me. Man was I surprised to see a bobcat walk between some sage brush. No eyes, just his body about 15 yards away. He reappeared, walked away from me some (saw some eyes for a split second) and he layed down facing me. I was breathing pretty hard from the hike up there but managed to hold the flashlight under the rifle stock and time my breathing and waying around enough to get him. A nice 28lb tom. The light must'av really hurt his eyes. I never thought a cat would have let me walk up on him like that. All he had to do was walk away.

[lb]

I have been walking up bobcats at night for many years. These are animals that hang up, on a stand, and just look at you, but won't leave, either. As long as you are reasonably quiet and keep the light just barely out of their eyes, you usually stand a very good chance of a close shot. Almost always uphill.

In fact, and this IS a very closely guarded secret, if you call a cat in the daytime, and he leaves or you miss him; don't quit, go after him. They never think you will follow them and I have suprised many that had walked over a hill, or out of sight. I think they depend too much on their concealment, they probably hear me approaching but are content to just watch me pass by. I have never heard anyone mention this technique? Very worthwhile.

I once caught up with a bobcat that gave me the slip over three hills, one at a time, until I stumbled on him going back the way I came in. They definitely do not run off into the next county like a coyote.

Good hunting. LB

[bobCATching]

LB, That's interesting information to know. I don't do much calling and so what happened to me I assumed was not the normal happening. Sounds like it occurs on fairly regular basis. Live and learn. On similiar note, a large tom lion let me walk right up on him, (hehe, maybe he wanted me too!!!, can you say dinner) I saw him drop down and hide from me. When he stood up at 25 yards or so, I thought "big cat". I wasn't sure which way he was going to go for a split second. Luckily he ran away and now resides permanently at my house.

[greatbasin1620]

LB,

I've had the night time experiences with bobcats that you described, but hadn't thought that it would also work in the daytime.

Interesting... very interesting!

[lb]

Yeah, works in the daytime.

In that described event, I saw that cat from the top of the first two hills and got after him. At the top of the third hill, there was a wash, two hills and a saddle to the left. I scanned the two hills, walked up the wash a ways, then hiked over the saddle, and gave up. As I was approaching the base of the third hill, there he was, walking up the wash. He just let me pass him and continue on my merry way. I surprised him by turning around, and coming back the way I went in....only because my truck was back in that direction. I got him, less than 25 yards, but it sure opened my eyes; on a couple different levels. Number 1, that it was possible to catch up to them, and #2, be careful about going too fast, and passing him by. That knowledge has helped me on spotted cats, while driving, etc. and on those that come in undetected, but I might see them leave as I break off the stand, or shoot a coyote.

Good hunting. LB

[mostinterestingmanintheworld]

I had a cat run across the road in front of me two years ago.

The other side of the road was all brushed off for a mile out.

The fenceline had sagebrush along it 4-5 feet high.

I figured I had this dude!! Right, I walked up and down that fence for 30 minutes with the rifle and couldn't find him.

Joel