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.