We see quite a few trappers using home made boxes or cubbies with body grippers for bobcat. My question is, does a person build them so the boxes are elevated off the ground for better results. If so how much does a person elevate the front of the box?

I am FAR from an expert but I look for a natural hump or even just a stick to put under the front of the box so it is tipped up more. Hopefully that makes sense. I have said it 100's of times, so I may as well say it again, boxes are my least favorite way to catch cats and I see a lot of refusals. As it gets colder and the snow gets deeper then they will commit more readily. If I could have a 48 hour check on snares and footholds for cats, I would burn my boxes.

I understand 160. I have had many refusals also, but my boxes sit flat on the ground. The thing is there are trappers that catch their cats this way. So why not have a few sets like that in certain areas. I have never caught a cat this way but if a person can better their sets why not try. It is just a curious question.

No, I completely understand and the 3 day check makes it work for some. I feel that elevating the front of the box is a big help so the cat doesn't need to get on its belly to see inside. As stated before, I think squirrels and mice going in and out of the box makes it more attractive to them too.

Back about 30 years ago I tried conibear boxes for cats and had nothing but refusals. They became illegal with all conibears in WA 25 years ago. I started trapping in OR and gave conibears a second try because I wanted a dog proof set for cats. Sounds kind of counterintuitive, I know, but I set them in trees about 5 feet off the ground with a very small run pole. They worked great but not with a box. I had a way of setting them up against the tree with the bait right against the back side of the trigger.
The trouble with boxes is the cat has to commit to sticking it's head into the box. A lot of cats won't do that. I think you could get the same effect as my set by making a very short box so that there was no space between the bait and the trap and there was minimal box in front of the trap. Basically, you are trying to make the cat grab for the bait without having to stick its head into something.
I nailed the bait to the tree and rested the springs on limbs, so the trigger was right up against the bait. The springs of the trap were wired tight to those limbs so that when sprung the trap jumped out towards the cat. I think you could do the same with a box. I do not like the idea of setting on the ground, however. Just asking to catch a dog. My run poles were angled so that the trap was at head height where the cat reached it. I'm not trapping OR now, but I believe the set would be illegal there now and probably most States. It did really work good though and never had any problems with dogs getting in it.

Thanks for sharing that!

Do bobcat and lynx behave pretty similar or is this only going to help with bobcats?

I’ve come to the conclusion that unless the cats are very hungry it’s a poor technique. That said with extended checks and deeper snow country it has its place.