bobcats in lower mi ????

[timbergsp]

well we are the subject of big cats This is why I beleave there could be big cats in Michigan one night while we was coon hunting we treed a bob cat I know it was one because I have hunted them before. and not to many house cat will leap out of a tree at 20 or 30 feet and leave that big of tracks we treed it 2 times that night even after the first time we took the dogs off the track went 3 miles down the road turned them loose and right back to the same tree they went and started it over where it jumped off the second time the cat did not jump and we pulled the dogs right off it that cat screamed so loud sounded like a women in danger

[Linda G.]

Bobcats are present all over the state, with the possible exception of the Detroit metro area. That's common knowledge-bobcats are present from Canada south to Mexico, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. They are not endangered.

I saw one step out of a Christmas tree plantation we were trying to bunny hunt in Ludington two years ago...and it was a big bobcat. I only wish I'd had my camera on instead of my mouth open.

;)

[timbergsp]

I really didnt think that they was to commun in south part of lower michigan down by the indiana michigan state line

[boehr]

Not a lot but I know for a fact they are in Kalamazoo, Calhoun and Berrien Counties.

[Linda G.]

But they're there. They don't think they're common up here, either, but I think there's more than most people think. It's not unusual to see obvious signs in any cedar swamp up here.

[boehr]

Linda, you PM box is full.

[Linda G.]

sorry...:)

[Mallard]

I released 3 of them UNHARMED earlier this season, and that was in a 12 day period. I think there are far more bobcats than estimates. I'm from NW lower Mich, and have seen more and more sign each year.

[Lunker]

I know of one in Monroe county about 10 miles away from the Ohio border. It likes to scream at the girls riding horses. Will I ever report it heck no.

[Linda G.]

I'm sure you wouldn't have to-the DNR already knows they're there, but since they don't have any idea how many without the money for research studies, and folks refuse to report them, it's a sure bet you'll never see a hunting or trapping season on bobcats in southeastern lower MI, because the DNR has no idea how many there may really be...

But why should you report it...after all, they're just ignoring all those cougar sightings anyway, right??;) ;) :D


Geez, folks, the DNR is there to help you...they're not the Gestapo-they work from your tax dollars...would it help everyone's attitudes about the DNR if they just said, ok WE BELIEVE YOU, THERE'S WILD COUGARS IN MICHIGAN!!!

No, it wouldn't, would it...because everyone would know it wasn't a scientific confirmation, and everyone's faith in our state game agency would be even further eroded...no one would trust the DNR then.

[Mallard]

Don't know about the cougars, but as far as the bobcats go, I've forwarded the pictures to my local CO to verify the catch. I don't think he really knew what to do with them, so I forwarded the pictures to the MTA as well. I report, but truely doubt the data goes anywhere. I doubt they take the word of a trapper, or even actual pictures as "data".(The DNR that is)

Here's a link to the photo's of some of the coyotes, a badger, as well as s single and double bobcat catch. (The picture of the double bobcat only shows one clearly, and the second one is further back with the glowing eyes)

Here's the link:
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=25222

:)

[Linda G.]

would probably catch a lot more of the DNR's interest than a northern MI bobcat, where there's still quite a bit of natural habitat...I'd really like to see a day where we might be allowed to trap 1 bobcat per season n the northern Lower. If the DNR had a better idea of how many cats there really are in this neck of the woods, or was made to feel it was important to trappers, we just might get that, but first we have to prove to them since they are unable to do any research of their own that there's more out there than they think...

Too bad they don't ask us to report incidental catches...maybe they do, on one of the handful of furbearing surveys that go out? I've never gotten one, been getting a furbearer license every year for 10-12 years.

[FREEPOP]

Saw one near Farwell one night. The guy with and I just looked at eachother. I said that I wouldn't tell if he didn't.

Saw some very big tracks in a mucky swamp in Eaton County. What I do know is they weren't from a dog, as there were no claw marks. He made a plaster of them, but didn't tell many people. You have to see it, to comprehend.

..........and the answer is no, I'm not going over and taking a pic with a tape measure by it.

[Mallard]

As a trapper. I have to report all my catches each and every year. To my knowledge, there is no place to report incidentals. The MTA is diligently trying to get the DNR to establish a season, as there is indeed harvest data from the predator hunters indicating an increase in their numbers over the years. People that are involved are indeed aware of the data, all else is speculative.

[Swamp Monster]

Boehr add Cass county to your list as well (ofcouse I didn't get a pic or kill it so unconfirmed I guess). I saw one near Diamond lake....some of the locals there thought it was a Lynx!

A few years back, it used to be a big deal in Mecosta county if you accidently caught a cat in a trap, but not so much anymore. Many trappers seem to be getting multiple catches a season. As far as I am aware, they all have been released (it's the law ofcourse). The last weekend of gun season one of our guys make a bad hit on a doe and we let it lay down for the night. The next morning I almost stumbled over it because everything but the hinds were covered with leaves and debris. It ws a Bobcat cache. From the looks of the tracks in the snow and the resting spots on downfalls, we believe it was a female with two youngens. As we were tracking we couldn't help but notice that the area was loaded with tracks. We always see tracks though so we didn't think much of it. They had eaten just a bit of one of the hinds. Unfortunitely we didn't have a camera with us. Would have like to gotten a picture of the cats handy work. The swamp we hunt has plenty it seems.

[boehr]

SM...I'll take your word for it, no doubt in my mind about it. I would not be suprised if bobcat could be found in all 83 counties.

[Walligator]

Seen lots of tracks here in Arenac County. I never saw one though, until a couple years ago and one was hit in front of where I work. It was just a young one, very cool markings and big paws! It was surprising because it was around 11am, don't see many of them but, especially at that time of day.

Walligator

[huntingfool43]

I'm sure you wouldn't have to-the DNR already knows they're there, but since they don't have any idea how many without the money for research studies, and folks refuse to report them

Linda I have seen one right behind my house (Calhoun County)about 9 years ago. I called Lansing and talked to the fish & game division about it. There responce was " We have no dout you saw a bobcat but it was not wild, rather someone's pet that got loose." if they are taking that additude with people why bother reporting it.

boehr why would the F & S tell me they are not around and you admit they are?

[boehr]

I can't tell you, I wasn't there nor was I around Calhoun County 9 years ago.. I don't know who you talked too either but I can tell you now or 9 years ago there was no division called fish & game division. There is and was a Fish Division or Wildlife Division, each are different Divisions. All I can tell you is there are bobcat in Calhoun County and Wildlife Division will also tell you there are bobcat in Calhoun County.

Gosh, I hope I'm not putting my career in jeapordy like some might claim. ;)

[Lunker]

it's a sure bet you'll never see a hunting or trapping season on bobcats in southeastern lower MI

Linda so what if I like it that way?

I really like the fury little rascals. You dont ever hear of a old bobcat getting onto a chicken coop or attacking a pet like a coyote, although they will scream at you if you get too close. I hope South E Michigan never opens a season on them. The few here would be wiped out faster than your deer herd was. I like to think of the UP as the real Wilderness anyway with lots more suitable habitat. Keep buying that liscence and maybe all that money will help to prove me wrong someday.:D

[Linda G.]

If there is a huntable number of any type of game animal, we should be allowed to hunt or trap them, in my opinion. There probably isn't in southern MI, but again, that isn't known.

Some people don't want to hunt those little rascally doves, either, Lunker, but they should still support those who do want to.

Mallard was quite right about the incidental catches, I wasn't even thinking when I posted that. But then again, I've never been lucky enough to catch a bobcat or any type of out of season or rare wildlife at all-we trap mostly open areas for canines or streams, etc., for beaver and mink. I don't think the DNR cares about the stray cats and one wandering Black Lab. The cats have all found a better world and the Lab was duly delivered to the dog pound...

Mallard-we did pretty well this year on mink, we caught six in ten days-all the last week of November, right after the first snow, on blind set 110's. I take that back, one set was baited with a minnow.

[huntingfool43]

boehr


It was just Wildlife, not Fish my mistake. It was a women that I talk to and after I got off the phone with her I had an idea she didn't have a clue. Talked to several people after that and it seems bobcat are not as rare as she made it sound.

[boehr]

Not making excuses, just a fact, sometimes phone receptionists really try hard to answer peoples questions from what they think they have learned in a very short period of time, like a few months. They try hard because they don't want to transfer people around and they do it for the good of the people they are trying to help. Sometimes they have mis-interpeted a comment they hear in an officer or whatever. Sometimes they provide incorrect information with only good intentions. Maybe that is what happened in your case and maybe not, just providing a possibility. Normally referred to as human error.;)

[WAUB-MUKWA]

Linda G,
Are you a dnr biologist or graduate from MTU or MNU? I mean you have an answer for everybody. You say you don't come to the UP or visit it often but are quick to show some sort of expertise in matters not in your backyard. How is something like the cougar so hard to believe they are in Michigan. The wolf walked in here from somewhere, why can't any other creature just walk in here too? I guess I just dont understand where you are coming from or what authority in wildlife research you have? I too would think there are bobcats in all the 83 counties like the coyotes, so there must be room for a few wild cougars.

[Linda G.]

and I don't credit myself to be an expert on anything.

I'm an outdoor writer, have been for more than 20 years, with five file drawers full of interviews, research, and investigations done with the best experts in the country on a wide variety of outdoor subjects, and no, not all of them are from the MI DNR-but from university research scientists, federal agencies, independent groups like the MWC, other state game agencies, and thousands of very knowledgeable sportsmen and women.

I'm also a very active hunter, somewhat active trapper, and once in a while angler. I'm involved and/or serve on the boards with a number of conservation organizations.

I concentrate on the wildlife species, please notice you rarely see me posting about fishing methods, firearms ballistics, just about anything to do with archery, etc.

I've never said that I don't believe it isn't possible for a wild cougar to do just as you said, walk in...and if that has already happened or does happen in the future, it will probably be in the western UP, as there are documented cougars in extreme northeastern Minnesota. Well, there were, they killed one up there a year or so ago, and it proved to be wild.

But until we have that, as a legitimate writer, I have to go with facts as we know them, and we don't know that we have cougars in Michigan.

I've heard every wild saloon story over the years there is to hear-grizzlies, bigfoot, you name it...people get hold of me every day with some sort of wild story.

But we do have at least one lynx, captured by a trapper in the eastern UP last November. The first in Michigan since 1983-it was released, and is believed to still be present in the area. It was confirmed as a lynx by the US Forest Service, who DNA tested hair samples taken from the animal in the presence of a number of witnesses, including two MI DNR employees.

That's documented evidence, and that's what we need to have with the cougar in this state.

I am not a complete skeptic when it comes to this sort of thing, I just want to see proof, and when it comes to wild cougars, at present we just don't have any proof.

I enjoy the forums, I've always been an Internet junkie, and I try to share what I learn with the public in the interest of making us all a bit more informed on our wild environment.

[Ferg]

Keep it up Linda - I enjoy your input and hope you continue to provide your 'side' of the debate :-)

ferg....

[Mallard]

Cool on the mink Linda! Dry land conibears is one tool I have yet to figure out. I may get a couple in trail sets, but by far the minority of my take. Those big bank running bucks sure look nice in late Nov don't they!