I'm new to the art of bobcat trapping. I have recently gotten access to trap cars on private property and it seems to have quite a few. My question is what do you guys like as a minimum pan tension to not get get toe catches and a maximum to get smaller cats? I'm only gona be trapping it for about 2 months so I want to come home with any size cat that touches the pan as i have never caught a cat yet. Any info is appreciated

I seldom measure it but mine is about 3 lbs or so.I think 2-3 lbs would work well for you.

Ok I will shoot for something like that then, thank you

I'm going to run about 2lbs this year. I usually run 3 but seems like winter weather takes it up some. Im using duke #2 and bridger dogless 2
J

Ok sounds like I'm getting good information. I'm going to run some mb 650s that I have. I'm hoping for my first cat this season

3-4 lbs.

But I consider kittens non-targets.

I set to 4# at center pan. It will be less toward loose jaw and more toward trap dog because of leverage. I trap coyote & (cats later in year) and don't want rabbits and skunk (or fox - they are too scarce).

4# for reason stated in above 2 posts, by Boone ,Furvor

Ok Furvor do you ever catch any smaller cats in your sets? I don't want rabbits or other things in my sets clogging them off before the cats get there.

Not with the 4 lbs.

Ok so just for my curiosity what's the smallest cat you've ever gotten with your traps at 4lbs

If you want to keep cottontails out,you better be up around 3# plus.I don't think you will keep most jacks out.I catch kittens that way 8-10 lbs in traps that are probably 3-4 lbs.

Don't try to go too low on the 650 tension.They sometimes don't like it and may not want to stay set.Mine are probably 4-5 lbs.I don't often use them for cats but catch plenty of fox in them that weigh 8-11 #.

Taximan thank you for the info that's pretty much exactly the information I wanted. I'm glad to hear that 4 lbs isn't to much on bobcat pan tension because some of my 650s wouldn't go lower than 2.5 or 3 lbs.

Thayne I just went to 4 lb pan tension last season. All the bobcats I caught were large toms. But I doubt that I missed any smaller cats. I was catching them a quarter mile or more away from protective cover that females and kittens normally rely on. Big toms can protect themselves from coyotes.

Around 3 lbs here in SE Oklahoma will catch small cats and fox but also exclude most rabbits, skunks, and possums. It will probably be different as you get farther north and critters increase in size (weight). As far as how light to avoid toe catches has more to do with pan creep than tension. If you have it set pretty light but a crisp break and no creep you won’t have any problem with tie catches.

Ok there is little to no creep on my traps thanks for the information OKforester. I'm gona shoot for about 3 lbs and call it a day.

Do any of you use the Sullivan trap tester to test the firing weight on the pan. That's what I use I'm just curious how accurate they are.

I use one I tested it on my wife digital kitchen scale it was with in an ounce + or _ 1 2 and 3 lbs
J

I have used the Sullivan trap tester, setting trap to fire at 4 lbs but not at 3 lbs. IMHO a weight is a better test. After some experience a thumb test is enough for most trappers. But a thumb on edge of pan is not the same as a middle pan test.

I think 3# would be pretty good for everything.I haven't used the Sullivan tester but ,either wayif it gets you a consistent pan tension,trap to trap,that's a good thing.A couple ounces will make no difference in the real world.