BigGameHoundsmen.com

I was wanting to get some feedback from some of you about the movements of bobcats. What time of day or night they move and why? How the weather affects their movement? etc.... I've been hunting a spot here in the cascades for about a month now and they seemed to be moving mostly in the evening time just after nightfall but since the snow moved in their patterns seemed to have changed.Since then I'ved tried to get out during different times of day and also tried to pattern them with the weather but I keep missing it. Any input from you folks would be appreciated,especially anybody local to the Sweet Home area.
Thanks in advance

I don't know if this helps you much but bobcats here (AZ) move at any time of day during the fall and winter. Have caught them out moving about in middle of the day as well as eveings and early mornings. Now during summer time they tend to lay up in middle of day to avoid the heat. And they do move alot during the night... sadly can't hunt them at night. My dogs seem to tree alot more during the fall/winter seasons, likly because they are moving about during the day alot more. And thats a good thing as the pelts are better in colder months anyhow

I never noticed much differance in activity during snow/rain days. Altho I do tend to wait till the rain or snow stops falling to get out myself, being AZ usualy we can wait a few hours for better weather. And just after a rain or snow seems to be a good time to be out, woods are damp and any scent is likly going to be fresh. They still gota eat so try to watch the prey activity...

Tom,

I think you are right on the cats , just never know. Lion like to get up and move early about an hour before sundown is a good time to spot them making a long move to a sight spot for a nights hunting. Snow if it is quiet and falling softly the cats move as it muffles sound so do the coyotes. I drove right up on a dog in a snow today in a Duramax and he didn't hear me till I was 60 yards off. Hmm Too bad for him..

Watch the moon guyes from 2 days before till two days after a full one the kittys get foot loose.

mike, do you think this because they can see better with a full moon? what about overcast conditions? just curious.

oregon hillbilly,as you know the weather pattern in sweet home today.slushy snow.if it quits snowing as it is supposed to by early evening the cats will be easy to find by or before first light.bobs in this country will hold up in a storm. depending how long the storm runs. any animal has to make a living.and sooner or later one will stick his nose out.the same with the coons.the freeze we had they might lay low for a night.but they will start to move out of necessity, just stick to the brush and sooner or later one will appear. mike

oregon hillbilly, i just missed your post on the other topic, yes i moved back to s.h. from la pine last june. enjoy your youth while you can. as for me .it don't matter, as if i never hunt again i have done it all . i walk with a fancy brace to support my left leg. when i went to see the orthotics dude he looked at me real funny, i had my hunting boots in hand, i said if your going to fit that damn thing ,fit it to my hunting boots or nothing at all....ha. he did. i grew up in s.h. know it very well.i can help you to learn the country as i have hunted here 37 years now. good area for cats.lots of coon as well for the young dogs. stop by any time or call 367-1009

Thanks for the feedback guys,keep it coming.I just recently got back into hunting with the hounds.I used to coonhunt a lot(3-5 days a week) back before kids started showing up on the doorstep. This time I decided to strictly cat hunt and was well aware of the challnges that came with it. I do think the weather plays a major roll in their movement though.Nobody enjoys being out in the nasty times,even the animals.The moon naturally provides more light for them to hunt by and there are less people out and about to disturb them during the night time.In areas and times of day when there are more of us and less of them I think they tend to be on the move more at night then during the day.They are an elusive animal and like their privacy.Mike Martel I did go out last night before the weather really set in and di cut a few tracks and finally found one they could smell but they only trailed it for a couple hours and never did get it jumped.Once again I missed it,dang it anyhow !!! Maybe I just need a better dog....Thats on my Christmas wish list Ha-Ha Starting tomorrow morning I'm going to start keeping a journal of the times and weather patterns when they seem to move the best. Till then patience will be my best friend!
Chuck

In my country, dry, dry ground the cats move very little ---Tex, Okla & Kansas.
If the food supply is good & it is not mating season.
A cat will set & sleep in one place for hours wateing for a rabbit, bird or something to come by. usally in a rabbit jungle.
They will get out & travel only about 4 hrs a day.
If they are very hungry, they will travel a lot.

Alright guys I've been out hunting the past couple days and the cats were on the move. The dogs and I caught our first bobcat of the season on the way out of the woods last night.The conditions here seemed perfect for them to be on the move.It was lightly snowing most of the day and was a little warmer then it has been lately.I'm still not exactly sure when they moved but precision timing don't matter to me anyhow as long as I can cut a good enough track for the dogs to trail it.I went back out again this morning and found another good track and they lost it for a bit but ended up with it in the rocks.That's alright though we will be back for him again real soon.It's raining here pretty good now but still getting snow just up the hill a ways.I'm going to wait for the weather to break and hit it again.Stay tuned for more........LET 'ER RIP
cHUCK

Sounds like your having a good time man, just keep at em.