Bob cat hunting in the snow.

[Ryan S Albright]

We got a good snow fall down here in the mountians around the Los Angeles area the San Gragornio's and San Jacinto's. I worked for several day in the San jacinto mountians restoring power for people from falling tree tops. It was cold and difficult getting around in the 2 foot of snow. I couldn't wait to get a chance to go hunting in the snow which we only recieve about every 10 years and which can rapidedly melt down. I got off work sunday after noon and was tiered. I had the next two weeks off but christmass was in a couple of days and I had duties to preform. Finely the next friday I went up to do some scouting in the after noon and thought I might get a stand or two in the early evening. The back road I choose up in the mountians was 20 miles of treacherous slimy clay then deep snow and ice I hadn't packed my tire chains. The road was steep in parts and had slanted turns that the slimmy clay would fill the lugs of the tires then let you slip a ginst the back in to the deep ruts that the draining water had cut. I thought of turning around several times then thought of who I could call to save me. While driving I spotted several spots with bob cat tracks but wanted to get closer to the end of the road where I could exit on pavement. As I got farther up the hill and the snow got deeper I was caught in the ruts of thoose who had broken the trail and couldn't turn around. It was going to be a real cold night but this kept traction good and I pushed on untill I hit bare dirt. I really wanted to stop and hunt the upper levels but was afraid I would wind up walking out in the dark. I made a stand and set out a small tape recorder and speaker. With in minutes I realized that my light wasn't pointed at the call when I swung it over I had large red eyes shinning back at me by the time I looked through the scope to fire it turned its head and I lost sight of it. It was a very dark night with no moon and I was in thick trees. Oppertunity lost. So last night I went up again this time from the pavement side I pushed up in to the snow only a few miles from pavement and packing my tire chains. After several stands I cought I eyes coming at me I could tell it was a bob cat troughting in I could catch it eyes bobing above a dirt bank that was in my line of sight as it cleared the bank it came so fast I thought I was going to have to hit it with my gun but I had the call sitting with me this time to get the varmints to look at me. I shot the cat at less than 30 paces it was a young female. The shot was less than Ideal and had to be followed up with a second I didn't want to spend all night chasing the cat through the timber.

[steve]

ryan nice cat .we did get alot of snow how much did you have up there?