bobcat hunting

[dubya450]

A buddy and I are planning on going on a bobcat hunt next year and I was wondering what bullet weight/type would be the best for minimal pelt damage using my 25-06. I know there are probably better calibers I could use but i sold my 223 and all i have is a 25-06, 30-30, and 338 wm and I'm not going to buy a new rifle for one hunt. Anyone use a 25-06 for bobcats or coyote? What bullet? Thanks.
btw my buddy is using his 243.

 

[dubya450]

Anyone?? Even just experience bobcat hunting at all with whatever caliber? Or coyote hunting? I'm sure the 25-06 would have the same effect on both but i haven't hunted either one yet.

 

[osprey176]

I have only shot one bobcat,and that was during a deer hunt.I used a 150 grain ,30-06 Speer I think.The bullet zipped right thru without doing much pelt damage,just two holes.Dropped him on the spot.I would stay away from varmint bullets,as they expand quickly and violently,and would most likley tear a large hole in the pelt on exit.

 

[Flintknapper]

Depending upon the distance you expect to encounter the bobcat, a FMJ or
Banded Solid Spitzer might be the best thing in terms of keeping pelt damage to a minimum.

If you handload....Barnes makes a 90 grain BSS bullet that would do well for you.

Finding Full Metal Jacketed factory ammo for your 25-06 would be tough...I imagine.

Bobcats are not hard to kill, are thin skinned and not very wide in cross section, so they are susceptible to large exit holes when major calibers are used.

If you plan on calling the Bob Kittys...I would just use the one rifle (your buddy's .243). You will not have multiple cats come in....like coyotes sometimes do.

Typically, they are slow and deliberate and like to "hang up" at various distances, so you'll have plenty of time to shoot. Just share the .243 or try to find a non expanding bullet for yours.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

Unless you load it way down and use a 75gr BTHP, you are going to have an exit. Even with my favorite V-Max or Varmint Grenade. So I , like Flint suggested, would go with a very tough bullet that wouldn't expand on the little kitty. 2 tiny holes. A good Taxidermist can repair them pretty well.

 

[Art Eatman]

Odds are that any factory load from any of the three cartridges which were mentioned is going to create a large exit wound.

For a handload in a .25-06, I'd select a heavy bullet which is designed for penetration, and download it with 2400 powder. At most, 25 grains. 20 would likely work well. I'd look for a muzzle velocity of around 2,000 ft/sec.

 

[dubya450]

Thanks guys. I'm buying a new scope for the rifle. Ill probably call Leupold and have them make me a vx-3 2.5-8x36 with their version of the BDC recticle, give them the load data for hornady superformance 25-06 with gmx bullets so i have no hold over guessing for those longer shots. I use the hornady gmx for deer with the rifle and think I'll try it out on varmints because its developed/known for its deep penetration and I'm guessing it probably won't expand too much and "explode" smaller critters like some bullets do. You guys think I'd be okay using that setup/bullet? I'd really like to stick to one universal load I cab use for deer and varmints.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

I would go with the Interbond instead of the GMX. The GMX is a ballistic tipped controlled expansion so it would open a little on entry even on a thin skinned cat. Granted, probably not much but it would open somewhat. The Interbond on the other hand would most likely not open at all and zip right through. They also perform exceptionally well on deer and hogs. I use the Interlocks and Interbonds almost exclusively for deer and hogs. Smacked a few yotes and groundhogs with them as well when the occasion arose and they zipped right through both from my 7mm.08.

 

[tri70]

I would stick with a Sierra soft point, good accuracy and not over expanding.

 

[Flintknapper]

If you are determined to use the "25" for bobcat...then do what you can to minimize pelt damage. That means using a sturdy bullet (non expanding if possible), keeping the velocity as low as possible.... and DON'T shoot for the shoulder or take frontal shots.

A bobcat's lungs extend well beyond its shoulders...so you can get away with placing a bullet a few inches back (off the shoulder), on broadside shots.

As Art pointed out....unless you hand load and can decrease velocity, the hydrostatic shock from ANY bullet could result in a nasty exit hole, though I've shot a few bob kittys with a C/T BST (140 grain...in 7mm-08) and not messed them up too badly.

Good luck on your hunt.

Flint.

 

[dubya450]

Freedom fighter, do you know of any factory ammo loaded with interbonds? Ill get a box and see how well they shoot compared to the gmx. I'm actually in the process of buying loading equipment and learning the art but i also just bought a house and have to get a dedicated room set up to do so, so it'll be a few months.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

This load would do well on deer and would meet your needs on the cats as well http://www.hornady.com/store/25-06-Rem-117-gr-BTSP/

 

[jmorris]

Everything you listed will work as will a .22lr. They are not monsters, most being smaller than some house cats I have seen. Make sure you don't hunt by my mothers house, they are the only thing that can keep the rabbits at bay enough for her to have flowers around the house.

 

[dubya450]

Jmorris that is an awesome picture! Is that in a neighborhood? Or more of a rural area?

 

[Art Eatman]

Go forth! Or fifth, but drink it, don't plead it.

May you have success and show us this sort of photo:

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=356&d=1042252697

 

[solvability]

I assumed a 180gr corelok from a 30-06 would not expand on a squirrel - I do not know if the bullet expanded but the squirrel did - it rained down for about 2 minutes with no two hairs stuck together. Perhaps a 22 or a shotgun with Turkey shot?

 

[dubya450]

Art, thats what I'm hoping for! I think a bobcat would look really nice above the fireplace in the house i just bought, next to my 10 point whitetail (first buck ever) I shot last year.

 

[jmorris]

Jmorris that is an awesome picture! Is that in a neighborhood?

Yep, my dad noticed them one morning and had a camera near by.


My niece snapped this one from her phone a few weeks later. You can make out the reflection in the glass door. Also note the fence in the background where the family stopped for the photo above. A lot closer than you see them "in the wild"

 

[Art Eatman]

I have a hanging bird feeder under the eave of my front porch, and I scatter grain in the yard for quail and doves. The area thus smells very "birdy" to coyotes, foxes and bobcats.

I was sitting at the computer one afternoon about 3:30 and was staring rather blankly out the window. Lo! And behold! A bobcat wanders casually up onto the porch, looks around, briefly, and wanders on down the porch and off and away on his kitty-cat doings. (Naturally, the camera was not readily at hand. )

 

[jmorris]

Lo! And behold! A bobcat wanders casually up onto the porch, looks around, briefly, and wanders on down the porch and off and away on his kitty-cat doings.

like this?

 

[jrdolall]

I generally kill a couple every year during rifle season. 30-06 makes a large exit hole but it can be fixed nicely by the taxidermist. I shot this one in November of 2011 with a 150 grain Federal at around 25 yards and it made a good exit wound. That shot was right behind the shoulder broadside and, as you can see, the entry wound is not apparent. This one went to a buddy who wanted one for his lodge. I shot a smaller one out of the same stand a few weeks later.

I have killed many with a shotgun during turkey season as I was calling. I must sound just like a turkey because I get one every couple of years. I think a .22 would do nicely inside 50 yards.

Last year I watched three small cats hunting a briar thicket in front of my deer stand. They were all working seperately and I could not get a good shot. I try to remove them because of the toll they take on the turkey population.

 

[snakeman]

I would use a 120 grain gameking. It will hold together and not blow up as much pelt. Better yet go and get you a 22 mag or 17 hmr. They put down bobcats just fine, the only problem is finding them afterwards.

 

[mnhntr]

Both the .243 and 25-06 are going to ruin the pelts. You need a smaller caliber or learn to sow.

 

[mnhntr]

Oh and our MN bobcats are bigger than housecats. Here is a 36lb and a 28lb cat. If you are using a shotgun use #4 buck.

 

[Flintknapper]

Shooting Bobcats (or any other small fur-bearer) using relatively large calibers, will always be a “gamble” in terms of pelt damage.

There are things you can do to ‘minimize’ the potential damage, such as reducing velocity, using a bullet least likely to expand, staying off the shoulder with shot placement, etc….

Here is a Kitty my daughter shot this year with her 7mm-08, 140 gr. C/T BST, distance 40 yds.

The photo actually shows the exit side (damage not even discernible). So…minimal pelt damage can happen with larger calibers, but don’t expect it.