It takes a while to draw a bobcat tag around here so maybe we have inexperienced cat trappers.. or maybe fussy bobcats, I don't know. It's not uncommon for me to hear of people that have cats walk around their sets but not come right to it. Maybe people are making sets that are too fancy. I had a co-worker today telling me about his friend that's having this problem this season trying to fill his cat tag. Hopefully it doesn't happen to me with my late season tag starting 12/26.

I would put some big baits out now and try to get them hitting it before season. Cats on bait are like shooting ducks on the water.

Get you some beaver carcass Cats love beaver meat that's my go to bait

Even venison rib cages will cause them to come to the general area to see what the ravens are squaking about.

Your Wisconsin fellow bobcat trapper hope you do not see listen to left lane because you will catch bobcats put the set in front of them ,,, lure vary's little just use something cats like it like money in the bank.
Most of bobcat trapping is putting the set in the right place.

make a barrel cubbie like this
put feed in it year round cats will always check it out

you will also catch fox and coon , put it in thick cover so you don't get birds coming in

AJE- is your tag for Soutern Zone or Northern Zone?

You can literally fence a cat over your trap just like guys fence off a creek for beaver and otter.

I like walk through dirt holes. GOOD coyote or fox pee, a proven prepared bait like Cletus makes. Graham's tomcat as a placing scent, a little Carmens magna glan is good too. My set is about 4-5 feet long. One end has a dirt hole up against backing with pee in it. A gap with a trap in it, then brush for the fence. Cats, like coons will hop up on big rocks or logs and you might miss it. Little rocks, marble sized, and pencil diameter twigs stuck in the ground, make good foot guiding

If ur worried about refusals I'd steer away from cubbies. I'm not a big numbers guys like some on here but the 2 things that helped me start catching cats constantly is setting the thickest cover I can find and making each set like it's a blind set were the cat will walk anyway then adding lure. And set like your trying to catch 20 cats not just one. I love catching cats just haven't targeted them for several years since the price dropped. Good luck.

I caught these here in KS in about a month. I spent 3 weeks in WY that year and caught 9 more. No record for anyone but me but when I look at these photos I miss my youth. I tire out pretty quick anymore. Broken leg and covid have slowed me some more. Last few years I been trapping cats in NM. Nice not dealing with WY winters. I have not set a trap yet this year. I think I will take a couple weeks to trap coyotes for a few friends here in KS when it gets good and cold. Not to sell fur I am not going to. Just cause its good for my mind. Will kill a few coons too. They are getting too thick. Not many houndsmen left to keep their numbers down and populations healthy.

Venison works super wether hunted trimmings or road kill carcasses. They will be around it until it’s gone .

Osky

I have a freezer full of beavers, so could prebait if that would help. The coyotes might enjoy it just as much but I'd rather keep them away.

I trapped Beaver this Fall just for the carcasses for bait.

I should mention: we have an exposed bait law so once season starts I can't set traps at site exposed bait.

The cats will like the beaver as bait. But the coyote don't seem to go after it, not in this area. Have put my remains beaver scraps on my bait piles late and the coyote don't seem to excited about it.

I wouldn't set on them anyway but they will have trails headed to the bait. I believe Boco calls it a "Jackpot" but that is probably a metric term.