FYI you guys. A bucket set in a road ditch would only invite theft.
We are limited to 220s in road ditches several feet from a fence.
Also a couple of hundred feet from a building occupied by humans.
just

How did your buddy s brother know whose trap it was?

I would suggest Tuna fish or sardines then.

Dunno for sure but
If someone set a trap across from your house wouldn't you go look at whose name was on the trap tag?
just

I think its illegal to interfere with a legally set trap,No?

This post surely has me confused because A) I didn't set any 220s in the Iowa ROW and B) I didn't set any traps near anyone's house. I did have several traps stole, but again, none of them were 220s.

Ya OK right.
We were talking about you but
Must have been some other woman with Illinois plates wearing carharts that would just stop ,drop in a conibear and off she goes.
just.

You're nuts and I'm done here. I ran 4 dozen footholds, mostly #11s and about 3 dozen DPs, dukes and Z traps.

Here's my pics of traps I posted on Facebook back then. You can look at the rest of my pics from that line as well and see if you see any 220s.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10200839302893950&set=a.3194964602093
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3749668989356&set=a.3194964602093

I have trapped for years with 220's in cubbies. Never had one in a bucket though. I have never caught a cat in one. I have had them circle the cubby but never had one stick its head in. Mine were set for coon or fisher. I have guys in this area build boxes and have had luck catching cats. Most of them were using beaver meat as bait.

Looking at a trap tag is interfering?

I would say yes but depending on who sees you. The only reason I look is if the trap is set where it is not suppose to be.

Yes looking at a trap tag is interference. Unless you are a CO/ law enforcement/ or landowner.

It falls under trap tampering. Harassment. Misdemeanor charge.

Beaver and some skunky lure.

And I think the people catching cats in boxes are doing so in a slightly elevated set.

When I'm trapping coyote or coon in footholds on land, my trap tag is buried in the trap bed. No way to check that without interfering.

I didnt use buckets, but I am bound and determined to get a cat in a 220 RGB down here.

I've thought about trying a 160 RBG

Bob,

You might want to contact our old friend Dale Billingsley. He may have some ideas and a good bait/lure for your buckets all while keeping the raccoons and skunks away.

I like the idea of using beaver as mentioned, but with 20-40 degree temps using any whole bait hung in the back of the bucket such as beaver, muskrat, mink or deer will draw in racoons and skunks that aren't holed up yet. If it were Late Dec or Jan I would say hang some beaver or other water mammal and go for it.

BTW in case you didn't know Dale has a FB page and can be reached here. https://www.facebook.com/groups/952420165314993. That might be a good place to post your question also as he has quite a following of local Iowa Trappers with good knowledge.

By all means keep me posted on your efforts.


Larry