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Got my bobcat back today from my taxidermist. I shot this cat in late January of 2022. This was a rifle kill. I had a lot of cats on camera and had hoped to bow kill one, but I never even saw one during season and it took multiple attempts to call one in for a shot. Had hoped to get one of the bigger ones I had seen, but was happy to get this one as the season was about to end. I had talked to my taxidermist and he agreed to mount a cat for me if I got one, but told me up front it would take a while to get it done. I know cats can be tricky to get right, but I’m pleased with the mount. Let me know what you guys think. Did my guy do a good job?
I think it looks good. I’m no expert but the bungled cats usually jump out as bad and this doesn’t to me.
First of all, congrats on the cat! One with a bow is pretty high on my bucket list, too.
Overall, it looks really good. The only thing that I see, is the mouth seems just a little bit off to me. Cats are very hard to get right.
Thanks guys! I agree t-roy, the mouth is not quite as good as I had hoped for. There’s a guy over by St. Louis that does really good cats, but his price was about 3x what I paid. If I ever draw another tag and get a really big cat I would be tempted to pay up for it. But, overall I’m pleased. Should make a good conversation piece.
From the pictures, it looks good to me. I passed up the opportunity to go on a bobcat hunt with hounds in Michigan about 10 years ago or so. Shortly after that they closed the season to non residents. I've regreted it since.
Looks dang nice.
Congrats,
Robb
Looks nice! I agree with T-Roy, something with the face/mouth seems just a big off. But I’d still be happy with it!! Beautiful cat!
I would be happy with that mount, i have seen MANY predator mounts that look way worse. Congrats on the cat.
Congrats on the cat, overall I think it looks pretty good. I would be happy with it, I have also seen some terrible looking cats and, yours is not one of them
Pretty cat,they can be tricky shooting with a bow.I have been lucky enough to shoot 10 or so
Pretty cat, I like the gray color phase... I've only seen 2 in the wild, one in Florida and one in Colorado and both were brown colored...
Do they have an open season in Illinois assuming it's an Illinois cat? Here in Ohio there is no closed season on coyotes, but bobcats are highly protected...
Zbone, right now they are a lighter brown color. The later you get into winter, their coats change to gray and you get more of the spotting. I started seeing them here in Southern Illinois pretty consistently about 20 years ago. I've had several opportunities to shoot one while deer hunting over the years, just didn't have a season or permit. Illinois opened up a season in 2016 for hunting and trapping. It's done by zones and the north east quadrant of the state is excluded. The first year they issued 500 permits and then they upped it to 1,000. I hear that over half of the applications are done by anti-hunters. The success rate is very low. You can trap, hunt or even claim a salvage/road kill. I've had the opportunity to watch a few of them hunting rabbits and they are incredible! Rabbits don't stand a chance. Thanks to everyone for the comments.
Buckdeer-you have been very blessed to kill 10 with a bow!!
It looks darned good to me.
Thanks for the info Greg, that's interesting...
I haven't seen one in Ohio yet but many others have and caught them on trailcams... There are a bunch of trailcam photos over on the Ohio forum so I know they're here local and this one got hit on highway near me in March close enough to have been in my back yard one time or another... I cropped the smashed head out... As said, they're protected here so I didn't dare touch, it laid along highway for months and turned to dust...
So there populations are growing here and some as myself would like to see an open hunting/trapping season, but no talk of it from our division of wildlife that I'm aware being on their email newsletter list...
I have called in a shot several with gun also but we have alot.A local guy that traps here caught I believe he said 42 last year.
Pretty good looking mount for a cat, they are evidently very tough to make look natural. I wouldn’t have mounted a spike though, give him another year and he would have at least been a forky …..;-)
Yeah drycreek, I couldn't figure out why he has antlers now;) I'm hoping to get a Skull Hooker Trophy Tree for Christmas so I can consolidate some of my euros. Charlie Rehor highly recommends those.
Buckdeer, would be fun to have more opportunities to hunt bobcats like you have. I've only called in one once while actively hunting and I can say it was surprisingly thrilling! My best friend was along with me, and you would have thought we'd called in and killed a 180" buck. It was a great hunt.
Lord knows I’ve been trying to stick one of those.
Looks good to me and yes, cats are super tough to get perfect.
Congrats!
Personally I would never ask a bunch of guys on the internet their opinion of my mount. Cause it's done now. What if everyone told you they didn't like it?
The eyes make or break a cat mount to me. Those eyes look good. I think the entire mount looks great. You killed it and if you like it then it's perfect!!!
APauls, just wanted opinions because cats are tricky. I know mine is the only one that matters. I’m happy with the mount. Thanks again to everyone!
If you are happy with it then it doesn't matter what others think.
I have an old friend that has been a taxidermist for 37 yrs, just retired this year I drove him up to a lodge near International Falls with a finished Bob Cat that was lying on a piece of log and the owner thought it looked alive and my friend told him it took sometime to make it to come out that way, he had a young cub bear that some idiot shot a year before and did the mount also with a plaque saying "Do Not Shoot These" that was put in the lodge, it was shot by some guy from Chicago area that go way over excited. The shooter didn't want to put his tag on it but was made to and he left it behind.
Consider having your next cat with a closed mouth as well. A lot of people "get tired" of looking at an open-mouth, snarling mount. This mount looks very nice!
Something’s not right. Mouth/jaw I think. I have one mounted and I don’t like it either. But my cougar looks perfect. Cats are tough to get right.
Mine is just about done @ my Taxi.
I hope he turns out as nice as yours,
Robb
Nice cat, congrats !! I had this one mounted few years ago, probably one of my favorite mounts.
hopefully a better pic from the other one
That’s a good sized cat Robb! That’s really something to be proud of.
Venom, I really like that mount! The cat looks great and it’s a cool scene. I’ve seen a bobcat catch a rabbit 2 times, that really accurate.
If you look at references of a live cat a couple things jump out. Ears are wrong and eye shape is off. If the ears were right it would pull the cheek area up a bit making the chops more distinct. Lower lid should flow more down . It's not terrible, seen lots that were. A good shampoo and blow dry would really puff it up. Hope you enjoy it for years to come. Jim
deerhunter72, here are a couple of live cats for comparison. I’d say your taxi did a pretty good job. Beautiful color phase and as long as you’re happy that’s all that matters.
Venom, really cool / unique mount.
stoneman, thanks for sharing those pictures. The top looks very similar to my mount. After having it for a few weeks, I’m still really pleased. I agree, with others, the head isn’t perfect, but for the price I paid it’s good enough.
Venom---- that is a very Alive looking mount poor bunny! haha
Good luck, Robb
I cropped and re-sized your best shot. Nice cat!
I think Greg's cat looks really good. Cats are tough to get right and I think your taxi did a great job. The taxi's job is to "bring it to life" and I think he did that well.
The other two look great too.
The action mounts are always nice because it brings the "scene" to life along with the mount itself.
