This is what I was making my sets like. I can’t say they were successful for me yet unfortunately, but maybe it will give you some other ideas.

Bob do use any lure or scent at your sets?

What long distance call lure is recommended? Windwalker is mostly what I am using now.

AJE the next time I check I’ll take some real good pics and post them. Here’s a couple so-so pics

It’s hard to tell but that big rock on the right serves as the blocking on that side, it’s pretty much a vertical rock




This one looks like there’s a bare spot on the right, but there isn’t, the sticks are just stained the same color as the dirt.

So are you suggesting we use less fencing?

In that last pic, before I made the set, there was no brush there. I moved all of that there to create a pinch point between a drop off and a cliff face. That’s what I mean by brushing in sets, I make the cat use the trail I want it to. It’s only other option is to cross the wash and use the trail on the other side, or go up the hill and around the top of the cliff, but guess what? Either way it decides to go, I’ve put a trap there. I have 4 sets there, every trail in that wash, bout 150’ wide, either has a trap in it or is blocked off with thick brush.

I use some bobcat gland, sometimes, but not a whole lot. The guy I learned from taught me that you really don’t need to, all you have to do is put a properly blocked trap in a cats way and you’ll catch it the vast majority of the time. How do you get in a cats way? You take away every option that doesn’t lead to a trap. A lot of the time we will go out starting in September brushing off trails and moving rocks, creating pinch points to funnel cats into sets

I thinks he’s suggesting MORE blocking. Like he said, it’s blocking, not guiding. You’re forcing the cat to step in a certain spot, by blocking off all other options.

Interesting. What about bait?

Thanks for all the info so far guys.

Lure, bait, they probably catch their fair share of cats. But all of the guys I know that catch 50-100 bobcats a year exclusively use exposed walkthrough sets, no bait and very little if any lure. I’ve never caught a cat in a baited set.

I have bait & bobcat urine at my sets too, along with fish oil. Our terrain & conditions seem harder to funnel them naturally than what some of you are describing, but I could be wrong

Do you use cable restraints & 160 conibears too? Maybe try calling that cat (predator hunting). Good luck.

Aje didn't you say a friend had game camera pics of cats ? Go set those spots and block them to go exactly where you want them, it doesn't have to be natural blocking as in already there . You can block using natural materials found there even 10 to 15 feet on each side or more just make sure they can't get through it . You can even leave sets n multiple spots in the blocking. If its in open or next to open areas use some type of flagging to get them to the area you want them to walk.

Yes, and I made a set at each of those 3 locations last night.

They were open enough areas to where I hung a CD at each set.

I've considered putting a second trap at some sets

Second trap can’t hurt anything. In your situation, only getting a tag every once in a while, if I was you I’d have every trap I owned set in catty places, sign, no sign, don’t matter. If it looks like a cat might go there, set it, till you run out of traps

I should Bob. I will keep adding some. Right now I only have 10 traps out. I work too much. I did more scouting tonight & worked on more connections for possible new hot locations.

AJE I feel your pain, time is certainly the limiting factor. I'd love to spread out more but it's just feasible. Another typical check for me this morning, two more sets out of commission...and the weather showing nothing but unseasonably warm nights ahead! At least the coon looks better, not big but real clean and nice fur colors so I'll probably get it tanned for the kids.

You & I can relate indeed, platte.
Except I have too much snow.
Nasty ice storm came thru last night so I went out & got half my traps re-functioning this AM. Warm temps now all week. I will deal w/ the other half after work. The weather has been strange. Normally I should have more sets out than I do now. Time like you say is such a limiting factor.
Good luck to you.

Sometimes it's hard to trap what's not there- I have friends with land NW of Cty Hwy P and every time they have a trail cam pic of a bobcat- I get copied, It happens but not that often- my guess is your chances and cat population numbers are increasing every year- stay with it and you'll connect.

For what it is worth, I get lots of gamer camera pictures in the fall of cats. By the time our cat season opens in late December, the cats have moved and aren't there anymore. They didn't move 20 miles away but they moved into heavy cover with less snow and where there is food. Think bunnies would be my advice in the Lake States right now. Set on or near rabbit trails. That is where the cats are going to be and following deer trails. IMO cats are lazy and will walk the path of least resistance like frozen creeks, deer trails and snowmobile trails.