Bobcat vs 204
Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 6:41 pm
It has been a long time since I shot a Bobcat. I've called plenty of them in, but just never shot one. Truth be known, I think they're kind of cute, but you didn't hear me say that. One of the farms I hunt has a blue million of them and they asked if I would thin them out a bit. I guess their baby goats and chickens have been coming up missing and they've seen a lot of Bobcats around.
I loaded the Honda ATV up last night knowing I would need it to get up the side of that darn Mountain where they live. I got to there place about 7am, unloaded the Honda, then loaded it up with my equipment and off I went. I no sooner made it to where I was going and seen movement in the weeds about 350yds. away. I glassed it and it was a young Doe trying to get out of a fenced thicket.
At about 5000' the darn wind was blowing about 10mph and gusting, but at least it was left to right. This particular area is the only place that I hunt where you can shoot 300 plus yards if you want to, but I moved down the mountain pasture about 100 to 150yds from where I parked (hid) the Honda. I knew I would be entertained watching that young Doe and I wasn't disappointed. About 5 min. into calling a see movement out in the pasture to my left. Holy Cow..........2 of them.......Deer that is. I had to shut the Fox Pro off so they would get on by me. Nerds!! They wandered over to the young Doe and I turned the caller back on. Another 10 min. into calling and the deer are acting nervous. Hhmmm.........now what is that setting at the edge of the thicket just inside the weeds? I glass it and there sits a Bobcat giving my rabbit decoy the hungry look. I got to wishing I had moved up a little closer before I setup. That's a bit over 200yds. and that darn wind is blowing pretty good. I thought, heck, why not try it, if I miss no big deal. I held on the left side of the Cat but at center chest knowing the wind drift should put it center mass and squeezed the trigger. With no recoil I watched the Cat do a back flip and never moved after that. Wow, amazing, they usually flip around a bit. Now to see what damage that 37gr. CRT 204 bullet did. Down the side of the mountain, up the other side and over the gate. What a pleasant surprise. No exit!! and no wind drift, no drop. The darn bullet hit exactly where I placed the cross hairs. It destroyed the shoulder, lungs, and heart, but never came out. Brad, if your reading this, I am very impressed with that bullet performance. I know one Bobcat doesn't tell you alot, but even still, 200 plus yds., 37gr.hp, and no exit. Very impressive.
And now the photo's. Would you believe that in my 45yrs of hunting I have only taken one picture of something I've killed. I guess I figured that if wasn't some exotic hunt who would want to see dead animals? Well, here are some pictures of my dead Bobcat and the equipment I used.
I loaded the Honda ATV up last night knowing I would need it to get up the side of that darn Mountain where they live. I got to there place about 7am, unloaded the Honda, then loaded it up with my equipment and off I went. I no sooner made it to where I was going and seen movement in the weeds about 350yds. away. I glassed it and it was a young Doe trying to get out of a fenced thicket.
At about 5000' the darn wind was blowing about 10mph and gusting, but at least it was left to right. This particular area is the only place that I hunt where you can shoot 300 plus yards if you want to, but I moved down the mountain pasture about 100 to 150yds from where I parked (hid) the Honda. I knew I would be entertained watching that young Doe and I wasn't disappointed. About 5 min. into calling a see movement out in the pasture to my left. Holy Cow..........2 of them.......Deer that is. I had to shut the Fox Pro off so they would get on by me. Nerds!! They wandered over to the young Doe and I turned the caller back on. Another 10 min. into calling and the deer are acting nervous. Hhmmm.........now what is that setting at the edge of the thicket just inside the weeds? I glass it and there sits a Bobcat giving my rabbit decoy the hungry look. I got to wishing I had moved up a little closer before I setup. That's a bit over 200yds. and that darn wind is blowing pretty good. I thought, heck, why not try it, if I miss no big deal. I held on the left side of the Cat but at center chest knowing the wind drift should put it center mass and squeezed the trigger. With no recoil I watched the Cat do a back flip and never moved after that. Wow, amazing, they usually flip around a bit. Now to see what damage that 37gr. CRT 204 bullet did. Down the side of the mountain, up the other side and over the gate. What a pleasant surprise. No exit!! and no wind drift, no drop. The darn bullet hit exactly where I placed the cross hairs. It destroyed the shoulder, lungs, and heart, but never came out. Brad, if your reading this, I am very impressed with that bullet performance. I know one Bobcat doesn't tell you alot, but even still, 200 plus yds., 37gr.hp, and no exit. Very impressive.
And now the photo's. Would you believe that in my 45yrs of hunting I have only taken one picture of something I've killed. I guess I figured that if wasn't some exotic hunt who would want to see dead animals? Well, here are some pictures of my dead Bobcat and the equipment I used.
- I really want to try those 37s out
