I am interested in catching a bobcat now that we have a season. Can someone explain to me a good cat location to set dirt holes and cubbies. All help is appreciated. I’m located in eastern iowa.

First find cat sign. Then:

If possible, make a blind set in the path the cat is following. Have both sides of the trap blocked in by grass tufts, small trees, or rock and use guides to bring it in to the trap and stepping sticks to encourage stepping on the pan. Unlike a coyote, the cat will not think anything of it. Plus, it is the tendency of a cat to step again within a few days where it stepped today.

Make a baited set (dirt hole, flat set, cubbie) within a few feet of the cat's travel path. Also use cat gland lure at the set. Maybe most importantly use a visual attractor. If your state laws allow, a dangling turkey feather or squirrel tail above the set. If you cannot use natural visual attractors use streamers that move in the slightest breeze. Old cassett tape strips, a section of plastic walmart bag cut into strips, christmas tree icing, etc. It is hard to pull a cat from it's intended track. Scent won't do it but a visual attractor will if it is close.

Happy trapping!

When I was trapping coon in eastern Iowa some time back I was finding cat sign along most of the larger creeks and rivers. Some of the bridges even had cat toilets under them. My first ever bobcat was caught on accident in Iowa in a coon set in the water lol.

cats can often often be found where there are beaver. cotton tail rabbits are good indicators as well as pack rats.

The thickest cover you can find. As Danny mentioned find dense pockets of rabbits and you will find cats. And as mentioned set right where the cat will walk. Don't expect to draw the cat to your set. Not saying it can't be done or visual attractors don't work but putting the set in the cats way will increase your success.

Don't know your season but I would wait a few weeks for better fur.
Feathers are a great attractant, you can draw them to your set. Cubbies work well with various attractants in them. We've caught with pack rats that had googly eyes as bait in the cubbie. Tinsel also works well hung above a set.
Cats are curious, they will come to your set but usually not from afar.

We catch in rocky terrain and along creeks.

If you really want some excitement, use cages instead of cubbies. I love catching them in cages and being able to photograph the females and kittens before release.

Check out this thread.

https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/4759431/1

The above recommendations are all good. I’d add that a brushy area in the middle of nowhere is a good spot. Especially if they can be seen from main travel ways such as river bottoms or wood lines.

Our season his December 10-20. I will have mine as soon as possible.

Bobcats no different then a stray cat can show up anywhere, find the sign set a trap and he is yours!

I almost had one in a 160 coni box set for coon by a deer bait pile. Luckily, the springs jammed into the slots, so it didn't fire on the cat. Would've been a awkward call to the warden.

... that’d be the last call I’d make ... do you call the cops when you realize you’re speeding? Lol

Now that you mention it, there is something to that self-incrimination.

... down here cats hunt the thickets where the rabbits and birds are ... toms running the roads in feb.... flashy dirt hole with cat gland based along with a skunky call set on sign will get em ... good luck to you.. put a pic in here when you get one



... and a little advertisement lol.. all seriousness.. dang good cat killer

Skunky or spicy Back Breaker works quite well too.

I imagine there is more than corn in Iowa. If you have trees and access to a beaver carcass you can catch cats. Wire a beaver carcass to a tree and block it hard on three sides. Set on sign and you'll catch a cat.