Here in Wi, it's tough to draw a cat tag. So most of the experienced coyote trappers have had to release bobcats. Let's discuss some of the tips and tricks of releasing a bobcat. I've heard of people using catch poles (important not to hook on a cat too tight), plywood with a hole in the bottom, even jackets or blankets...

Catch pole. And be fast about It.

Personally, I have never had an problem releasing them using a standard catch pole. All you need to do is take a few seconds to go through what you're going to do BEFORE using the pole. That way you can work quick and efficiently. First, pin the head down with the pole, using your feet, compress the trap levers and slide the cat out of the trap with the pole. Then release the cat. The whole process of the release should only take you less than 30 seconds. 9 out of 10 times, the cat is going to run under your truck.

Never tried it but I heard you could take a garbage can, while on its side push it close to the Cat, the Cat crawls in, tip the can up (opening down)pull the trap and foot out from under and release the trap

10-4 on running under the truck. Had that happen more then once.

That's kind of what we use to do when live market trapping fox and cats. But we used a dog crate. open the door slide the cage up close to the animal. 9 times out of 10 It would try and hide In the crate. Close door as much as you can drag the trapped paw out and remove the trap.
This dosen't work so good if you have to be hauling the crate to far from the truck.

Same technique for releasing cougars?

I prefer the board with notch, with handles on the inside (like a super hero shield-slid on your arm)..LOL
then the garbage can with notch
then catch pole
BUT, the catch pole is used if very far from truck

I use my special built catch pole. Have released lots of cats, works good every time. I Choke the cat down (moderately) for just a few seconds and take away his air. If you do this too tight or too long you'll have a dead cat. This will make the cat dizzy or incapacitated. Quickly take off the trap (even released from coyote snares if not neck caught) and loosen the pole. Takes a minute or two, they get their breath and are off like a rocket. The first few I released I used the stick like a Y method. This is much better.

I used a plastic tote about 20 gallon size worked good for me.

So...once its under your truck...then what?

Had to push one with a closed live trap once to release it just pushed it back until the leg came out from under the bottom of the cage on my side and slipped the trap off was glad it went the other way!

The plastic tote is the best way for the cat.They quiet down,in the dark tote,hold it down with one knee and release.No danger to the cat or stress etc.I've released a couple kittens with a cardboard box though I'm not recommending it.They just settled down and let me do what I needed to do.

Just a tip,if the foot is frozen,especially a front one,you aren't going to see that cat again.

Get the cat in the catch pole and pin his head to the ground with the free front leg under him. Pin both of the cats back feet down with one of yours. Stick the free end of the pole in your belly to pin it to the ground and release the trap with your hands. Grab the pole quick and release the cat. If it doesn't take off just back away.

There may be better ways but that's mine and it works for me.

I release 8 to 10 a season. Some with a catch pole and some with a plastic tote. The first thing you should ALWAYS do is close your truck doors! With the catch pole I get the loop over the head and the free front leg so that the loop tightens across the shoulder and doesn't choke them out. Tighten it up good and tight then push them down and away until the trapped leg is extended and they are stretched out so that they can't reach you with the free leg or mouth. Then I put the end of the catch pole against my waist and keep pressure on it. Reach down and release the trap then release the catch pole from them. Many of them will go under the truck or 4 wheeler but give them a minute and they will run away as you approach. When released if they sit there or walk away slowly, don't poke at them. Some seem to take that personally. I carry extra traps in a 25 gallon heavy duty plastic tote. I dump the traps out and use it to release bobcats. I have a notch cut in the rim. Just walk up keeping it low and slap it down over them. Once under the tote, move it so that the chain is in the notch and back until the trap and foot are sticking out. I sit on the tote and remove the trap. I give them a minute then tip the tote over using my catch pole. Most of the time they run off immediately using this method. I like the plastic tote method better but both work well.

Pick them up by the scruff of the neck and they will go limp. Remove trap.

I use a pole. I have never had any problems. I think being calm and talking calm helps tremendously, but I maybe full of it.

I heard of 1 once jumping over the guy's plywood release board.

We use a tote or a cooler..

I just use a pole on cats same as any other critter I want to release. Get the loop on them and snug it up. Stretch them out so the head is away from the caught foot and kneel on the pole to keep it in place. Release the foot, release the loop.

Stare at each other until the critter realizes its free and runs off.

Always make sure your vehicle's doors are closed.

And stay out of the catch circle if at all possible.

Hey thanks, MnMan ! This gave me a chuckle and I needed on this morning after opening the Sunday papers and reading all the libtards letters and comments in the opinion page. Even a couple stories the liberal papers ran got me wound up a bit. But a good laugh loosens me up easily. Thanks again......

First tip is don't let your dog out of the truck to get the cat all jumpy. If you happen to forget this tip then put dog back in truck and let the cat calm down again. I have only released one and I took a minute to evaluate things and thought about getting a friend to come assist. After some thinking I decided to release the cat alone. I carry my pole at all times so I got it out and put the loop around the cats neck and snugged it just enough I figured it could not slip out. I then put a knee on the pole.and with gloved hands, can't use feet when trap is laying on it's side unless you want to hurt the cat, I released the trap. I then released the pole and used it to make sure the cat wasn't going to come at me. Once released.the cat jumped over about 5 feet and hid in the furns. After watching it from the truck for about 5 minutes I tried to run it off so I could remake the set. It wouldn't leave. Now I let the dog back out of the truck and gave the cat a nudge with the pole. It ran slowly about &0 yards with dog in tow until I called dog back. Once the dog came back it started walking. It was still in sight walking the trail after I got set remade. That is my one experience and am sure I will have more in years to come since I plan on setting a bigger line now that I got all my equipment together.

am i the only one that has a set of cat tongs??

“Always make sure your doors are closed”

Cat tongs? Please explain.

the set i have belong to my furbuyer friend.they look like a 5 ft long set of tongs that lock a 1 in wide metal like collar around the neck.is a one size deal but really seems to be the ticket on cats and fisher.if i can find them i'll take a pic.,everything is packed away as i'm getting ready for spring work.

Excuse my stutter.

Leopards seem a bit more aggressive than bobcats...

The simplest way to do It Is to carry a leggits helper with you. It's light weight and you can use it for different things. Pin down the cat step on the trap springs and back up.
When I was live market trapping both reds and greys we just pinned down the fox removed the trap then grabbed the fox by the back of the neck and placed It In the transfer cage.

google cat tongs and check them out.some are nicer than mine and i don't have to tear my shop apart looking.i'm goin back to look for a set for myself.

This is what came up on google:




I gotta admit, if that's what your using, you're braver than me!

:D,i saw them too.look more towards the adc line.good part about the ones in the pic are they close all the way if need be.

The plastic tote is still the best way.When you grab a cat around the neck,they go bonkers.That does the cat no good and there are still 3 feet,not controlled.The tote can be used to carry gear till needed.

Cat grabbers are used to catch a cat and transfer it in to a cage.There is no trap to remove,so they can stay away from the feet.They often use it to grab them behind the shoulders,as well.I personally would use it for bobcats.Here is a grabber:
http://shop.snaresandtraps.com/4-foot-billet-smaller-jaws-animal-grasper/

The tote is the safest and as I mentioned before,it not only shields you from the teeth and other 3 sets of claws but calms the cat down.There eyes also adjust to the darkness of the tote,so when you flip it,the bright light throws them off for a few seconds and they don't come out swinging.I've used all the other methods and some you haven't heard of and this has worked best by far,for me.