I have noticed a bobcat in the tall grass of one of my hunting properties. It just so happens to be my turkey honeyhole. Is this a threat to my turkey habitat? If so what are the best methods of trapping since I cant legally hunt them until October?
Well, once when my dad was turkey hunting two bobcats were after his decoys. It was so funny, one was sneaking up from behind it and jumped at it where it would have flown towards the other one and in midair, when the turkey didn't take off (decoy) the bobcat turned and both of them took off.
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HNI 2009 spring turkey contest - Captain - Team 10: Flock Busters
Winners of the 2008 HNI turkey contest - Captain-Team 19: Gobbling Thunder
winners of the 2008 youth turkey contest: Morning Thunder!
Remington 1100
Trust me, I could use some target practice with my bow...but hunting bobcats out of season here is illegal. I was thinking of trapping one or two of them and having them mysteriously disappear during transit!
Definite threat to the turkeys. One of the coolest hunts that I ever had involved a bobcat and a turkey. I was sitting and doing some light calling and this hen was coming my direction. There was a small 2 or 3 foot drop on the ground and as the hen was approaching this drop, a bobcat was down on the ground stalking this hen. He was on the down-side of the drop, just waiting for the hen to get close enough. The hen knew something wasn't right and didn't go any closer, however, the bobcat leaped up off the ground and gave a good try for the hen. Pretty neat to see something like that.
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Remington Model 11-87 Premier 12 Gauge
Remington Model 870 SPS-T Camo Thumbhole 12 Gauge
Ruger M77 Mark II .270 w/ Nikon 3-9x40 Buckmasters
Bobcats can be a threat, but they are not going destroy any turkey population. Predators take a very small percentage of adult turkeys. Cats usually go for smaller and easier prey, such as small birds, squirrels, and mice. Not saying a cat won't take an adult turkey, it's just not that common. The real threat is to the eggs and poults. Just about everything in the woods will eat an egg or take a poult. This is one main reason why only 20% of all chicks hatched make it through their first year of life. An adult turkey, gobbler or hen, is a formidable opponent for most predators, so most of them are going to go after easier prey.
Are bobcats a threat to my turkey population?
