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Bobcat feet and trap size #6169174
02/24/18 10:39 PM
02/24/18 10:39 PM
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 97
VA
J
jackrock Offline OP
trapper
jackrock  Offline OP
trapper
J

Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 97
VA
So just how big is a bobcats foot? I read about them having big feet and you need a big trap for the foot to fit in. But the feet don’t look that big to me. I’m sure a cat can splay his foot out, but they don’t walk that way do they? When they walk around I would assume the foot is compact just as a track shows. Any thoughts?

Re: Bobcat feet and trap size [Re: jackrock] #6169184
02/24/18 10:47 PM
02/24/18 10:47 PM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 613
Northern Missouri
Northmocats Offline
trapper
Northmocats  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 613
Northern Missouri
I've caught cats pushing 30lb's in MB550 without any problem. I've even caught big ones in the old 1.5 cs dukes. So I'd say any size 1.5 or bigger you would be just fine.

Last edited by Northmocats; 02/24/18 10:48 PM.
Re: Bobcat feet and trap size [Re: jackrock] #6169211
02/24/18 11:11 PM
02/24/18 11:11 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,750
williamsburg ks
D
danny clifton Offline
"Grumpy Old Man"
danny clifton  Offline
"Grumpy Old Man"
D

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,750
williamsburg ks



not a big cat at all. #3 bridger trap. I like a little extra room for a mishap.


Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
Re: Bobcat feet and trap size [Re: jackrock] #6169216
02/24/18 11:15 PM
02/24/18 11:15 PM
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 6,190
Kansas
Pawnee Offline
trapper
Pawnee  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 6,190
Kansas
Biggest cat I ever caught was in a 1.5 duke. I use Jake traps primarily but have caught a load in #2 bridgers. I think it’s all about guiding them to the pan. I could be wrong


Everything the left touches it destroys
Re: Bobcat feet and trap size [Re: jackrock] #6169220
02/24/18 11:18 PM
02/24/18 11:18 PM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,147
Fontana KS
A
Andrew Eastwood Offline
trapper
Andrew Eastwood  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,147
Fontana KS
I have caught enough cats in mb450s a 1 1/2 size trap to feel comfortable using them for cats, but with that said a larger trap is more forgiving. All I have trapped is KS cats so geography may make a difference I can only speak for my area.

Re: Bobcat feet and trap size [Re: jackrock] #6169232
02/24/18 11:32 PM
02/24/18 11:32 PM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,073
montana
R
red mt Offline
trapper
red mt  Offline
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R

Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,073
montana
Imo it's not necessarily about a cat foot size, other factors to it such as snow depth , only so much snow a trap can reach through.


Kenneth schoening
Re: Bobcat feet and trap size [Re: jackrock] #6169260
02/24/18 11:57 PM
02/24/18 11:57 PM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 3,083
Ks
Flint Hill fur Offline
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Flint Hill fur  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 3,083
Ks

Re: Bobcat feet and trap size [Re: jackrock] #6169288
02/25/18 12:14 AM
02/25/18 12:14 AM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 3,083
Ks
Flint Hill fur Offline
trapper
Flint Hill fur  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 3,083
Ks
It's all in the guiding. But my go to is Bridger 2 or 3 or my 550s. Whatever is on top of pile

Re: Bobcat feet and trap size [Re: jackrock] #6169346
02/25/18 01:28 AM
02/25/18 01:28 AM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 9,132
SWMo.
T
tjm Offline
trapper
tjm  Offline
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T

Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 9,132
SWMo.
Originally Posted By: jackrock
So just how big is a bobcats foot? I read about them having big feet and you need a big trap for the foot to fit in. But the feet don’t look that big to me. I’m sure a cat can splay his foot out, but they don’t walk that way do they? When they walk around I would assume the foot is compact just as a track shows. Any thoughts?
If you have seen a good clean track, that is just exactly how big that cat's foot is.

Re: Bobcat feet and trap size [Re: jackrock] #6169348
02/25/18 01:29 AM
02/25/18 01:29 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
trapper
The Beav  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
Not all that big.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Bobcat feet and trap size [Re: jackrock] #6169351
02/25/18 01:36 AM
02/25/18 01:36 AM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,007
WI - Wisconsin
A
AJE Offline
trapper
AJE  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,007
WI - Wisconsin
Sometimes they will step right on an exposed trap pan.

Re: Bobcat feet and trap size [Re: AJE] #6169355
02/25/18 01:47 AM
02/25/18 01:47 AM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,692
Meridian, Idaho
10bands Offline
trapper
10bands  Offline
trapper

Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,692
Meridian, Idaho
Originally Posted By: AJE
Sometimes they will step right on an exposed trap pan.
All the time really. Some cat trappers use only exposed sets which is another reason for a larger trap. You can put a bigger pan on them making a more inviting place for a cat to step.

Re: Bobcat feet and trap size [Re: jackrock] #6169375
02/25/18 03:15 AM
02/25/18 03:15 AM
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,100
Southern Nevada
C
cat_trapper_nv Offline
"Cat Master"
cat_trapper_nv  Offline
"Cat Master"
C

Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,100
Southern Nevada
Caught a 40” Tom in an MB450 this season in an exposed walkthrough. Caught 2 more in a Bridget 1.75 exposed. Both stock pans

Last edited by cat_trapper_nv; 02/25/18 03:16 AM.

If traps work like the Antis say......I would have no fingers.


Re: Bobcat feet and trap size [Re: jackrock] #6169406
02/25/18 07:46 AM
02/25/18 07:46 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,750
williamsburg ks
D
danny clifton Offline
"Grumpy Old Man"
danny clifton  Offline
"Grumpy Old Man"
D

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,750
williamsburg ks
How many did you miss? With exposed trap and using the smaller sizes how often do you see sign where the cat stepped clear over it? Around here you need snow to see what happened every time. Cats are experts at not leaving sign.


Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
Re: Bobcat feet and trap size [Re: jackrock] #6169416
02/25/18 08:02 AM
02/25/18 08:02 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,750
williamsburg ks
D
danny clifton Offline
"Grumpy Old Man"
danny clifton  Offline
"Grumpy Old Man"
D

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,750
williamsburg ks
P.S. I'm not saying a 1 1/2 wont catch and hold a big tom. It will. But only some of them. Some will fire the trap and not be there. Or just not step on it. when that happens you may not even know it happened without snow.

If I was trapping in NV where some of those toms are bringing a thousand bucks I wouldn't mess with small traps.


Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
Re: Bobcat feet and trap size [Re: jackrock] #6169486
02/25/18 09:37 AM
02/25/18 09:37 AM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,780
St. Cloud, MN
trapperkeck Offline
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trapperkeck  Offline
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Posts: 9,780
St. Cloud, MN
A cat's foot is about as big around as a snuff can. I am, solidly, in Danny's camp.


"The voice of reason!"
Re: Bobcat feet and trap size [Re: jackrock] #6169533
02/25/18 10:16 AM
02/25/18 10:16 AM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,781
Mi, Mecosta
A
ambush32 Offline
trapper
ambush32  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,781
Mi, Mecosta
What's the smallest dbls that could be used? I'm using 4's now, thinking about going down to 2 or 3...


Thought I was a good trapper until I started trapping coyotes......
Thought I was a good bowhunter until I targeted mature bucks....
Re: Bobcat feet and trap size [Re: jackrock] #6169591
02/25/18 10:50 AM
02/25/18 10:50 AM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 25,692
nm
A
adam m Offline
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adam m  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 25,692
nm
Biggest cat I've caught had a foot at 3 5/8". That one I had to call the warden to verify it wasn't a lynx barely white under tail ear tuffs were long but not long enough cheek tuffs prominent. Wardens couldn't believe that cat.

Lynx typically have 3.5" - 4.5" wide track.
I've caught several cats in 1 3/4's cs.

Re: Bobcat feet and trap size [Re: ambush32] #6169649
02/25/18 11:35 AM
02/25/18 11:35 AM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,073
montana
R
red mt Offline
trapper
red mt  Offline
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R

Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,073
montana
Originally Posted By: ambush32
What's the smallest dbls that could be used? I'm using 4's now, thinking about going down to 2 or 3...

Lot cats caught in 3s


Kenneth schoening
Re: Bobcat feet and trap size [Re: jackrock] #6169682
02/25/18 11:57 AM
02/25/18 11:57 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,459
Montana
Taximan Offline
trapper
Taximan  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,459
Montana
Red and Danny make real good points.It's about much more than foot size and holding power.A big tom's foot is about the width of an average coyote's though the hair may make it look bigger.

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