I used 2" pvc pipe and coated cable; drilled a couple of holes and put on a few cable stops, made a pull handle from the left over pipe, and it works great...use it all the time, and it will handle everything from a possum to a yote. I figure I got about $12.00 in it, and if I had planned better, I could have made 2.

the 2" pvc is pretty stout stuff...I bought a 8'ft stick and cut the actual pole to about 3'

I’ll try to describe the one I built… I took a 5-foot piece of metal conduit about 1 inch OD. Then I took a hacksaw and holding the conduit up and down I sawed a notch in the end about 1 ½” deep and wide enough for a small chain link to fit in it. Then I got a 6 foot piece of chain (small dog chain) and a 2’ piece of 1/8" cable. I attached one end of the cable to one end of the chain by running it through the last chain link and using a 1/4" nut mashed on the cable. Then using a drill, drill a small hole through the side of the conduit 1” from the opposite end you cut the notches in. run the other end of the cable through this hole and use a single ferrule to attach the cable to this hole. Then drop the chain back through the conduit. This will leave a cable loop at one end and the chain sticking out the other end of the conduit. To catch the animal, put the loop over the animals neck pull the chain and hook it in the notch on the back of the pole. To release them pull the chain out of the notch and let it slip back through the conduit.

This little cheap pole is great for releasing small critters you don’t want to kill.

I’m sure that’s all clear as mud. Here are some pictures....








Here it is in action releasing an otter...



~ADC~

where you at in georgia?

I used 1/4 coated...I like the metal conduit idea as well...it would allow a longer pole, which is probably a little safer. I took a cap and drilled 2 holes through it, and then one about 5' down the pole...loop the cable through the 2 holes with one end out the hole on the pole. I put a ferrule on that to hold, while the rest of the cable goes out the other end of the pole and is attached to a handle.
I'll try to get a pic on here..probably will make more sense to look at it than me trying to describe it. I still think if a person goes longer than 3', the metal may be a better bet like what ADC has rigged.

just wonderin, i got some folks in lula

Mine is simuler to ADCs.

couldnt of said it better ADC. mine is exactly the same, 5 bobcats cant complain...nor can the 2 coons removed from a lady's house

trax thats pretty cool, mind walkin us through the process? that looks professional, that cable ever kink up on you? thats my biggest problem is soon as i use it, i have to re-adjust the cable to get kinks out.

I just made one the other day and it turned out great and cost about $6-$8 is all. Go to youtube, in the search window type in- how to make a catch pole for trapping, it's the first one you will see. It was really simple.

Just buy a line tightner and I used 1" PVC conduit for the outside and a 1/2" PVC for the inner, cut it to the length you want, cut the inside one about 1 1/4" shorter than the outter, and glue the line tightener in the end of the outter piece, buy a PVC for the 1" PVC, the I used 1/8" plactic coated cable for the noose, then thread the cable down throught the line tightener and out the other end, go through a drilled hole in the PVC cap and then back in the other hole, then place the cap on the PVC, I don't glue the cap on incase I have to work on something inside.

Hope that kind of explains it for you.


OH and make sure you remove the plastic coating on the end you make the loop on, if you dont when you pull it tight on an animal it will pull the plastic coating off and you catch pole wont be one until you fix it! LOL

For anyone who walks a lot on his line, a snare on the end of a #9 wire (as suggested in Steve Wood's Bobcatching vol. 1) can be much easier to carry than a pole.

I have used that method several times. Then one day I tried it on a foot-snared big tom. Unknown to me he had chewed the cable nearly through. The cable broke when I pulled and it left me standing face-to-face with a angry cat on the end of an 7 foot wire. Luckily he just stared at me while I pulled out my 22 Buckmark and put him down. It's funny now but it wasn't then.

haha id hate to ruin a snare every cat i catch tho! call me cheap a 50cent snare for an $80(if im lucky) bobcat, but i seem to lug a million other things around, whats another couple pounds right thanks for the tip!

You wouldn't ruin the snare, its not like you would let them tangle up with it on them, you just put it on them and set the hook, pull the snare as tight as you can yank it and hold it till the animal is dispatch, and then you can use it again on the next cat.

I used a metal extention pole for a paint roller from the Depot and coated cable. bends a bit, but works great. All you have to do is loop the cable out the end and poke it out the other and secure the non loop end to the pole with 100 mph tape. That way you just push and pull and the pole extends and tightens the loop. pretty cheap and fast way of making one

Cattrax:
I would like to make one of those. I'm not familiar with the "line tighteners" like the one you have pictured. All I get when googled are some cheap plastic things made for tents. Where does a guy get one of those?

Thanks.

Try this Hughesj23

Tightener link

You can buy online or order it through your local Ace hardware store. They will look at you funny when you order thorough the store as they won't have a clue what you are asking about. Tell them to search their system and it will show up.

You can get them at home depot or lowe's. They are in the hardware section with the clothesline.

I got mine form Wal-Mart. It's where they sell rope/chain.