Any advice for trapping bobcat

[shotgunner]

I have trapped for many years and caught lots of coon, fox, rats, beaver, mink and other furs. I have never set a trap for a bobcat. Is there a lure that I might want? Special bait? Here in PA we can not use a bait that can be seen from the air. Any set other than a dirt hole that might work? Any help at all would be appreciated. Shotgunner

[The Poet]

         
       
          Shotgunner,

     My favorite Bobcat set is a dead chicken hanging in a 4' tree with feathers everywhere.
Not legal where you are and I am not sure it is legal here.

     If I were going to trap in some place
and visible bait was a no no, I would use some 'variation'.
First off, the best bait for well... anything,
 is female in heat urine.
The best attractors for Bobcat are  visual,
and feathers would fill the bill were it not for the fact that they were illegal,
therefore...

     Think, get the  trapping  rules,
 figure minimum distances from the 'set' for illegal stuff to be,
 and  just go a little further.
A sack of feathers scattered at 30 yards, 40 yards whatever,
all around the set will provide a visual attractor for old Cat,
he will be hunting around the area and smell the:
 'Bobcat in heat' scent,
which you could use at a dirt hole a cubby, or whatever...


             Try variations on that idea.


                     jacksknifeshop.tripod.com


                                ' Poet'






                       

[billy_56081]

Lets see its been 20 years since I trapped bobcat. We used cubby sets and used either a christmas ornament or peice of card board hung on a limb over it as a visual attractor. I believe we used bobcat urine around the set and some commercial lure.

[shotgunner]

I have heard that some people use tape, VCR tape that is, where feathers are not allowed. I know that PA is looking to avoid hawks and Owls with the rule. I used to love the feathers when I trapped in NY. How about buckets? From what I know bobcats are not difficult to trap, or very shy, just not common. It will be an interesting season and I plan to start early. I will post a photo if I am successful, Shotgunner

[Brad H]

I'm just a beginner with very limited experience, but maybe I can help you out.

I've never trapped in my life till last year. I decided I wanted to trap bobcats and I ended up with three. Our quota for the area was met after 5 weeks or I might have had more. Anyway, I did a lot of research and scouting, and learned a few key things.

Do your scouting and find out where the cats are most likely traveling. You've got to get your set almost right in their way and even then, as moody as they are, you'll get misses. You won't pull a cat from very far off its path, so do your best to get in its face with your set. I found toilets in my area that at least let me know it was an area bobcats were frequenting and made my sets there.

We can't use any kind of bait a flying predator might see here, so I used deer antler, collected cat turds and DVDs on swivels hanging from tree branches. Flashy things like that will scare away coyotes but attract cats for the most part.

I also read that if you give a cat a nice convenient place to step he'll use it, even if the trap is exposed. And it worked. Use lots of blocking. The trap doesn't have to be buried. Just make your pan cover the best place for a cat to step.

Good luck.

Brad