What to do if I encounter a bobcat in the wild while hiking?

Question

No gun....and no I won't buy one.

Answer 1

Jump on it and bite it's ear.





lol. They wont hurt you. Unless you scare it. Stay calm and ease away.

If they come after you, you can not out run them neither can you out climb them. Your best bet would be to have a friend with you, and out run your friend.

Answer 2

I wouldn't worry about the bobcat as you have been seriously reprimanded for the lack of information already.

If you are hiking in an area they are known to be, then you are hiking in an area ripe for the biggest threat you wll ever see. Another human. Deserted areas, forests, and out of the way places are where they prey and usually it is young women and boys they like. Don't get a gun for the bobcat go get a gun for the attacker you need to fear.

Answer 3

LOL The only way a hiker is going to see a bobcat is if it has rabies, and in that case since you dont own a gun I suggest you pick up a large stick or rock and crush its skull. God, it would be a lot easier if you would carry a gun just in case.

Bobcats are very stealthy, your not going to walk up on one and surprise it. Usually they will know you are coming when you are a mile away and they will be long gone before you approach.

If you do see a bobcat and your not looking at its tail, then be ready cause its gone rabid!




ADDED.... Old fuzz you are Awesome lol

Answer 4

Give it your lunch......lol
Actually you have many here already that have answered correctly. Bobcats are more afraid of you than you will ever be of them (I hope) They are in fact nocturnal and move about and hunt for their food at night. They will not approach a camp site or an open fire so you are safe. Once you hear one screaming it's something you'll never forget as long as you live though. Count on them hearing or seeing you long before you have any idea they are in your "neighborhood" or neck of the woods". If you want carry a 5' walking stick to reassure yourself. Available at any camping or hiking/backpacking supply store nationwide.

Answer 5

99 times out of 100 the bobcat will see you first and be gone when you get there. That one time you see him, be a quick watcher, because if he is intent enough on something he doesn't see or hear you approach, he will disappear almost instantly when he does see you. The few I have happened upon while hiking will stand and look a while and then calmly walk off into the woods. If you happen to see one moving her babies, beware because they can be dangerous.

Answer 6

whenever you are in the woods, you should always have a pocket knife. whenever i work on my grandparents farm, go for walks, or while I'm hunting or fishing, i always have my Swiss army knife on me. its the real thing, not an imitation. you never know when you might break your leg and get stuck in the woods five miles away from your house. you might have to cut trees and make a small shelter, or something that you would be very sorry if you didn't have a knife.
as for encountering a wild animal, the Swiss army knife will work, but you might want to carry a fixed blade knife or one that you can flip open with one hand. because a Swiss army knife isn't a knife you can open with one hand, but its a good back up if you have to build camp. unless the animal is rabid, %99 of animals will run away from you before you even have a chance to get your knife out.
like my uncle always says, "better to have it and not need it, then need it and not have it"

Answer 7

To the Bobcat you are big, smelly, and noisy. They don't want anything to do with you. Don't worry about them.

Now, the Mountain Lion, on the other hand, has had the bad taste to attack, kill, and eat hikers, joggers, and bikers in the woods. About all you are going to be able to do with one of these large cats is explain to it that you are an animal lover, tree hugger, and anti-gun. Hopefully, you will not be so ill mannered as to upset the cat's stomach after it's eaten you.

Answer 8

Nothing at all.
Bobcats are curious, but not aggressive unless you corner them.
In the wild they will usually stop and look at you then move on.
I have hunted them for years and never had any trouble.
They don’t really like humans and try to avoid them if they can.
Have fun hiking and don’t worry about the bobcat, just don’t corner him.




D58


Hunting with Rifle, Pistol, Muzzle loader and Bow for over 3 decades.
Reloading Rifle, Pistol and shotgun for over 3 decades.

Answer 9

Watch its tail end vanish into the wilderness. Try and get a picture. You are way too big to eat, but if you corner a bobcat it could hurt you making you get out of the way.

I don't and won't hunt cats.

Answer 10

You're afraid of a little bobcat? Incredible. We have them on our golf courses all the time. Now if it's your small dog that you're protecting, then leave the little guy at home. It certainly won't tackle the big dogs.
.

Answer 11

You can hike every day for fifty years and never see a Bobcat.

They are very careful about avoiding being seen by people.

You need to worry about mosquitos and ticks