Christmas Bob

**tyger** · 5th January 10, 01:08 PM

I have been looking for a bobcat, and I finally crossed paths with this one Christmas eve. He was in super shape, still warm and chilling fast in the unusually cold weather we have been having.

I used the faithful Lutan F kit from van Dyke's Taxidermy.
This pelt will make a couple of very nice sporrans.

As you know, one works the skin by stretching it as it dries. As the skin nears dryness, work it over a dull metal object such as an ax head, shovel, or plate steel. I don't know why I didn't think about using a harrow disc until this bobcat. It works great!

**HeathBar** · 5th January 10, 01:19 PM

Very nice. Will you be doing the sporrans or sending it off?

**tyger** · 5th January 10, 01:41 PM

Well, I had always thought that I would make some sporrans myself, but honestly, I would be wise to consider sharing the pelt in some barter fashion, if a sporran-maker was interested.

Hey, it is cold as the devil down here!

**HeathBar** · 5th January 10, 01:53 PM

Originally Posted by tyger

Hey, it is cold as the devil down here!

And maybe even colder up here. Five days into the new year and not a one of them above freezing. Heat pumps are nice when the temps are average, but right now, mine can't keep up. Maybe we'll get to 33F tomorrow...maybe, but then a high of 19F on Saturday.

Ugh!

**HeathBar** · 5th January 10, 01:54 PM

I just noticed this in your first picture. Maybe we should call you Wilson (aka Home Improvement)

**tyger** · 5th January 10, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by HeathBar

I just noticed this in your first picture. Maybe we should call you Wilson (aka Home Improvement)

Yep, it is a challenge when one is one's own photographer!

My old heat pump is 27 years old, probably has a SEER of 5, and I suspect that at 32-30F it is probably just wasting electricity. So, it is wood heater time, with a little supplementary LP. Whoever invented the electric matress pad is my friend. If you don't have one, you are missing one of life's true pleasures.

**Smayniac** · 5th January 10, 02:45 PM

I saw a live bobcat in my MIL's back yard a couple of days after Christmas. While she says she would rather not have him about, I still think he does more damage to the squirrels than anything else around there and I'd rather he was live in the yard than dead in my lap.

She was quite worried that her corgi was outside, but they appeared to ignore each other. I'm not actually sure the cat was mature, it was only about the size of a large house cat.

All I've seen in these parts are very flat skunks. I'm on the lookout for a decent skunk and an opossum.

Bob

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 5th January 10, 05:56 PM

Mark,

When Ferguson Britt makes bobcat sporrans, he uses the fur from the belly. Really nice coloration there. One of my favorite sporrans (ok, so all of my FB sporrans are my favorites!) is a bobcat.

**Squeaky McMurdo** · 5th January 10, 07:58 PM

I was wondering about that Matt. I was thinking it was either belly or the bobcats around FB were nearly white. lol.

If anyone wants something that looks like a bobcat pelt (without the head) rabbit hides dyed to look like bobcats can be had on ebay for under $15.

--Chelsea McMurdo--

**tyger** · 6th January 10, 06:06 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

Mark,When Ferguson Britt makes bobcat sporrans, he uses the fur from the belly.

Yes, the belly fur has different coloration and I like it. I will have to ask Britt where he gets those big-bellied cats! My cat has only 4 inches of belly- he was a lean prime male.

A cased-out skin would have been they way to go to get un-cut belly for use; however, I don't have any stretchers, and durned if I was going to buy any just for this cat. Besides, if one were to take care, one can cut the 1/2 belly portions from my skin, align the straight edges in apposition, then suture those edges back together. A simple surgical proceedure that would be undetectable to the eyes. It would take about 30 minutes to accomplish the task.