So I finally drew my first Illinois bobcat tag and want to catch one on purpose. The ones I have caught have been accidents in coyote sets that I have had to let go. What are you favorite cats sets you would recommend? Here's one of my ''accidents'' I'm pretty sure he is still hanging around. The set was in front of the grass clump in front of the picture. It is a cow trail with a little scent on it and some blocking on the trail. Not even sure he even paid attention to the lure but was just following the trail. Do you think the chances are fair for me to get this one again?

Make your best coyote set where there’s nothing but coyote tracks and scat and one will clog it up!!

Other than that, find cat scat and if you can put a set in about 6-8” from it without disturbing too much, it’ll catch guaranteed. In fact, after 2-3 bobcats and the spot is totally destroyed put that trap back in the same bed and take some scat they left and put it back and you’ll catch even more. I didn’t realize how many cats will use or check out a toilet. Most at one spot was 5. Caught 2 more across the trail from it on just a flat set with fox gland and bobcat urine.

Ha! You're probably right. That's what the one in the picture did.

I have never seen a one of those here but have seen them on ridges in other states. Sometimes I have smelled them before I could see them. I'll look around some more.

Thanks for the idea. I never set for one on purpose. This is going to be fun. We have been taught for 50 years to avoid them. Hoping our state lifts this draw for tag deal. There are good populations of them in pockets here but we cannot keep one unless we draw a tag and then only one tag per year per person.

If you find sign, I would put a trap right at that spot. No need to worry about disturbing the spot a little since cats dont worry about that. If anything it will make the cat curious. The saying "curiosity killed the cat" is 100% true with bobcats. Then put blind sets that are heavily blocked on any trail leading too or near the cat sign. Disturbing the spot you find the sign and heavily blocking will also keeps most of the coyotes from plugging your set. Making a set even a foot away from sign can mean the difference between empty traps and a catch.

Thanks for the tips. I ordered some guaranteed to catch a cat lure form O'Gorman's. All I have to do is set the trap and stand back!

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