Hey guys, missed my first attempt at a bobcat last night, first night it was set. I had a classic Clint Locklear dirthole set, with two mb550’s set inline at the front of the shoot. The first trap (outside one) was sprung, and sticks thrown all over, with cat tracks all over it, I’m bummed out, but I have over a month yet to get one.

My question is, do I abandon that set, and move the set 50 feet or so, and this time maybe try a cubby set, just to change it up from a dirthole set? This location was at my buddies farm, and the cat was crossing this field road and going into a thicket, almost every night. Not sure if my chance is blown with this cat or not. Do they have a short memory? I hope so!😁.

I’ll try to attach a pic of the blown set this morning.

Reset!!!!! He or another will be back. But that's all I know

Will the same Cat really come back and stick his paw in the cookie jar again, after getting slapped the last time? The reason I think it’s the same cat is, my buddy was telling me that those tracks where I set up on, go to a culvert about 50 yards away. So I think its the same cat crossing this road every night.

You can check the archives for clearer info on bobcat habits

reset and set the culvert too

Good idea!

Good luck. I hope you get it. Share a pic if you do. I've never seen much chatter on here as to whether cats become trap shy. That's a good question on your part. I do like that idea of setting the culvert. We have a culvert by me going under the interstate. I may check & see if cats use it.

I missed 1 in a dirt hole a few years back so I set some snares before and after it on the trail 7 days later caught it 20’ away in a snare

Mel Hershberger tells of catching and releasing the same female cat several times because the Toms would come to visit and he would keep them. Made him way more than just keeping that one female.

How do you know a cat sprung the set? I check well before daylight and caught a coyote one morning. Went back that afternoon and cat tracks and his calling sign left at the sprung trap. Two nights later I caught the cat...45 minutes after sunset (watched it on cell cam.) Who’s to say something else didn’t trip the trap and the cat came to investigate. Don’t give up, it will be back.

Resetting and gang setting are great but I would urge you to consider pan tension. I have a lot more misses when I dont run thr pan up to 4 or 5 pounds and tune out all the slop (550 probably has very little but still check it). Missing a good cat irritates the crap out of this trapper

I agree with left lane pan tension Is a great tool.

if you missed that cat it is because your trap was too slow. id figure out that problem first. unless your a big pan guy. then the cat may have been standing on a jaw when it fired.

You'll get that cat Motley if you're still there when they come back through.
PM sent.
You might have to switch a few things up first.
Best of luck.

Hopefully you got it, Motley.

Double down in the area. Set more sets and use the wind. When it comes back through give him a few options. I like someting with some flash. I like bird wing attractors if you can use them. Big pieces of wool in a cubby or feathers scattered about and some back in the cubby, he/she is yours if your persistent.

Put a snare on every trail around there if you can use snares. Make walk through sets. Bobcats don’t like to back out

You mentioned they don't like to back out. I've heard that before, but have also heard caging them isn't unheard of. Maybe if they can see thru the end of a cubby or cage, then they are more likely to enter

Of course,open ended cubbies are a whole different ball game and keep in mind,a bobcat can see out the back of most cages.Also keep in mind that the majority of cage trap use is due to the trapper having no other legal option,then they learn to adapt and figure every angle to make them work.That isn't a shining endorsement for me to want to use them for a go to bobcat trap or set.

It isn't that a bobcat will never back up but you need to put all odds in your favor-every time.This is more than true if you have bobcats that are spread out,have lots of random movement,country that has very few prominent geographical features and you are working with a very short season every 6-8 years.If you try to make any animal do anything he is not already inclined to do,you are handicapping yourself.

That why you hear the common theme among experienced bobcat trappers of "walkthroughs".Bobcats like to walk through or around.Why not let them?make vey simple,efficient walk through sets,keep the snow off them and be patient.When I say be patient,I don't mean rest on your laurels.If you aren't catching,keep setting in different locations.Don't pull sets if you can help it,just keep adding sets and keep them all functioning.

Some country like yours may not have prominent features but they are still there,just much harder to find.We had a discussion about random,hunting movement vs consistent travel.Hopefully when someone tells you if you find a bobcat track,it will be back,you will understand that it doesn't always work that way.You have to determine if there is a feature,food supply or some other reason for it to return.It is tough in basically level terrain with few features.

I will add,most of my cats have been caught without bait or urine,mostly just lure,urine,droppings.Some were taken in blind sets,either snare or foot traps.The ones in bli nd sets were taken in land with very good,prominent features,mostly ledges.I have been fortunate enough to trap cats in 3 different States,all with different terrain,one,in the East.It is true,a bobcat is a bobcat,wherever it is but what changes how they move is terrain a climate.

What type of trap,type of lure or bait,type of set,etc,pales in importance to actual set location within the cat's home range.I'm still pulling for you.Keep after it and good luck.

How can you help but not be? Don't give up.