I've got a big feral tomcat prowling around that is killing my rabbits. He's been around a couple years and has previously been pretty well behaved, killed a couple weasels in my barn for me, but now he's crossed a line. I caught him last year in a live catch box trap, and released him, so now he won't go for it again. I built a box, put a 330 conibear in it and baited it with sardines. He walks right around it. So,seeing as he walks the same path every day I thought perhaps a leg hold trap would work. All I have is a new No1 longspring Newhouse trap though, and I'm not sure if it'll hold him. What say you?
Put a snare on the path he walks every day
Scent post set - trail set , i'd use a bigger trap to up my chances of catching him .
Snares also a good idea ..
Can you not shoot him when you see him?
Dad always said the best place for a cat was 40 feet in front of the shotgun
A #1 will hold him if you get his foot in it. We have held several coyote in #11 which is a #1 double long spring. If you have access to some beaver castor put it in a dirt hole set right by where you see him
Caught a coyote in a sleepy creek 1 1/2 coil spring last week and it held him fine. That’s a pretty small trap so I’d think a #1 would do fine if you can get the cat’s foot in it.
Thanks guys. Got a Conibear 330 and a 110 set for him right now, so far no luck. He is very clever, I've set a trail cam on the trail he walks and it's always at night or when I'm not home. Weekends he seems to know to stay away. But, he is a cat and doesn't like snow, so he steps in his same footprints every time, and that will be his undoing!
Can you not undo his skull with a .22?
A Newhouse #1 is far stronger than most other brands. It will hold him but be sure to anchor it very well. If you catch him in it, it will be "graphic" though. A 160 or 220 conibear set right over his trail should work nicely with no bait or lure used.
Caught alot of animals using fried chicken bones.I was playing around out back with some
of Wayne Derrick"s bobcat lure. The feral house cats went nuts over it.
Yes, a #1 longspring will certainly hold a tomcat if it has a good spring. Heck, they hold coons, coyote, even an otter.
But if the spring is old and worn out, then it won't be good for much.