Ralph Barton just keeps knocking them down
Ralph Barton sent in this shot on Friday, with the note below:
“Hope all is going well…. I’ve been out hunting my butt off these last few days… finally got a chance this morning to go online and check out the blog. Some nice deer on there but I was expecting to see a bunch of the real brutes showing up….. doesn’t seem to be happening yet? I really thought the rut was taking off but I honestly can’t say I’m seeing it in the woods that much. I’ve hunted hard all day since last Friday and I have seen 5 bucks. Two of those definitely appeared to be trailing…. noses on the ground…. but the others were just strolling through. Overall my deer sightings in general are very low… not seeing many does even though the game-cams prove that they are in the area. Of course with the heavy acorn drop it may just be that the deer aren’t traveling much…. maybe the activity is happening in small key areas?
Got a nice Bobcat yesterday…. photo attached.”
I love how the bobcat is almost an afterthought! This guy is truly addicted to deer hunting.
As for a shortage of hero shots maybe part of it is that I don’t get every shot up immediately. Simply can’t. But I also think the best is yet to come. I think this week is going to be the week. I sure hope so because I plan to be out there a lot!
November 13, 2012 - 12:05 PM
Congrats Ralph,beautiful cat you got, good luck rest of the season….
Do hunters that bag a bobcat eat the animal?
Stephen – No one that I know personaly eats Bobcat although in some cultures cats, (and dogs for that matter), are consumed. Bobcats in Virginia are under the classification of “furbearers” along with foxes, beavers, mink, etc. These animals are hunted and/or trapped for the value of the pelts. The trapping and hunting of these animals also keeps their populations in control. This is especially important with Bobcats, Foxes, coyotes because they can have a detrimental impact on other game animals that they feed on, (turkeys, rabbits, deer fawns, etc.)
Hey, way to go Ralph! This will be a year to remember for years to come. Time in the woods means filled tags. You have been out in the woods alot this year and it has paid off. Once again nice job. When you get done with that horseshoe I would like to use for a week or two.
Congrats Ralph! Nice bobcat.
Congrats Ralph!!!! Beautiful bobcat!
Congrats Ralph,you are having a great season.Way to go.
You are crazy about hunting when you still talk about the elusive big buck even after you have a bear, a turkey, a nice deer, and now a bobcat! You’ve had a very successful year so far and have provided a lot of meals for friends and family (and hopefully other animals with the bobcat meat!) And it’s only mid November! Thanks for putting meat on the table!
Congrats Ralph! Nice cat!
Nice cat and congrats on a great year so far. Are you running the BRM half in 2013? It really made for some nice offseason training for hunting.
Great cat Ralph. Were you able to get a weight on it? I agree the rut activity has been rather sporadic. One day there will be two or three chasing and the next day there are no deer to be seen.
BRAVO ZULU!!
Ralph on the Bobcat and on your superb answer to Stephen.
Kind of reminds me of Joe Friday. “All we know are the facts”.
Jan – thanks Sweetie for putting up with my craziness during Hunting season! I promise I’ll go back to being “somewhat normal” by January!
Glen – didn’t weigh the cat but I’m guessing around 30 pounds…. he was Long…. but kind of lean.
Steve – yes the training runs are a great way to get in shape for mountain hunting! I want to continue running/hiking/biking since I plan on hunting Colorado next year at elevations of 10,000 to 14,000 feet. Gonna need some strong legs and lungs for that!!! Especially with all these birthdays I keep having! LOL! As far as BRM I’d like to particiapate again in 2013….. just depends on schedules and my bad knee.
Ben – if I had a “horseshoe” I could pass off to a fellow hunter I’d gladly do it LOL! Only thing I got going on is Persistance…… figure if I get out there enough something good will eventually happen!
Wishing all of you guys & gals a successful Hunting season!
Awesome cat Ralph! Your having a banner year. Congratulations and I hope it continues!