Hk45USP

On the closing week of bobcat season here in CA, It took me about 15 minutes to get a nice bobcat within range for my shotgun, while calling at night with a red lensed light.

The cat got to about 30 yards, then refused to come in any closer. It stayed there for about 3-5 minutes then I saw it turn around and took one step to walk away. I made a desperate squeak sound with the back of my hand and mouth. The cat turned to face me one more time and I fired!

Well, the cat took the shot (I know it did) where I was aiming. Im positive I hit it in the face/chest area because that it the biggest area he exposed to me.

The cat did a back flip about 1-2 feet in the air, then ran like a bat out of hell!

My buddy and I searched for over an hour with bright spot lights but we couldn't see any sign or tracks. It was a light drizzle in the desert and the sandy areas wouldn't leave any good tracks.

I know I hit that cat. I don't know how it got away. I was really depressed. I just hope that it didn't die far away a slow and painful death with a few pellets in a non vital area.

I was using a 12ga Remington 870 with a 28" barrel and a full choke, loaded with Federal 3" magnum #4 buck (41 pellets). I've always killed everything I've hunted with that load. Don't know what happened this time.


Edited by - Hk45USP on 03/04/2002 23:56:31

kos2186

hmm...i know its overkill, but try a 3.5 inch #1 buck load next time

Edited by - kos2186 on 03/05/2002 07:33:07

kos2186

i'd also go back a few times and look for that bobcat, see if you can find him.

Hk45USP

My gun isn't chambered for the 3 1/2" loads (bummer). Also, the next morning when the su came up, me and my two buddies went back and combed the area. We did like a grid search. We spent almost 2 hours and I said, forget this.

I can only guess that the cat took a few pellets and ran far far away. Or there is the possiblity that I didn't hit the cat like I thought I did. Maybe I was high or to the left/right of the cat. The shot might have just scared the crap out of the cat and the cat did the summersault and boggied out of there. Dunno what happened.

Better luck next time.

kos2186

my gun wont take anything bigger than 3" either

hey, you could always hope that another hunter got him...

coyote hunter

I rolled a big ole bobby a few years back stood there and let him flop instead of shooting him again and he ran off left a decent blood trail for a while then it stopped.i was pretty bummed. the next year i made the long walk back in there again and set up in the exact same spot and killed a huge old bobby when i was skinng him out i noticed he had alot scars in the skin of where he had been shot before ,so i starting digging around in the carcass and found several no 4's where i had shot him the previous year,he now adorns my wall he is a huge old cat he was so big he wouldn't fit a bobcat form so i had to get a lynx form and do some altering but damn he sure looks good and well worth the wait,maybe you will get him again.

Howler

I'd say that the cat most certainly never took the whole load, 'cause at 30 yrds. it should have parked him, so I think you're right in guessing that he may have taken a few pellets, and may live to come to ya next year.

Robb92

SORRY TO HEAR YOU DIDN'T GET HIM, HOPEFULLY YOU'LL GET HIM NEXT YEAR!!!

seahonk

hey HK45USP if you need help next (YEAR)<img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle> ill be glad to go whith ya , hey next time you go hunting any kind let me know but not this week im leaving friday for my place in parker ariz for a vacaition ok sea yas <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

coyoteseeker

i would agree,at that yardage with a full choke that pattern is fairly tight.the pattern edge just grazsed him.he very well may live to be hunted again.for close yardage shotgunning at night i like a modified choke in the 28 inch barrel.