Will a bobcat attack a full-grown white-tailed deer? Yes! And these game camera photos prove it. I’ve always figured that the biggest threat a bobcat could impose on a whitetail was while the deer was still a fawn, and I still believe this to be true. But maybe bobcats kill more deer than we thought. The bobcat is an effective predator, but the larger coyote takes more deer.
In these photos, you will notice that the deer is still battling the deer after two minutes have passed. This seems plausible considering the crushing power of bobcat’s jaw and incisors are really being put to the test considering the size of its prey.
Even a large bobcat at 25 to 30-pounds can only hope to physically wear down an adult deer while biting into it’s neck to increase blood loss. It’s a tough way to go, but nature is violent.
Although the bobcat wrapped up this doe, I suspect that a bobcat would not launch an attack on a larger-bodied, antlered buck. At least not one in a healthy condition. And the health of this doe was unknown when attacked.
Bonus bobcat photos:
Just got in from helping a hunting friend find a 7 point white-tailed buck he had shot during an evening hunt. The deer weighed approximately 175 pounds and had been attacked by a bobcat, which is popular in our area. The deer had been bitten in the back of the neck and in between the shoulder blades. The injury was old enough to where the wounds had maggots in it.
You’d be surprised that how a small cat can kill a deer and how many they kill. It’s been proven in maine that a 13-15 lb bobcat can kill a deer as to how many vs coyotes. While coyote hunting in the winter months I’ve noticed if you see a bobcat just wait a coyote will follow. Bobcats are far more efficient than we give credit. Many of us have seen the site of a kill and notice coyote tracks leading many to believe it was the deed of the coyote when in fact it’s a stolen kill. In maine I’d say it’s a 60/40 ratio coyote to cat kills. No joke.