Cat gun?

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Roadkill

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I have been invited to a private hunting area where deer hunters have repeatedly reported seeing either a very large bobcat or a mountain lion (yeah, right), anway, its killing deer and has been seen by several hunters.
I've been asked because of my coyote hunting experience to call it in and kill it cause its causing problems with hunters who pay a lot to hunt there and some of them are just plain scared of it. Saying it is a "larger" cat, what would be the best recommendation for a gun? My options are my Marlin 336 30-30 that is deadly cause I can hit what I aim at, (150g sp with 29g IMR 4895), AR15 with 62g soft points, either a 20x scope on a match grade Colt flattop HB or a Colt 4x on a Govt Series A3, or a Garand using open sights ad 150g softpoints. I also have a few 12 gauges, ect ect. I'm inclined toward the 30-30 with a Beretta .40 as backup. Most likely will use a tree stand but am also comfortable with ghillie suit stalking/ambush also. Suggestions?

rk
 
Another vote for the .30-30. It should take even the largest puma with relative ease, and if you're "deadly" with it, your aim is likely to be better than with another gun that isn't so comfortable in your hands. Just remember that larger cats can be tough customers, and it might need more than one round to convince it that it's dead.
 
.30-30 if thats what you're most comfy with. Cats aren't hard to kill. If it is a Mt. Lion..and it could be...you probably won't be able to call it in, dogs are the best way to hunt them, otherwise its pretty much luck.
 
30-30 and further advice

I'd like to correct (in my opinion) the statement by Texag. Not all cats are hard to kill, some are $#@* cats from Krypton. I'd go with the 30-30 because you're good and confident with it and it's edequate for North American cats. Just be very prepared to shoot more than once. This cat may prove to be an easy kill, he may prove to be a story you'll be telling ten years from now.
 
If its your opinion then please offer it, but do not "correct" me.
Many Mountain Lions are killed with .22s when treed by dogs. I've also seen it done with a bow. Yes you may need to take more than one shot, but given good placement, most N. American Cats are fairly thin skinned and not very heavy animals. I would not recommend a single shot anything when hunting a Mt. Lion, nor would I personally attempt it with a bow or a .22 unless I had someone backing me up. People shoot Grizzley's with a bow, I wouldn't, but a cat is not a "tough" animal in the thick-boned and thick-skinned sense.
 
Beware state hunting regulations. Many states large cats are endagered and killing one on purpose can be a LARGE fine. Whether or not it is on private property is beside the point.
 
+1 for the 30-30.

You might want to look for some LeverEvolution 30-30 from Hornady. Might take a miracle to find though. I would go with that or even the Garand if your a good shot with the open sights. Because if it's killing deer any larger than a fawn it's not likely a bobcat. We have both bobcats and mt lions here in Texas and I don't see a 30lb cat taking on a full grown deer unless it is sick or injured. I'm sure it has happened, but would have to be an extreme case.
 
i'm with kudu. check that it's legal first.

personally, i'm not too thrilled with the idea of interfering with an inedible native apex predator without a damn good reason, but i'm certainly no expert and it's something that your friendly wardens are in a better position to speak to than i, so that's all i'll say.
 
check legals.

If all is good go with the 30-30. Not the most powerful in the world but a great one none the less.
 
pauli said:
i'm with kudu. check that it's legal first.

personally, i'm not too thrilled with the idea of interfering with an inedible native apex predator without a damn good reason, but i'm certainly no expert and it's something that your friendly wardens are in a better position to speak to than i, so that's all i'll say.
Click to expand...

+1

Predators like that prey only on the sick and weak prey animals, which means better trophies for the hunters through natural selection.

Unless it's endangering PEOPLE in the park...but whatever the wardens know.
 
Bigreno said:
+1 for the 30-30.

You might want to look for some LeverEvolution 30-30 from Hornady. Might take a miracle to find though. I would go with that or even the Garand if your a good shot with the open sights. Because if it's killing deer any larger than a fawn it's not likely a bobcat. We have both bobcats and mt lions here in Texas and I don't see a 30lb cat taking on a full grown deer unless it is sick or injured. I'm sure it has happened, but would have to be an extreme case.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing, would be rare for a bobcat to take a full grown deer.

And yes, definitely check with the game laws, in TX, if I remember correctly, you can shoot them, but you just have to report it after the fact to the game wardens.
 
Apologies.

My apologies to TexAg. I didn't mean to come across as cantankerous or argumentative, just trying to put another opinion out there. I know you're right about cats being killed with small calibers. I just chimed in with the thought that calling it in from the ground may change the scenario and need a very fast stop. Again, wasn't trying to pick a fight, just didn't pick my words well.
 
I don't see any bad choice, there, roadkill, unless you tried to use a shotgun with buck on a long shot.

I'll be the lone voice that says an AR-15 w/ good softpoints and the 4x scope should work great. You should have plenty of power for what you're trying to do, flat shooting with an accurate platform, and quick follow-up. What TexAg says is pretty much spot on for everything I've heard.

I do agree with thinking carefully before taking big cats here in the States, unless in an underhunted, overpopulated area.

John
 
Thank you all, very good advice. I really don't think its a mountain lion, this is in southern Al and it just doesn't hapen. Its a very restricted private hunting club that would never let the likes of me in except to clean up or something like that, professional types with tons of money go there to hunt once a year and get a trophy, also take their spoiled kids and that type of stuff. Its been heard many times but only seen late evening and the people reporting it are not the best sources. I'd want them for a laywer or to fix my hemmorhoids but not as a hunting guide. Reference the legalities, I am very aware of them. Most likely won't get anything but a large bobcat and maybe a couple of good coyotes. My plan is to get the viscera from a couple of deer, put them in a couple of five gallon buckets, add water, get to a good area, drill holes in the buckets, drag them around behind the four wheeler starting at about 100yds from tree stand circling in, then dump the mess out on the ground about 50 yds from stand depending on wind direction. Then I'll use a fawn distress call. I'll have someone take me out so they will hear the four wheeler leave. If I set up in a tree I'll use the 30-30, on ground will use the AR15 with 4x scope.


rk
 
rk,

Actually, I'd reverse your choices.

On the ground, I'd want the heavier bullet just in case you somehow have found the elusive Alabama cougar. :D

From a tree, I'd want the flat-shooting accuracy of the AR.

YMMV.

John
 
First thing I'd do is call a game protector and get an opinion on the legality of killing a "large cat" in your state. At the same time, I 'd review the game laws for my "second opinion". If okay, I would use the tried and true 30-30. Confidence is everything. Me, I would use a 270 for the same reasons you want to use the 30-30; because I have one and have confidence in my shooting abilities.
 
ok, a little research shows that bobcats are huntable and not threatened in any way. however, should you actually encounter any sort of mountain lion, cougar, puma, or florida panther (or any feline bigger than a bobcat, really) in the state of alabama, please keep in mind that it is an endangered species, so shooting it is... not wise. especially for money.
 
don'/t shoot the poor puddycat , just drag along a couple of treehugging liberals to feed it and make friends with it ... :p :D
 
Hiking around in a ghillie suit for a large, and probably angry cat. The 30-30 would do the job. Hope you don't end up on the evening news.
 
1911guy: no worries, and thank you.

Roadkill: sounds like a good plan! I would be in a stand for sure though. Good luck with the hunt and let us know how it turns out.
 
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