I'd like to eliminate some coyotes before the fawns come in the spring. The issue is, we have a bobcat that we like seeing on camera and I don't want to trap it. Actually, there's a female bobcat we see regularly, a male we see rarely, and year before last a pair of kittens were regular on the camera too.

I don't have anything against trapping cats in general, its just that we're attached to these and like seeing them.

Am I right in thinking that any set that will get a coyote has a high chance of also getting the bobcat? So I'd need large box traps for safe & easy release of bobcats?

You can let the cats go if you catch one in a leg hold too.

Keith

Trap here in Maine

how difficult is it to release a cat from a leg hold trap by myself without getting hurt?

… get you a catch pole and get the loop under one front leg and over the head… pin it down and take the trap off

… I do that sometimes with smaller ones




… but those wildcats ain’t too good to kill your fawns as well

Make sure you get the release on video

I was imagining a catch pole, and having a hard time with just 2 hands until I get the hang of it.



interesting. Yeah, I can see that working well.

I searched youtube and saw this one too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5uAVVeeoIw

So there's at least a couple safe options for a beginner to do solo...

In Pa most of us have released several cats. they are easy as most will try to hide in a bucket if put close by. Then tip the bucket upside down pull to the side until the leg is out and unhook the trap and let um loose. Once in a while one will just sit there - that makes you nervous fo sure but most run off. Now don't try that with otters they are impossible to release easily.......jk

That's true. But my wife and daughter are huge cat cat fans (domestica and otherwise). If I can get rid of the coyotes, that would be step in the right direction.

… you got to be the man of house …. Snatch them wildcats up and choke em down right in front of them

… then tell em to make you some chicken and dumplings while you’re skinning lol

… maybe do all that shirtless as well just to let everyone know you’re serious

Love,

Savell

… jk.. that ugly ol rabbit back deserves to be in a trash can lol

But do wear pants when releasing cats. Don't ask why I know that.

This is great advice right here.......and yes , I'm serious

Tough to keep predators, of any kind, out of a predator set.

Yup, coyotes kill fawns. So do cats and they take down deer too. If you want to prioritize the deer population, all fawn eating predators must be on your elimination list. Otherwise, you're having fun, but you will have a hard time moving the needle. It takes a lot of coyote killung to really move/ help deer.

My daughter's love cats. They also like the bobcat and fox hats. It's another option.

Just keep your eyes on the cat in the trap while putting the noose on his neck and you will be fine.just don’t choke it too much and take the trap off. Use at least an 3ft pole.Every once in awhile you will get one that will grab the noose with its teeth and not want to give it up but eventually they do. They are real easy to release once you do it a couple times. Raccoons are the ones that can be hard to get a noose on as they take their hands and keep taking it off

Come on Savell, tell me how you really feel! don't hold back!


My wife & daugher would fuss, but I like seeing the bobcats around too. I've thought about building a den for the cats and putting cameras inside it.
There's also a badger I don't want to kill either. It walked up on me one day and I recorded a 20 second video on my phone. The badger was 15 yards away until started talking to it.

There's things I want to kill and things I don't want to kill.

Is there video of this?

oh, wait, nevermind. Please don't share!

someGuyInKansas, If your close enough you can bring that cat here. Dont tell your wife. Put them up in my fur shed. If she finds out give her the money when you sell them. Money has always cheered up every woman I have known.

I release the females and small ones. They're never even close to grateful.

Agree on catch pole but be warned. It's hard on them. They don't take much choking.

You'd be better off shooting the coyotes.

I use a catch pole to release them. Once you have them in the loop and it snugged down, stretch them out away from you so that the caught foot is extended towards you. Kneel on the pole to keep it secure and you know have two hands free to remove the trap.

I don't have any pics of a bobcat release, I was always alone when I caught one. But here are a couple of pics of a fox release. The only difference is you want to get one leg inside the loop (as mentioned above) because they are too easy to choke out.



Kneeling on the pole, both hands free to work the levers.

PS If your vehicle is nearby make sure the doors are closed before the release.

And definitely wear pants!

I like to use a piece of plywood or OSB with just a small notch to fit snuggly over the leg. I’ve done it alone several times. I’ve used a tote before, but got tired of them rolling out from under it every time I dropped it. The board is just so much easier and faster. Never tried a catch pole since its easy to hurt them and legally we have to release them. It would be just my luck to choke one to death.

Not hard at all. Shut your truck door and let it loose

Another vote for the tote method. It's easy and fast. I released a couple with a fiber tough pack basket also.

This

not fun

Pants....... blue jeans aren't enough .............. don't ask me how I know. LOL

I have to release around 8 cats a year after one latched on to my Carhartts in the crotch area started searching for a better way. Came across the tool Reece Mason made bought one at the auction, unless the trap is frozen up with mud works great.

I use a 3/8” plywood 30” wide 4’ high with 2x2 frame to and a notch cut out on center bottom for trap to fit through to release animals. It’s super easy and fast. Just walk up with board between you and animal get trap over notch cut out and step down springs.

Need to make remote control open and close traps. Easy!!!

I get what you are saying about not wanting to catch certain things

I was trying to catch a bobcat with a big flashy set, attractors, bobcat specific bait and lure and the kitchen sink. Never caught one but caught 3 in a short period of time in flat sets with coyote gland lure and urine.

I turned the 3rd one loose because I already had 2 in the freezer and it was young, half the size

I had nothing to get cat out of trap so I ran to the house and quickly fabricated myself a catch pole with a piece of pvc and cable I had. Took my time and got it out and turned loose with no blood loss/ injury to the cat or myself

Turn a couple of lions loose by yourself and you will wonder why you were ever concerned about releasing bobcats.

https://youtu.be/TB8TjGUSjc4
like this ^

To big to carry around int he woods. the bucket in my photo fits in my back pack(canvas type with a frame not shown in the photo......jk

Savell says " that ugly ol rabbit deserves to be in a trash can lol " that is the average we have here in Pa. AND we are jealous of yours, they are pretty......jk

Thanks for all the comments guys!

With most any animal, trying to get it's head covered up helps a lot. I've had to blindfold a few grouchy critters with my sweaty t shirt lol

I use a big plastic tote to release bobcat. They get in my coyote sets every year.

LOL I would love to catch a bobcat, even though I'd have to turn it loose.
Years ago trapping fox , coyotes were seldom seen or heard of back then.
My biggest problem were dogs and barn/house cats.
Used my trap basket many times, and even used my coat at times.
LOL caught the same barn cat ( 3 ) three times in one day.
It seemed to just stay ahead of me on three different farms. OVER 2 MILES.
The last time was it's last time, it bit me, farmer who said it was his , said something about seeing me finish it .
When I told him why, he just laughed , and said he understood. He had a barn full of them.

I like the board for a release , I would have too go back to get it, but it just seems the easiest safest way.
Fox , I would use my long handled hole digger, get them tangled around it at chains length , put my foot on their head and grab them behind the head neck.
Surprising how they would just go limp, guess it had something to do with their mother grabbing them like that.
Reds were easy, greys would rather attack you no matter what.
I had heard to keep blood away from the set back then, so that was my way of keeping the set blood free.
Would take them about 50 feet away, and finish them.

Probably not, cats are attracted to the same smells, and they are dumber than a box of poop
A catchpole is a required tool in some western states, I've used one for 25 years

The 1/2 sheet of plywood with a notch is how is how I do it

Yeah, not looking forward to having to do this !!
We'll be releasing female bobcats this year, thanks for all the reccs.

I like this method.

What I like to do is approach the wildcat… look it in the eyes and insult its family…. Then take my left hand and wave it off to my side about waste high in a circular motion… when the cat directs its focus onto the waving left hand I punch it square in the jaw with my right… while the cats stunned I remove it from the trap and football punt it about 20 yards into the brush while letting out a Comanche war cry

Well the bobcats in Texas are #$&&ies so there is that, lol.

Who do you think made them so timid ?

For the love of God man! You give them a right? You are going to release them anyway. Why not show a little mercy with a left? Bully!

… I’m known more for my speed than power

… but by all means if the OP is a power puncher he could just reverse the sequence

I met a gal from Texas one time that described a guy just like you.

Bet you ain't gonna get a like for that!

… nice story 160…thanks for sharing

.. she was likely of no count anyhow if she ended up slumming around Yankees lol

LIKE!

Savell, that's just uncalled for. My daughter has assured me that all the bobcats need is a little scratch under the chin and behind the ears. Oh, and some cat nip too. She's a cat person, so I'm pretty sure she knows what she's talking about.

If you weren't so violent maybe the cats would pur when they see you.

lol … good to see someone with a sense of humor in here… welcome and good luck to you partner