I trapped cats in the East for maybe 15 years.They are the same animal for all practical purposes though the terrain is different and their prey may be different than here.

They still like cover,hugging rock structure,going under rock overhangs and visiting prominent landscape features.

I believe if you have a system that regularly catches cats,you can adapt it to other regions.

When I trapped bobcats in southern Arizona sandy washes, dry rocky stream beds, narrow ridges, and old roads were most effective for me. In the Colorado front range, ridges leading down from higher areas seemed to be the best funnels. In east Idaho desert sage brush I find no sandy washes or ridges leading down. I do find trails through sage brush, most of which disappear when snow flies. Shallow ditches or ravines are fairly consistent travel ways but not the only ones.

With soft snow on the ground backtracking a trapped cat can be revealing. During mating season, or on the way to a hunting area, tracks may be in a pretty straight line.

I remember a rub set on a cedar, in a narrow draw in wy, twice, I think two years in a row or 2 of3 trips, I caught a big male coyote in that cat set the day I pulled my traps to leave, the set ended up being the last one to pull to end my trip.
These big males survived year round coyote control, and 2+ weeks of me trapping there.
They fell for the cat lures, sticks where on the ground to guide cat feet
If you use same stuff every year, helps to give any survivors something new to sniff

there are quite a few baits and lures that catch whatever finds then first. those are the ones I like

Colt,
No punches landed here... I'm good with what you overview.
Glad I could help along the way. My trapping continues to evolve as factors in this biz evolve. Trapping is a learn as you go proposition.

MJ

Tjm: you asked a very good question. Where can you place the walk through set and you described your area in MO.

The answer is everywhere. I misconception is that it has to be on a game trail or that perfect pinch point at the corner of a rockpike. But you can make it anywhere that you can find brush and rocks to make the blocking or fence. If no brush there carry it in. The debris itself is a big attraction. It look mousy and since it wasn’t there yesterday the curious bobcat has to take a close look. And then he goes home with you.

Seriously you can make this set anywhere and it is great everywhere. You could drop
one in the middle of an empty pasture and catch cats. Better yet put it on the edge at the fence line and hang a visual twirling thing nearby but you get my point.

Rub sets are for experimenting. Walkthroughs are the deal.

I hope nobody has a rule we have to all agree

I like a walkthrough because cats don't like to back up

I don't think a visual attracter will get one to go more than about 10 feet to have a look