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Minnesota Bobcat Hunt & Pics

BizCT

By BizCT,
in Out of New York Hunting

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BizCT Grand Master

BizCT

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I just got back from my Minnesota Bobcat Hunt. On Sunday, 12/30/12, my Dad and I flew to Minneapolis and then flew to Bemidji. We had a 5 day hunt with Strand Outfitters in Northern Minnesota. The lodge was awesome as was the food (Mallard duck wrapped in bacon, Walleye, Crappie, etc.). We saw literally thousands of ice fishing huts/houses on many lakes throughout the state. We were informed that they had been having success this year, but no cats had been treed yet. All the bobcats killed were shot when they were running circles trying to lose the dogs. Each day we got up at 4am and started looking for tracks on old logging roads for hours in the dark before light. Some days we were within 20 miles of the Canadian border. The weather was at times the coldest I have ever been in. Not sure what the temps were if you included the wind chill. Although Minnesota is pretty flat the woods were tough to navigate through. At times you can’t see more than 10 yards in front of you. Some parts the trees are so close together you can fit between them. The 5 day hunt went as follows:

Day 1 (12/31/12): It was negative 17 degrees. At 8:30am while looking for tracks we spotted a black dot on the logging road a few hundred yards away. After creeping closer in the truck we realized it was a bobcat. It was really cool to see this bobcat leaping up in the air and pouncing into the snow looking for prey. My guide (Jordan) asked if I wanted to shoot it. This was my first time ever seeing a bobcat, so it was very tempting, but I decided to pass on the estimated 15-20lb. cat. After passing on fresh tracks of smaller cats, we cut the dogs loose on an estimated 35lb cat at around 9:30am. After 5+ miles on foot through the forest, we ran out of light and were still too far from the dogs. Jordan then took the snowmobile in to catch up to the dogs. Right before picking up the dogs, he caught a glimpse of the cat.

Day 2 (1/1/13): It was negative 21 degrees. After passing on fresh tracks of smaller cats, we cut the dogs lose on an estimated 25-30lb. cat around 9am. After many miles, it was decided to call the dogs off at around 1:30pm.

Day 3 (1/2/13): It was finally above 0, it was 19 degrees and snowing. We cut the dogs loose at 830am on Jordan and his father (Keith) estimated was a “monster” cat. I was with Jordan, while my Dad was with Keith. We met up briefly around 915am where the cat was circling trying to lose the dogs. We split up again and at 940am I heard a shot. My Dad and Keith saw the cat once, but my Dad couldn’t get a shot off through the heavy brush at the running cat. Within minutes it came back around and my Dad shot just low at the moving cat. The race continued. This big cat crossed the logging we were parked 3 different times. After many miles of walking, the cat was circling again. Jordan and I waited hoping to catch a glimpse of this cat. My Dad and Keith were doing the same on the opposite end of the circle, about 100 yards away. At 2:30PM, while scanning the woods with as little of movement as possible, I spotted a giant cat head looking at me 30 yards away. I took the shot as quick as I could. Jordan had not seen the cat, and was worried I might have shot one of his dogs. I assured him that I definitely shot at a cat. Within minutes the dogs tone completely changed and Jordan told me I must have hit the cat because the dogs were on him. We ran 30 yards following the sound of the dogs, found the cat and finished it off. This tom bobcat turned out to be huge. It weighed in at 42lbs! Interesting this is that many websites say largest recorded bobcat ever in Minnesota is like 38lbs. I’m sure others have gotten bigger, but never “officially” weight them in. Anyway, I will probably have SCI measure the skull, since B&C doesn’t have a record book for bobcats. Not sure how high in the record books my cat will go, but it should be up there with some of the biggest all time! I was told this bobcat is the equivalent of shooting a 180+” whitetail.

Day 4 (1/3/13): My Dad decided to pass on all the fresh tracks we found, since they were all on the smaller side. We did let a younger dog get some training in while chasing a smaller cat around for a few hours.

Day 5 (1/4/13): After passing on fresh tracks of smaller cats, we cut the dogs loose on an estimated 20-25lb cat. It turned out to be 3 cats in 1 area! While Jordan and my Dad chased the dogs and a cat, Jordan’s brother saw a different cat cross a logging road. Then Keith saw another different cat cross a different logging road. My Dad and Jordan caught a glimpse of the cat they were after just before 12pm at about 125 yards away running full speed. Not shot was taken. At 12:40pm, with the dogs circling the cat, my Dad shot a 22lb female bobcat trying to sneak by at about 20 yards.

All said and done, this was an awesome trip. 2 cats killed in 5 days and tons of action. Both cats killed on the ground which is pretty cool. I highly recommend Strand Outfitters ( http://strandoutfitters.com/ ) if anyone is interested in a bobcat hunt. These guys know their stuff and really worked hard.

I’ve had the craziest/best 94 day (10/1/12-1/1/13) stretch of hunting in my life. Nothing will ever compare. Shot my first ever of the following species: Antelope, Mule Deer, Prairie Dog, Mountain Lion, Gray Fox (2), and Bobcat. I also got a whitetail buck in NY during these 94 days.

Next up is a Lynx Hunt (next winter) in British Columbia to hopefully complete the North American Cat Slam.

A Bunch of pictures below:

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  • 8 months later...
BizCT Grand Master

BizCT

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Hopefully picking up my mount this weekend! I'm pumped.....also planning to get the skull officially measured by SCI. Hoping it goes Silver or Gold! 

 

The Rifle top 10 includes some really big ones, there are also divisions for handgun, muzzleloader, bow and arrow, and crossbow. I don't see a shotgun divison? Guess I will be put with the Rifle division?

Edited by Biz-R-OWorld
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BizCT Grand Master

BizCT

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It looks like their site is down. I wanted to find out what their rates are? Do you know if they are still operating?

It was $1800 for 5 days when I went. Maybe they only use their Facebook site now? Not sure....

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

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