Lynx without dogs?
Small Game
Curious how many guy have taken a lynx without the use of dogs. I know several guys who have been successful with dogs, which is cool, but I’m currently more interested in success with calling. Tips, techniques, gear, do/don’ts, etc.
The reason I ask is I have a good friend who is an outfitter in Northern BC. He is one hell of a hunter, but not a houndsman, and doesn’t generally offer lynx hunts. But we have been discussing the possibility of me coming up this year (or next) to give it a shot. The general plan is to use sleds (snowmobiles) to cut the track then work active area with e-caller set-ups. Then shoot him dead with an arrow!
He has trapped and killed lynx before, but not with bow or calling. We have not discussed $, but I’m sure he will be more than fair. I know a couple outfitters who offer similar hunts and have talked to one who boasts pretty good success, all be it limited sample size (I think last year 3/3 w/ bow). He seems to think we would get it done, but being the 1st guinea pig it’s certainly far from a sure thing.
—Jim
Called in.
Called in.
Right place, right time
Right place, right time
I’ve got two. One calling and one incidental. Have had several encounters e-calling, but the buggers are low to the ground and usually in thick brush with no shot opportunity.
Some areas still have lots of rabbits again so far and that means lynx.
That’s real hunting right there!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
I would think that calling in a Lynx would be much the same as calling in bobcat.
Good stand selection and a lot of patience would be key to success, IMO. I've watched many a cat come in within 50 yards, and then sit behind a bush for twenty minutes just watching. Also had them come barging in like a freight train, but that's a rarity. Be sure and take some breaks in the calling.....the cats will often start moving in again when the sound stops, as it makes them curious.
I grew up with a guy who was quite an outdoorsman. He was a loggger in a remote area of NE Minnesota. He said if he could find a fresh track in the morning with good snow conditions it was as good as dead. Shot many that way with his 22 rifle. They would usually standing on a low blowdown watching him when he caught up to them.
Basil, that’s exactly how I’ve wanted to try with a bow. I keep thinking when we get some fresh snow I’m going to go out and try and cut a fresh track and just walk it down. They so often just watch humans
I have zero experience with lynx, but my guess is they would react to calling very similarly to bobcats. I’ve killed 2-3 dozen bobcats over the years, (none with a bow, though) and they come in to the call in several different ways. Had them come running in the entire way, running or sneaking in and stopping each time we quit calling, only to resume coming when we started calling again, and had a bunch that just appeared out of nowhere, with no idea how they got there. The vast majority of them seemed to take their sweet time in coming in. The only suggestion I would give you is, to spend a good deal of time at each setup, before moving on. Maybe an hour or longer. Also, a moving decoy would possibly help, as well.
Yeah Matt the one’s I’ve seen usually go a few yards & sit down & watch you. Dad pulled up next to one in his truck the other day. Just sat down & hissed at him. Was talking to it out the window.
Took this cat in the late '80's..still the biggest bobcat I've ever seen.
I talked to one outfitter in central BC. He told me by calling they get a lot of lynx each winter. Cruise the logging roads until they cut a fresh track, then set up calling and often they come in. I THINK it is all by rifle on his hunts.
I've trapped hundreds of lynx.... which, technically, is "without dogs!"
I also have stopped and followed some sets of fresh lynx tracks while on snowshoes. Twice I was able to tree lynx myself (on snowshoes, without dogs.)
I would also point out that this was 50 years ago. At age 75, I don't think I have the hero juice to run down and tree a lynx anymore!
Pete
My only advice is buy a new bow
Call Jim Lancaster at Copper River outfitters in BC. Calling is their specialty.
I killed one with a .22 and passed another one while I was chicken hunting with my daughter. It was standing on a log over a creek at about 8 yards. Eventually just walked off. I took a video with my phone.
Pretty sure he took your advice, caribou77!
I was on a baited wolf hunt in alberta i want to say 2007 or 2008 and 2 beautiful lynx came through less than 40 yards, but I wasn't allowed to shoot them. Years later I shot one in BC but that was with dogs. Maybe you can bait for them in BC?
Thanks guys. I was pretty certain Ambush would be the hero of this thread!
Pete, you are technically correct. LOL. I should have been more specific ;)
Caribou77 - 1 step ahead of you bruh.
Redneck- I’m sure the Lancasters hunts are good, and seem pretty fairly priced IMO. But I already have an outfitter, just not a lynx outfitter LOL. It’s more of a spend a week with a friend (outfitter) and hope we get a chance at a lynx type hunt.
CT- I really have no idea on legality of lynx over bait in BC. But honesty sitting on a bait freezing my ass off for days (and nights) on end really doesn’t appeal to me at all.
—Jim
I did it with a mountain lion while sitting in a ladderstand waiting for a Coues buck to walk by. Not a totally chance encounter because I had the gut pile of a December buck within 50 yards while I was looking for a January buck.
