Another Bobcat Sighting

[loonguy]

Originally Posted by loonguy

We had a large bobcat in our backyard across from the Loon Center last winter, and that was the end of the otters and other wildlife we used to see in our backyard in the winter. This year no bobcats, no otters, and no other wildlife. Maybe next year.

No bobcat sightings this Fall, and we are happy to report a pair of otters (and many squirrels and chipmunks) have come back and are living in our backyard!!

[Slickcraft]

We have turkeys under hanging bird-feeders every day eating the dropped seed. Yesterday my wife heard the alarm calls and flapping of wings. When she looked out a good size bobcat was under the feeders sans dinner. I was a few seconds late getting there with my phone camera, just a going away shot. I suspect that he will be back.

[Greene's Basin Girl]

Originally Posted by Slickcraft

We have turkeys under hanging bird-feeders every day eating the dropped seed. Yesterday my wife heard the alarm calls and flapping of wings. When she looked out a good size bobcat was under the feeders sans dinner. I was a few seconds late getting there with my phone camera, just a going away shot. I suspect that he will be back.

If Fish and Game has their way that bobcat may soon be trapped and gone forever.

[8gv]

Originally Posted by Greene's Basin Girl

If Fish and Game has their way that bobcat may soon be trapped and gone forever.

Why would that be?

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by 8gv

Why would that be?

As you may or may not know, the F&G department has approved by a 5-4 vote, in spite of overwhelming negative comments asking not to approve a trapping season, to have a lottery draw for 50 permits to trap bobcats each year.

There are an estimated 1200 bobcats in the state, if I remember the numbers. Unlike a hunting season for moose or deer, where the female of the species is readily evident by antlers, trapping will indiscriminately trap either sex. The recovery of the bobcat from endangered to nearly extinct in NH, while substantial, is by no means a total success. Not being able to exclude the trapping of the female of the species is not possible.

These creatures, while conceivably could attack our pets, seem to prefer to chase down their natural prey, such as small rodents and birds / fowl. I can't remember ever hearing about a bobcat attacking a family pet.

Is it probable that the trapping will turn the recovery of the species around and put it in a decline? Probably not. Will it slow down the recovery? Perhaps. Perhaps it will depend on how many female cats are killed each year.

I just think that there is not the need for a trapping season of this species. A large number of people have spoken against this trapping season, but the Department has chosen to listen to a small group of trappers in favor of the season. Therein lies the shame of it all, IMHO.

[8gv]

Thanks for bringing me up to speed on this.

Do the traps kill the bobcats right away or do they linger for a while?

Could live traps allow for the taking of the males and release of the females?

Could people's pets find their way into one of the traps?

[DRH]

According to an article in today's Union Leader, Fish & Game's proposal would allow both trapping and hunting of bobcats. The article states, "The hunting season would be similar to New Hampshire's fisher season, with December trapping and January hunting."

The proposal now goes before the NH House & Senate's "Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules" for review.

[Winnisquamer]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

As you may or may not know, the F&G department has approved by a 5-4 vote, in spite of overwhelming negative comments asking not to approve a trapping season, to have a lottery draw for 50 permits to trap bobcats each year.

There are an estimated 1200 bobcats in the state, if I remember the numbers. Unlike a hunting season for moose or deer, where the female of the species is readily evident by antlers, trapping will indiscriminately trap either sex. The recovery of the bobcat from endangered to nearly extinct in NH, while substantial, is by no means a total success. Not being able to exclude the trapping of the female of the species is not possible.

These creatures, while conceivably could attack our pets, seem to prefer to chase down their natural prey, such as small rodents and birds / fowl. I can't remember ever hearing about a bobcat attacking a family pet.

Is it probable that the trapping will turn the recovery of the species around and put it in a decline? Probably not. Will it slow down the recovery? Perhaps. Perhaps it will depend on how many female cats are killed each year.

I just think that there is not the need for a trapping season of this species. A large number of people have spoken against this trapping season, but the Department has chosen to listen to a small group of trappers in favor of the season. Therein lies the shame of it all, IMHO.

I agree. As an avid hunter/fisherman I just personally would not hunt these animals in this state.. If we lived in a place where they were plentiful and there was a necessity then ok. But not here, trapping to me is also cruel.

Someone at work said that F&G were asking for certain parts of the animal as well if hunted, does anyone know if that's true?

just wondering why hunt it if you can't keep it.

[dam1960]

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/wild...osal.html#faqs

[Winnisquamer]

Originally Posted by dam1960

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/wild...osal.html#faqs

Once all bobcat registration requirements are completed, a bobcat registration seal as provided in RSA 210:8 shall be affixed by a conservation officer to the bobcat skin for transportation. The fish and game department shall retain the bobcat carcass, including the skull with teeth attached, and with all internal organs intact. A permittee may retain edible portions of the bobcat other than the internal organs

So if I read this right, basically you could eat what ever's edible, has anyone ever tried bobcat? But you couldn't have it mounted with the skull and teeth like most do with bears.

Not a fan personally.

[8gv]

tastes like eggroll...


Are coyotes hunted now? They seem to be very abundant.

[Winnisquamer]

Originally Posted by 8gv

tastes like eggroll...


Are coyotes hunted now? They seem to be very abundant.

There is no closed season and no bag limit for Coyote. Hunting Coyote at night is Jan 1st- March 31st statewide. I did see a ton (10-12) of Coyotes up in Pittsburg Grouse hunting this October.

[Rusty]

How do you set a trap for only Bob Cat's. Do they have something that says "Here Bob Cat, Here Bob Cat"? Or maybe a sign that says: FOR BOB CATS ONLY

[Winnisquamer]

Originally Posted by Rusty

How do you set a trap for only Bob Cat's. Do they have something that says "Here Bob Cat, Here Bob Cat"? Or maybe a sign that says: FOR BOB CATS ONLY

Maybe different size traps? But I have no idea.

Anyone that drives down lower bay or around Winnisquam I spotted a pretty big bald eagle out on the ice looking for a meal. He's been there for an hour or so, just outta reach of my camera unfortunately. Good to see them out since I haven't seen them since summer.

[Greene's Basin Girl]

Originally Posted by Winnisquamer

I agree. As an avid hunter/fisherman I just personally would not hunt these animals in this state.. If we lived in a place where they were plentiful and there was a necessity then ok. But not here, trapping to me is also cruel.

Someone at work said that F&G were asking for certain parts of the animal as well if hunted, does anyone know if that's true?

just wondering why hunt it if you can't keep it.

The next step is for the NH state legislature to vote for trapping or not.

[trfour]

There are Canadian Linx a little further Noth of the Lake...

[Pineedles]

While I am a hunter I don't participate in trapping, just a choice of mine. Many people are under the false assumption that the bobcat pelt is valuable. While extremely rare variations can be, believe me these cats are 1 in a thousand. The fur market is extremely depressed and many trappers are getting zero dollars at the auctions. It really doesn't pay to trap bobcats. JMO.

[MAXUM]

While I am an avid hunter and would never go after bobcats, I don't see any problem with having a hunt for them. Only 50 permits are going to be issued and of those only a fraction will be filled. Furthermore bobcats are hunted in ME, VT and MA so all this outrage is really a bit over the top considering these are hunted in all neighboring states.

If you think these guys are just fluffy cute cats, think again they can and do take game as large as deer with relative ease.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAlkpougluU

[dpg]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

While I am an avid hunter and would never go after bobcats, I don't see any problem with having a hunt for them. Only 50 permits are going to be issued and of those only a fraction will be filled. Furthermore bobcats are hunted in ME, VT and MA so all this outrage is really a bit over the top considering these are hunted in all neighboring states.

If you think these guys are just fluffy cute cats, think again they can and do take game as large as deer with relative ease.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAlkpougluU

Sad to watch but that's mother nature I guess! So what did the guy shoot at the Bobcat or the Deer???

[noreast]

How do you look at that beautiful creature and want to trap and torture it so you can stick it in your living room, or make a hat out of it? I'm an old hunter, not much anymore. If you won't eat it, don't kill it.