What's the recommended trap preparation method for bobcat? Do you need to boil, dip, wax, and air dry like one would for coyote or is there something else I need to be doing? I have never trapped bobcats before and am looking at drawing my first tag for WI this year. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

... the added speed from waxing will help.. but no need to worry about scent

I wax mine because I often use salt for antfreeze. The wax keeps the salt from rusting them . That extra speed, as was already said, is nice too

Thank you all, I plan on using my MB550's and #2 bridgers I use for coyotes. Danny, Savell, dirtydog, any you guys got any tips, tricks, or pics of typical sets/locations

... find this ...



.... then make sets that catches the cats eye and use both a skunky Call Lure and a Cat gland based lure ( puuurfect is a good one) .... blind sets in necked down travel ways also

I don't do anything different, just basic dirtholes. If the area looks catty or I've seen sign there before I'll hang a little tinsel above the set to catch their eye

Im like Danny, prep them for the weather but if you ask me forget CS and burying cat traps in the dirt. Rig them like this and set them in about any type of bottle necked trail and you almost cant go wrong. They are not scared of your scent, any fences you build, or boxing them in to where the only place they can step is the trap

Search for your fellow Wisconsinite AJE on here and read his posts.. He asked about every bobcat question know to man last year when he drew his tag.

Find some good game trails in cat habitat and set them up with a few traps each. I use as many exposed trail sets as is available for me to take advantage of.

.. Mr. Jameson ....at least tell him to smear a little Sierra Mist on the sapling to the right

if you see this make a set

Yep those are claw marks and yes it IS a cat track. Usually you wont see those claws but they DO stick em out once in a while. I think for traction

In my opinion a #2 might be a little small for cat. They will work on your average size cat. I personally went to a #3 after walking up to a set with a big tom in the trap when he hit the end of the chain the trap blew up. Had to look all over to find the jaws. Maybe it was just really bad luck but haven't had it done with a #3.

Make this set and get all these.

I like to find a trail and narrow it down with a couple of clumps of broom sedge. Add some duck feathers and put some skunky/castor lure on the grass about 12”-14” high.

Sometimes you get this

awesome pictures much appreciated. what is the typical rub set consisted of and how would one set it?

cats are about as unpredictable a critter there is i think.

oh yeah but she's blond and i quit tryin to figure her out 30 plus years ago.

easy now,no need gettin carried away.

Well surely you didn't expect me to say anything nice did ya? Scub and Cotton trained me better than that.

Vaca brother. Vaca.

#1. Look long and hard to find 'em.
#2. Throw the kithchen sink at 'em. Bait/lure/visual/turds/urine
#. Repeart 1& 2

Nice.

I'm innocent in the pic taking department. Promise!
Jim Spencer, TPC editor did the honors as he rode along with me that day. He was indeed a good luck charm!

In Michigan you become an expert at letting cats go. Your best coyote sets will catch lots of bobcats. Wnen I was younger trapping in UP I could keep several during reg coyote season. Now we get a approx 10 day window in December. That particular nice female was caught day before season.