We are getting cats coming to the cage traps. We are having trouble getting them to enter. Any help would be appreciated. We put a call in lure outside trap. Gland lure inside. Beaver meat for bait hung in back of trap

^^^yep

Is the bottom of the cage covered or are they walking on wire to get in the traps?

Get some Grawe’s Fat Cat. Spread it on you beaver meat. End of store

They have not entered the trap at all. Just out front of it. Cage wire inside is covered up good with soil

Is the back of the cage open or covered up ?

yes it is covered up

Try leaving it open , more like a tunnel .
Some animals will commit if they think they can go through it .

I’d make sure the wind is blowing your lure smells from the back of the cage out the front of the cage. Pay attention to prevailing winds but more importantly night time thermals. Like said above all lures in the cage. If you use long distance call up high drop the lure stick in the back of the cage so the lure that Called the cat there is in the back of the cage.

That lead in scent Mercer sells is fantastic stuff. Again keep it inside the cage and put a trail of it starting on the pan to the back of the cage.

Maybe place a feather in the back of the cage.

Where should the urine be placed?

Thanks for your help.

Well the cats came back three different days. They come so close to the cage and won’t commit to going in. Super frustrating. Call in scent in trap , cat man do in the trap. Fresh beaver meat in trap. A piece of fresh castor in trap.

To many smells, they are getting overloaded. A beaver quarter wired in the back at this point, nothing else. If they know where it is just give them food.

Exactly what monster toms and dirty dog said. Keep all the fun stuff in the cage. Also try to keep the bait at a tablespoon or less. Had some good results with sponging (touch) the bait a few times as a lead in scent trail but no more then 1-3’ from the cage. And… try what I dubbed a tubie bird. Was told of the short 4-6” of garden hose hanging in the back with a dab of scent in it. Now put a few feathers or like substance (depending on your regs) in a slit or hole in the hose. Looks like an upside down t and hopefully a flying bird. Only other thing is try some of the trail funnel stuff that the foothold guys do with sticks and stones. Been getting some good results.

For a second season guy this has been working.

Good Luck!

Is it common for Bobcats to refuse to enter a cage?

I probably shouldn't reveal this trick; it's called adding the appetizer. Right in front of the door outside the trap place a piece of beaver meat a bit bigger than a walnut, but smaller than your fist. Try to have the set arranged so that the bait is somewhat concealed from birds if at all possible.

A friend of mine caught 78 nice western bobcats (known to the fur trade as lynx cats) one season using this method in a cage only State.

I haven't tried one of those appetizers yet waggler


As for cage traps I wonder if you guys like the kind that have the vertical drop down door better than the doors that hang out over the front of the trap

A sort of 'funnel' for a cage trap..interesting.

Wow. Apparently Bobcats don't mind entering a cage

Throw an egg in there. Ok, don’t throw it, place it gently in the back.