BigGameHoundsmen.com

Looking for feedback on the history of bobcat hunting. When did people start doing it, and where?

It seems to be just a North American thing, right?

I know all the old time big game hunters just considered them trash and a pain in the butt when their dogs trashed on them. And not many bobcats killing livestock enough to get the government hunters interested in them.

I know the high fur prices of the late 1970's got some folks focused on them, but I am wondering how much befor that people were really serious about catching bobcats with dogs, if at all.

And where?

Seems like there is a well established bobcat culture up and down the West coast, and also in Texas/Oklahoma area, and Maine area.
Does Florida have what could be called a bobcat hunting culture, or just a couple individuals that do it there? I wonder about what years these areas started their bobcat hunting, and why.

thanks to anyone who can give feedback.

yes, bobcat hunting is pretty strictly a north american sport, but only because they don't have them elsewhere. cat hunting w/dogs is pretty worldwide and always has been. the eastern settlers curs and later hounds were allowed to run a lot of different game. everything was valued for the pot, the fur or both. additionally it was the most effective means of catching a specific problem predator.
but yes in russia they run (& in most cases kill) tigers, lynxs, & snow leopards. in south asia dogs are used for a variety of small cats, leopards & tigers. in africa they still use dog hunting for stockkilling lions & leopards and they chase a variety of smaller cats including caracal & serval for sport. in south america the jag & the mt lion are the big money but people also run ocelot, margay & jaguarundi. even australians chase feral cats w/ dogs (usually sighthounds though).

Pops,
Do you know anything about the cats of Norway (Lynx?) and any dog hunting that may have been done on them? Also, did Germany have a cat, and any dog hunting on them?

Not first hand. i know they have lynx, but i don't know if they are allowed to hunt them w/ dogs. i do know most of the european countries it is illegal for the dog to catch the game like we do w/ hogs. they are only allowed to bay or tree. if you go to "the hunting life" and talk to a fella that goes by the call sign potsstillgold, he's from there. he might give you more first hand info.
germany had lynx and the original hunting danes were used to catch them. i don't think they still have them. if they do i'm pretty sure they can't be legally hunted. they do however have an abundance of raccoon thanks to an enterprising nazi.

wow, Racoon in Germany? I never would have guessed it.

Thanks Pops

Hitler had the last laugh oon the masked bandits. They are raising all sorts of cane over there. I read an article on that just a month or so ago. Will try and find it for you David.