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Preferred bobcat pan tension #6298924 08/10/18 10:35 PM 08/10/18 10:35 PM
Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID T Thayne OP trapper
Thayne OP trapper T Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID	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

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6298949 08/10/18 11:13 PM 08/10/18 11:13 PM
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 5,459 Montana Taximan trapper
Taximan trapper Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 5,459 Montana	I seldom measure it but mine is about 3 lbs or so.I think 2-3 lbs would work well for you.

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6299214 08/11/18 11:51 AM 08/11/18 11:51 AM
Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID T Thayne OP trapper
Thayne OP trapper T Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID	Ok I will shoot for something like that then, thank you

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6299224 08/11/18 12:09 PM 08/11/18 12:09 PM
Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 1,028 West Cent IL illinideer trapper
illinideer trapper Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 1,028 West Cent IL	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 Coyote 5 Badger 1 Coons 17 Bobcats 2 Released Grinners All of them USN AE2 VF-31 Tomcatters Retired SMSGT IL ANG 183 Fighter Wing Coyote U Class #4

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6299240 08/11/18 12:41 PM 08/11/18 12:41 PM
Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID T Thayne OP trapper
Thayne OP trapper T Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID	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

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6299257 08/11/18 01:16 PM 08/11/18 01:16 PM
Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 3,398 SD Boone Liane trapper
Boone Liane trapper Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 3,398 SD	3-4 lbs. But I consider kittens non-targets.

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6299288 08/11/18 01:51 PM 08/11/18 01:51 PM
Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,414 Idaho Falls, Idaho F Furvor trapper
Furvor trapper F Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,414 Idaho Falls, Idaho	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).

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6299298 08/11/18 02:04 PM 08/11/18 02:04 PM
Joined: Oct 2014 Posts: 5,081 montana R red mt trapper
red mt trapper R Joined: Oct 2014 Posts: 5,081 montana	4# for reason stated in above 2 posts, by Boone ,Furvor Kenneth schoening

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6299345 08/11/18 04:06 PM 08/11/18 04:06 PM
Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID T Thayne OP trapper
Thayne OP trapper T Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID	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.

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6299368 08/11/18 04:50 PM 08/11/18 04:50 PM
Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,414 Idaho Falls, Idaho F Furvor trapper
Furvor trapper F Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,414 Idaho Falls, Idaho	Not with the 4 lbs.

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6299407 08/11/18 06:11 PM 08/11/18 06:11 PM
Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID T Thayne OP trapper
Thayne OP trapper T Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID	Ok so just for my curiosity what's the smallest cat you've ever gotten with your traps at 4lbs

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6299425 08/11/18 06:44 PM 08/11/18 06:44 PM
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 5,459 Montana Taximan trapper
Taximan trapper Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 5,459 Montana	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 #.

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6299482 08/11/18 08:43 PM 08/11/18 08:43 PM
Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID T Thayne OP trapper
Thayne OP trapper T Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID	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.

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6299557 08/11/18 10:18 PM 08/11/18 10:18 PM
Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,414 Idaho Falls, Idaho F Furvor trapper
Furvor trapper F Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,414 Idaho Falls, Idaho	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. Last edited by Furvor; 08/11/18 10:25 PM.

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6299810 08/12/18 10:24 AM 08/12/18 10:24 AM
Joined: Aug 2014 Posts: 839 McCurtain Co. Oklahoma O OKforester trapper
OKforester trapper O Joined: Aug 2014 Posts: 839 McCurtain Co. Oklahoma	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.

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6299848 08/12/18 11:32 AM 08/12/18 11:32 AM
Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID T Thayne OP trapper
Thayne OP trapper T Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID	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.

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6299849 08/12/18 11:33 AM 08/12/18 11:33 AM
Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID T Thayne OP trapper
Thayne OP trapper T Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID	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.

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6299882 08/12/18 12:13 PM 08/12/18 12:13 PM
Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 1,028 West Cent IL illinideer trapper
illinideer trapper Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 1,028 West Cent IL	Originally Posted By: Thayne 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 Coyote 5 Badger 1 Coons 17 Bobcats 2 Released Grinners All of them USN AE2 VF-31 Tomcatters Retired SMSGT IL ANG 183 Fighter Wing Coyote U Class #4

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6299883 08/12/18 12:13 PM 08/12/18 12:13 PM
Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,414 Idaho Falls, Idaho F Furvor trapper
Furvor trapper F Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,414 Idaho Falls, Idaho	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.

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6299886 08/12/18 12:15 PM 08/12/18 12:15 PM
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 5,459 Montana Taximan trapper
Taximan trapper Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 5,459 Montana	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.

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6299890 08/12/18 12:19 PM 08/12/18 12:19 PM
Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,511 nunya,ks T tbn trapper
tbn trapper T Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,511 nunya,ks	I can't say in the 30 plus years I have been at it that I owned or considered buying a tension tester.

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6299917 08/12/18 01:01 PM 08/12/18 01:01 PM
Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID T Thayne OP trapper
Thayne OP trapper T Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID	Ok guys thanks a bunch I have a few hammers around the 3 to 4 lb weight and will try those also to see how they work compared to the Sullivan tester

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6299918 08/12/18 01:03 PM 08/12/18 01:03 PM
Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID T Thayne OP trapper
Thayne OP trapper T Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID	Looks like some great catches tbn. I hope to at least get 1 cat this fall

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6299925 08/12/18 01:15 PM 08/12/18 01:15 PM
Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,511 nunya,ks T tbn trapper
tbn trapper T Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,511 nunya,ks	Thayne that was my first year catch.A story behind that catch many wouldn't believe if I told it.

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6299956 08/12/18 01:52 PM 08/12/18 01:52 PM
Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,414 Idaho Falls, Idaho F Furvor trapper
Furvor trapper F Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,414 Idaho Falls, Idaho	In east Idaho big wide belly toms can bring $1000 or more, but they are few and far between. The average trapper probably average less than 6 cats of all sizes/grades in a season, and the two month season starts in mid December. At 4,000 to 6,000 feet above sea level in the valleys snow on the ground is normal. Last edited by Furvor; 08/12/18 01:59 PM.

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6299989 08/12/18 02:41 PM 08/12/18 02:41 PM
Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID T Thayne OP trapper
Thayne OP trapper T Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID	Furvor I know that all to well I live in montpelier idaho. This year I'm going to travel about 100 miles to trap wyoming. We have way to many hound hunters and trappers in this area. I don't mind the challenge it's just the dishonesty and theft that I can't handle. So with the access to private property in wyoming I figured I'd go all out on gear to try and get my first cat. I'd like to make some money back but for me trapping has always been about the fun and having some memories to hang on the wall.

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6300047 08/12/18 04:20 PM 08/12/18 04:20 PM
Joined: Oct 2014 Posts: 5,081 montana R red mt trapper
red mt trapper R Joined: Oct 2014 Posts: 5,081 montana	Originally Posted By: Thayne Furvor I know that all to well I live in montpelier idaho. This year I'm going to travel about 100 miles to trap wyoming. We have way to many hound hunters and trappers in this area. I don't mind the challenge it's just the dishonesty and theft that I can't handle. So with the access to private property in wyoming I figured I'd go all out on gear to try and get my first cat. I'd like to make some money back but for me trapping has always been about the fun and having some memories to hang on the wall. I wish you well hope catch a bunch of them. Kenneth schoening

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6300097 08/12/18 05:24 PM 08/12/18 05:24 PM
Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID T Thayne OP trapper
Thayne OP trapper T Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID	Thanks red mtn em going to give em (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) and see what I come up with

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6300104 08/12/18 05:34 PM 08/12/18 05:34 PM
Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 3,694 Nevadafornia L Lazarus trapper
Lazarus trapper L Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 3,694 Nevadafornia	Originally Posted By: Thayne Ok so just for my curiosity what's the smallest cat you've ever gotten with your traps at 4lbs Well think about it. If a cat weighed 12 pounds, and he put equal weight on each foot, that would 3 pounds per foot. However, he's going to have one foot in the air when he steps on your pan (because he's not going to be balancing on two feet), so a 12 pound cat would have 4 pounds on each foot -- all other things being equal.

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6300115 08/12/18 05:47 PM 08/12/18 05:47 PM
Joined: Oct 2014 Posts: 5,081 montana R red mt trapper
red mt trapper R Joined: Oct 2014 Posts: 5,081 montana	Catch a pretty small ones by both back feet. Every once in a while Kenneth schoening

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6300268 08/12/18 09:43 PM 08/12/18 09:43 PM
Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID T Thayne OP trapper
Thayne OP trapper T Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID	Thanks red mtn em going to give em (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) and see what I come up with

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6300271 08/12/18 09:44 PM 08/12/18 09:44 PM
Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID T Thayne OP trapper
Thayne OP trapper T Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID	Lazarus I never thought about it like that it makes perfect sense to me.

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Lazarus] #6300369 08/13/18 12:27 AM 08/13/18 12:27 AM
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 5,459 Montana Taximan trapper
Taximan trapper Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 5,459 Montana	Originally Posted By: Lazarus Originally Posted By: Thayne Ok so just for my curiosity what's the smallest cat you've ever gotten with your traps at 4lbs Well think about it. If a cat weighed 12 pounds, and he put equal weight on each foot, that would 3 pounds per foot. However, he's going to have one foot in the air when he steps on your pan (because he's not going to be balancing on two feet), so a 12 pound cat would have 4 pounds on each foot -- all other things being equal. Or,he could have half his weight on the one front foot.Also,keep in mind,a foot in motion,isn't a static weight but there is a little bit of momentum involved,so if you factor in weight combined with motion,you have more than 1/4 or 1/3 of the body weight.

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6300648 08/13/18 12:27 PM 08/13/18 12:27 PM
Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 3,694 Nevadafornia L Lazarus trapper
Lazarus trapper L Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 3,694 Nevadafornia	And down hill would be different than up hill, the cadence of his gait would make a difference, etc. That's why I said all other things being equal, its a starting point to consider when you are thinking about pan tension.

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6300652 08/13/18 12:29 PM 08/13/18 12:29 PM
Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 3,694 Nevadafornia L Lazarus trapper
Lazarus trapper L Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 3,694 Nevadafornia	I don't own a pan tension tester either.

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6301011 08/13/18 06:34 PM 08/13/18 06:34 PM
Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,511 nunya,ks T tbn trapper
tbn trapper T Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,511 nunya,ks	Nice, as always, Tracy.

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6301326 08/13/18 11:47 PM 08/13/18 11:47 PM
Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID T Thayne OP trapper
Thayne OP trapper T Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID	Lazarus that's one heck of a catch you got there. Maybe I'm second guessing everything to much for Bobcats I just don't want to have bobcat toes in my traps when I go check. Last edited by Thayne; 08/13/18 11:50 PM.

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6301350 08/14/18 12:27 AM 08/14/18 12:27 AM
Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,414 Idaho Falls, Idaho F Furvor trapper
Furvor trapper F Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,414 Idaho Falls, Idaho	One cause of toe catches is too much covering on traps. Bare traps catch bobcats (though I prefer a little cover or a roof shingle pan cover) and coyote have been taken with just a little covering to break up outline of the trap. 4 coil traps can handle more covering and especially more frozen covering.

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6301615 08/14/18 11:13 AM 08/14/18 11:13 AM
Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 3,694 Nevadafornia L Lazarus trapper
Lazarus trapper L Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 3,694 Nevadafornia	Originally Posted By: Thayne I just don't want to have bobcat toes in my traps when I go check. I don't run much pan tension because while it is easy to REDUCE pan tension on the MB550 (only cat trap I use), its almost impossible to INCREASE pan tension on that trap. However, with the Mike Kelly enlarged pan and exposed sets, I get near universal full pad catches like this guy. Last year I had only one "toed cat."

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6301887 08/14/18 05:26 PM 08/14/18 05:26 PM
Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID T Thayne OP trapper
Thayne OP trapper T Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 64 ID	I planned on going with exposed traps with a shingle for the pan cover. I don't like the idea of having my traps frozen in or packing around a bucket of dry dirt everywhere I go. You guys have been very helpfull

Re: Preferred bobcat pan tension [Re: Thayne] #6303452 08/16/18 05:07 PM 08/16/18 05:07 PM
Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 1,028 West Cent IL illinideer trapper
illinideer trapper Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 1,028 West Cent IL	Boy I hope to draw a tag this year for IL. I've released some pretty ones. Coyote 5 Badger 1 Coons 17 Bobcats 2 Released Grinners All of them USN AE2 VF-31 Tomcatters Retired SMSGT IL ANG 183 Fighter Wing Coyote U Class #4

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