Great thing about America..we shouldn't have to justify why we do something. But if you've never had mountain lion or bobcat for dinner... then you're missing out. I consider lion back straps to be the only game that tastes better than elk, and bobcat isn't far behind. As far as coyotes...they are shoot on sight in my world. When trapping was banned on public lands in AZ, the predator population exploded. Then several different periods of prolonged drought devastated our wild game population, combined with the larger predator population....decimated our quail, deer, and antelope. The antelope are particularly hard hit by the increasing coyote population.....fawn recruitment has been terrible, and in drought years, their natural protection (grass) is depleted. It got to the point where AZFG was begging people to predator call, and they finally quietly started coyote hunting from helicopters a few years ago at the peak of the last drought to try and thin them and increase antelope fawn recruitment. Every hunter in AZ should predator call at least a couple of times during the winter and fall, help control those populations. I can't speak to other states, but even if there aren't predator overpopulation problems, predator calling is a great way to get out in the field, and is the perfect way to start training your youngsters in the art of hunting. My .02.....but nobody on this board should tell another shooter that "it's a shame to kill a bobcat" or any other game animal for any reason. If you don't like, don't do it. Be like my niece, who tells me nobody should hunt, we should all buy our meat in the grocery store so no animals have to be hurt.
