Any recommendations for leg-hold traps for bobcat? I've never trapped cats and have a serious cat problem around here.

Neighbor showed me a trailcam picture this afternoon that was taken yesterday morning around 09:00AM. BIG bobcat chasing a fox squirrel across the camera's field of view.

Tracks behind my barn and my barn cat is missing.

I'm open to suggestions, tips, etc.

My decoys and caller are dusted off, but I'd like all options open.

Ed

I like the Montgomery step-ins, #3 or #4. Or longsprings, or jumps or snares or boxes......

Here is another route, if you are concerned about catching pets.

Bobcat Live Cage Trap

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4-J5TgufM0

I know they have some that you can put a live chicken in a partition of the trap and it works well. I'm sure it's expensive to get a trap like that but if you are going to use it for years to come, maybe it's a good investment.

You have to be right on thier path, setup trail cameras where you think they run, and then trap them.

Bridger traps work fine, but I like calling them myself.

They like rocks and cliff areas "ALOT"

I will second Huntsman22 on the foot-hold traps. A duck wing on fishing line hanging 2.5-3' off the ground from a limb will suck them in.

#3 Bridger Dogless Offset Modified if you are concerned about non target animals.

#3 Bridger Dogless Offset if non targets are not a concern.

They have big pans, are already night latched and are pretty well ready to go for the novice. link

Ed, I don't have any dogless traps for coyotes and bobcats. I have #3 bridgers, #4 dukes, #3 pioneers, and #3 victors, and have caught coyotes and bobcats in all of them.

The bridgers are my favorite.

big live cage traps set up work well. If you can get your hands on 3n victors they work. Snares are great

MB 550 off set and four coiled in a dirt hole....Hawbackers Wildcat lure in the hole and liberal amounts of fox or cat pee on the backing....use lots of guide stix to walk em in...Cats are dumb...all three of these cats and several more were all caught at the same tree...







I can't get it to load but click this....it's pretty cool...

[img]http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o222/CharlieB401/th_001_zpsxkx1dady.mp4[/img]

And for the record...they're foot hold's not "leg holds".....

nice cats

Can you get them into a bucket with a 330 at the entrance? Never trapped bobcat

Sorry...never tried one....I live and die with the dirt hole and guide sticks....

My friend in WY does pretty good with large cage traps and my mentor in NV does even better with exposed trail sets....like I said..Cats are dumb"....

A few more for your viewing pleasure....









I'm a hack compared to my long liner buddy down in NV though..

Thanks, FG. Those are some beautiful cats!

I'll do some more scouting and try to figure out a place to set traps.

The one that seems to be sticking around here has been using the trails I cut through the back side of our place.

I have 1/2 dozen old Newhouse traps I brought from Alaska. It's been so long, I have forgotten what they are. I'll have to dig them out tomorrow and see.

Might have to buy some new traps. Definitely have to buy some lure!

Thanks to all for your help. I'll be back with more questions, I'm sure.

Ed

Thanks, Randy. I need to really study this cat. There's a big jumble of rocks, complete with caves big enough for people to get in, on the place behind ours. That's where my money is on for it's home.

The only domestic dog(s) that I might catch would be my own, so I don't have much to worry about there. Coyotes, now that's another matter.

Ed

I havent seen it done, but wont say it cant work either. Cats arent shy about going into small spaces, as long as they can turn around..They dont like to back up.

if i was to use a 330, I'd set it up in a "cubby" big enough for them to spin around in, and probably a walk-thru cubby.

My favorite cat sets were exposed walk-thru's with #3 Victors or bridgers. Like FG said, they aint trap shy. but location is very important.

A simple dirt hole set is good for just about everything that has fur.

You can catch cats in 220's in buckets or boxes, but dry land conibear sets aren't legal everywhere.

If I were looking for a specific bobcat trap, I'd look at #2-#3 dogless. Bridger makes a #2 dogless that looks great. Montgomery #3's are legendary. Even #2-#3 dukes will work.

I've held cats and coyotes in bridger #1.65's, and Duke 1.75's, but #2-#3's would be better for those animals.

With cat sets, being right on the sign is more important than the actual trap set, be it dirt hole, scent post, or blind set.

Great pics Field Grade.

I've caught them in a homemade live trap, using whatever I could find for bait. You'll catch coons and possums also, but it will definitely catch a bobcat.

I use MB 650's and Montana #3 dogless.

MB 650's are great. I use the MB 650C as my go-to coyote trap (C stands for cast jaws as opposed to stamped.) As Fieldgrade pointed out, MB 550's will do it too. The MB's (Minnesota Brand) traps are US made and are a world above the Chinese and Korean schitt.

#2 Bridgers work pretty good for Coyotes too but you really need something bigger like the 650's if you prefer the two-foot catch...

I knew you were good but I didn't know you were THAT GOOD !

Hey Ed. Plenty of good advice here. I have caught several cats with my Victor #1 3\4, but if you're buying go with Field Grade's advice. As FG said, they aren't that smart. Left-over fried chicken bones work. I buy my lure from Wayne Derrick Lures out of NM. I'd like a look at those Newhouse, Tx. Trappers Assn. Rendevous is in Brownwood now. Long ways for you. Good Luck!

Yea....it cuts down on the catch circle so I can reuse the site.....

Yea....it cuts down on the catch circle so I can reuse the site..... [/quote

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WOW great thinking !!

Trapping season starts in 1 1/2 hrs. here December 1st. -I'm headed out tomorrow morning . Of coarse I'm just a man of meager skills .

#2 and up coils are fine. Wing on a string to attract them, or a CD hanging even though I like wings....

Sticks to guide and guide their step. They are not smart.

Lure as noted.

Box or live traps work fine too, I brush mine in a bit or up under a cedar or such and some more cover. They don't mind going in box traps.

I'd not use a killer trap due to domestic animals personally.

We have em here at home too, they'll eat a lot of things, have a pic off the game camera this year one carrying a squirrel. Don't hurt much unless numbers are up.

But they are simple to catch compared to yotes for me anyway.

Mike, You forget where I'm from. I've driven farther than that for a beer and a game of 8 ball. I've not been to a Trappers Rendezvous. Sounds like a cool place to learn some stuff.

I've been offline bird hunting in KS for a bit. Back home now and will dig those traps out. I'll take some pics and post them for comment/advice.

Thanks again to all for your wisdom. The cat is still here and still needs killin'.

Ed

Bob Cats are easy to catch in a live trap. You need one with a partition or false room in the back. A live white chicken works best.

Here is the trick. Place brush on all three sides and the top. The cat will run right down the tunnel to get the chicken.

My favorite trap is a BMI K-9 wolfer. It is a #2 with forged offset jaws and four springs. BMI is a small family business here in the good ol US. I use them for cats and coyotes.

Thank you, sir!

Ed

I always favored Montgomery #3 coils when I trapped cat and coyote. Trail sets with guide sticks or dirt holes. Looking forward to doing some more when I retire soon.
PS> FieldGrade that is one nice Tom in that first picture unless you are only 4ft tall!