Determing sex in the tree.

[Unreal_tk]

Im starting to figure out what size of track most likely is left by what size of cat. But how does one determine a tom from a female in the tree. I was curious if there was any markings or just have to guess by the size?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[coastrangecathunting]

about the best thing that i use to determin if it is a tom or a female is the head.

jc

[Unreal_tk]

Thanks jc. Ill start paying real attention to heads.

[WAcoyotehunter]

Pretty tough on a bobcat...

[Patrick]

I have looked at a lot of them and skinned a lot of them.
IF I can get a good look at them in the tree, I can guess rather well. But I get surprised a lot as well. I hadn't thought of what I am guessing from, but probably overall build for the most part.
IF you can't see them good, you just have to see what you got when it hits the ground.

[Warner5]

Toms tend to carry more weight up front. Bigger head, neck, legs and forearms. Like J.C. said most cats with a noticeably bigger more impressive head are toms. Female's seem to be the opposite. Sleeker head & narrower shoulders carrying more weight in the hind quarters. But like Patrick. I have shot toms that ended up being female's & vise-versa. Hope this helped. John.

[Unreal_tk]

I am still trying to be my best to take toms, but like a couple said its pretty tough. Ill still try just all round to take mature cats.

[coastrangecathunting]

it is pretty easy . at least on the coast. these cats dont get the hair that the other cats get and they will have a block head . if there head looks sloped it is a female. when in dought leave it . night time is when its hard . treed a tom today , i could tell it was a tom before i even got to the tree because of the sound of the race . sounded like a coyote race with 1 lose , after the jump. covered around a mile in less than 10 min . soon as i seen it in the tree i could tell it was a tom . because of its head. its not that hard u will figure it out.

jc

[Hagerman]

Carry a dollar bill in one hand and a cold beer in the other.
Show them to the cat and the immediate response will tell you the sex.

[cohoundsman]

it is pretty easy . at least on the coast. these cats dont get the hair that the other cats get and they will have a block head . if there head looks sloped it is a female. when in dought leave it . night time is when its hard . treed a tom today , i could tell it was a tom before i even got to the tree because of the sound of the race . sounded like a coyote race with 1 lose , after the jump. covered around a mile in less than 10 min . soon as i seen it in the tree i could tell it was a tom . because of its head. its not that hard u will figure it out.

jc

you could tell it was a tom by the sound of the race......really.....interesting

[coastrangecathunting]

i knew one of u would say something . i hunt on bare ground and when the dogs jump a stinky tom the can run it head up . making the tom run hard or get ate. therefore the tom will line out like a coyote. the race will test your pataints on the tri tronics button if u know what i mean. this hunting over here is totally different than what most are used to . tons of low vegetation. after it rains the brush is wet , when the cat runs through it the are soaked and the dogs can smell them very well . u might not believe me but im not a liar. i have offered for anyone anytime to come hunting with me. i have had better dogs in the past than i have right now but i still catch cats.

jc padgett

[bobcat187]

SHOOT IT !

[Warner5]

J.C. is being a straight shooter on this one. It happens to me a couple times a season. Like he said when scenting conditions are right dogs can put a jump on a hot tom track that sounds like there looking at it. With so much pressure the cat panics & usually turns straight down hill right to the bottom, to much pressure for him to try a lose he is forced to tree, usually there is no pause of even a locate bark, dogs seem to hit the tree like they just shoved him up it. I'm not sure if this really complements one's dogs but it does test the trust a guy has in his dogs. Sounding like a screaming coyote race to me. J.C. has come by this knowledge honestly by listening to every little tell(detail), every chance he gets, while hunting some of the same dogs for many years. Dont get me wrong he is crazy . But I think he's right on this one. Everyone have a good day. John.

[al baldwin]

Yes John & JC I agree with both of you most of the time. However I bet like myself you do get surprised, when you have a dog savy tom give the dogs tough time, by just snicking around ahead of the dogs and pulling all the tricks a bobcat can do. Until the tom makes a mistake, allows some dog to get to close, the cat panics, race is on and you soon have treed cat or a bay up. I have had toms do this to dogs for hours. Having stated this, I have owened one dog that could could put an end to these type much fastered than the average dog. He was 1/4 running and Dewey Walton would have loved him. Would much rather be hunting than sharing this, so enjoy your freedom to hunt alone, I sure miss it. Al Baldwin

[Patrick]

that "one dog that could could put an end to these type much fastered than the average dog", isn't it terrible that these don't come around more often. I sure don't have one right now.
Out there yesterday, the dogs got it done. But as I listened, I did think to myself that with the moisture we finally got on Saturday (it had been over a month without any rain) that it shouldn't appear to be so difficult.
The country hasn't changed, the varmints haven't changed, the scenting conditions haven't changed (sometimes good/sometimes bad). It is the dogs, the culls can't get the job done, the good dogs get the job done, and the special dogs get the job done so much faster and easier.
So the culls get culled, and I enjoy the good dogs while hoping the next pup could be my next special dog.