updated Jan. 8 2013 at 12:52 p.m. to add content starting with HUNTERS AND GUIDES

By CRISTINE MEIXNER

Express Editor

RAQUETTE LAKE - Len Payne did not hesitate when he saw the largest bobcat he has ever seen. The long-time hunter took it down with one shot while it was on the run.

Payne, 48, a contractor and caretaker from Inlet, was hunting deer from his family’s camp on Sucker Brook Bay in Raquette Lake Nov. 10 when he spotted the trophy cat.

“I was within five miles of camp in the Pigeon Lake Wilderness Area,” Payne says. “I was deer hunting and took a break. I sat down in a thicket and the bobcat came down across a beaver flow and across the grass.

“I stood up to shoot and it took off; I shot it on the run. Had it been small I wouldn’t have bothered.

“I was in a little bit of disbelief when I saw the size of it. It came up out of tall grass and jumped onto a log; it was walking along the log when I stood up to take the shot and it bolted.”

Payne shot the wildcat with a .308 Ruger rifle with a red dot reflex sight that acquires a moving target instantly. “I generally hunt with a scope,” he says. “I’m not sure I could have pulled it off with a scoped rifle.

“That cat was moving. When it saw me it was gone.”

Payne says he took it down at “30 yards away, give or take.”

Payne has been in touch with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Senior Wildlife Biologist Paul Jensen in Warrensburg. Jensen’s responsibilities include furbearer management and research.

“Jensen thinks it may be a state record, but he is not sure the state even keeps records on bobcats,” Payne says. “He is looking into it.”

An e-mail to the DEC Division of Wildlife about bobcat records has not yet received a reply.

According to the National Trappers Association, the heaviest recorded bobcat was trapped in Maine and weighed 76 pounds.

The male bobcat spent 10 days in Payne’s freezer before being taken to 34-year taxidermist Keith Kanzler of Keith’s Taxidermy in Forestport for a full mount.

“He had to order a small mountain lion form to mount it on,” Payne said. “The biggest bobcat form he could buy was not big enough.

“He told me the biggest bobcat he has ever seen was 38 pounds.”

In fact, the cat is so impressive “two taxidermists and about five individuals tried to buy it from me,” Payne said. “He was over 50 pounds after being in the freezer for 10 days. Live weight was estimated at 50-55 pounds, quite a bit more than average.

“He didn’t get that big eating field mice and rabbits; he’s been eating deer, I’m sure of it. He was an apex predator in that area.”

According to the DEC, bobcats are about twice the size of a domestic cat. Both sexes can be greater than 30 pounds; however, averages for males and females are 21 and 14 pounds, respectively.

Despite the thrill of bagging such a big bobcat, Payne would rather be eating venison. “That’s not why I was there,” he said. “I would rather have shot a deer.” 

HUNTERS AND GUIDES

Payne comes from a long line of hunters and guides and is “the sixth generation to live right here in Inlet,” he said in a telephone interview. “My family has had property on Sucker Brook Bay since 1853.”

Payne came upon his father, Sid, as he was carrying his bobcat back to camp. Sid Payne had heard the shot and was on his way to help drag out a deer.

“I didn’t have a camera with me; I ran into my father, Sid, as I was carrying it out and he took the picture,” Payne said.

THE AVERAGE BOBCAT

According to the NYS DEC, “Bobcats are about twice the size of a domestic cat and usually smaller than the Canada lynx. Males are, on average, one-third larger than females. Both sexes can be greater than 30 pounds; however, averages for males and females are 21 and 14 pounds, respectively.

“Body length for males is 34 inches and 30 inches for females.”

Bobcat can be easily distinguished from lynx by the absence of the huge, seemingly oversized paws. Bobcats have paws that are proportional to their body size.

Research in the late 1970s found that white-tailed deer, rabbit and hare are the most common items in the diet of bobcat in NYS, according to DEC.

It is found only in North America, where it is the most common wildcat. According to nationalgeographic.com, “Fierce hunters, bobcats can kill prey much bigger than themselves, but usually eat rabbits, birds, mice, squirrels, and other smaller game.”