I have never trapped fox, yotes or bobcats. I would love to see some of your guys sets, how you do it, any other fun info.

Good Luck

I normally use a dirt hole or a flat set when trapping canines here in MT. They are very similar sets only the flat set has no hole only a backing. In most cases I double set every location using either 2 dirt holes, 2 flats, or a combination. I'll try to get some pics while checking tonight and post them tomorrow.

I'm putting out my traps this Saturday. Coyotes and fox is my primary targets when I do my trapping. I'll post some pictures after this weekend. Already excited...

Never tried it but I heard bobcat/lynx are hard to trap, too wary, etc. someone said hang a piece of tinfoil above the trap to catch their eye first. Then regular bait at the trap? whatever that is?

Savage284, I catch bobcats in exposed traps in front of a cubby. Same with lynx. Cats hunt a lot by sight, so the tinfoil as a "visual attractant" is a good choice. Cats have a preference for fresh bait, but if their hungry they not as fussy(I use mainly beaver and road kill deer)

K-9's are the hardest critter to trap when compared to other furbearers, but with some practice, they are not that hard to harvest either.

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Thank you, I look forward to some pics.

This is gonna be fun....and much educational.Can't wait to see the pics.Thnx in advance.

Haven't trapped for almost 30 years now, but after the first couple of years digging holes and trying to hide traps, then having to dig the things out of the ice and snow later, I went completely to flat and exposed. I used 2 to 5 per set for cats, usually just off a run or trail and spiked the under side of the pan with catnip. I'd hang a tin can lid as close to the set as possible as a visual lure. Fox also seem to like the cat-nip but not as well, and the tin can lid works for them also. The most productive sets for fox, in my experience, has been at either end of logs lying across wet or rocky (gravely) areas, one at each end and two at either side a foot and a half along the log from the end. For dogs, the best attractant I've used is dog urine collected from a bitch in heat. They like to dig, so I place my set around rabbit burrows or other holes in the ground or banks.
But, it has been 30 years, so maybe the critters like something different now--or are a lot smarter.

Hey steve, The wife has alot of catnip growing outside, do you mix it with something, or does it come in a paste from the store? Thanx, Vern.

The most concentrated and smelly form is catnip oil. Found in trapping supply stores. Not very expensive, and will save you the hassle of trying to make your own, unless your feeling ambitious.
Under the trap pan is not the best place for lure(Productivity wise). Find a backing; rock, stump, clump of grass etc. and put a little bit of lure(catnip if you like) on or very close to the backing. You then bed your trap 6-10" away from the backing. The use of a backing is very important as it creates a focal point for the critter and dictates how he "works" the set. Putting lure on your trap, draws attention to it and you will miss a lot of animals this way, especially K-9's.

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A flat set with cow skull backing - lure in skull on wool, slight step down

A dirt hole - sorry for the fuzzy pic -- bait in hole covered with a ball of wool, lure at lip of hole

These are my mainstays, however I use several others to change things up.

Nice pics Ranger. I'm still working on a newer computer that is compatible with my newer digital camera. I keep spending my extra cash on traps and guns, so it may be a while longer before I can get some pics on here.

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Hurry Up!! I'd love to see some pics from your area. In Canada do you have to get a specific territory from the gov't that only you can trap? I know things are a bit different up there but am pretty clueless as to how exactly it works.

Thanks for the pics. I should be able to supply some good ones next year in AK.

Ranger, most of the provinces in Canada operate under the Registered Trapline System. In B.C. where I live, I purchased my line from another trapper that no longer wanted it. I manage my line the way I see fit and have the sole trapping rights for that area. Legally a licenced trapper can only have one line registered to him. They vary in size and shape. Mine is approx. 25mi x 15mi with a couple fingers that follow creeks up to a lake.

On my water line, I have Otter, Mink, Beaver, Muskrat, and Raccoon. My land line has Marten, Bobcat, Lynx, Coyote, Weasel, Squirrel, and Skunk. I also have Wolf and Wolverine in very small numbers, but there is no season for them in the area I trap. I have no fox or fisher that I know of.

It is my understanding that many of the US states have a fairly open trapping system, and a trapper can even trap out of state if they buy the appropriate licence. I was curious if this system results in overtrapping in some areas.

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Here in the US so little trapping goes on that I can't imagine that too many areas are over-trapped. It may be that some of the more populated areas of the country recieve too much pressure, I couldn't say for sure. In my area I could trap thousands of square miles of public and private land with no competition, so it isn't an issue here. Do you take many cats? I wish we had better cat trapping here they look like they would be fun.

Last season I trapped 22 bobcat and 1 lynx. I had 2 go over 35lbs. Cats and otter are my two favorite animals to trap. I average about 1 cat per week until late January, then all He!! breaks loose with the breeding season and I average 3-4. Lynx/Bobcat season runs from Nov. 15 to Feb. 15.

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Hey 284--sorry for the late reply--don't get next to this machine much lately. I used oil. RiverOtter is correct in that the dogs will key in on the trap if it is scented--I've seen tracks circle round and round a scented trap and never go up to it. Cats were my main target. Hey RiverOtter--what part of BC? My wife's cousin has a commercial campground just north of Squamish. Steve

Lumby, right between Vernon and Cherryville. No I probably don't know your wifes cousin <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. Couldn't resist.
Squamish is about a 4 hour drive away, and much to close to Vancouver for my country roots.

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