Brother just sent me a pic 7.5' death ring 2 to3" deep. Was stock Duke DP setup with 18" rebar drove 20" deep in firm ground. In MO and used fish,shrimp bait and no tracks or blood. Said to much loose excavated dirt to see find stake hole and no sign of foul play. Was thinking maybe bobcat tripped on his paw. Any other ideas. They did have a badger 6 or 8 years ago.

one of the problems with the push type dps is animals could stick paws in them to set them off im actually surprised more bears havent been caught in either types must not have been anchored very well if the critter took off with it

Hard to say what it may have been. I haven't noticed a lot of excavation of a catch circle from a bobcat but a skunk can definitely do some digging. I will see if I can find a pic

The only thing I have ever caught in a dp besides a coon is a skunk. Don't know if a bobcat could get their paw in one could they?

I've seen fox but I don't think a bobcat could get its paw in a pull only DP like your stock Dukes and get caught. Never seen a badger in a DP. Possums, skunks, feral cats, mice and rats. I'd sooner think it was just a really big coon. Was there anything it could climb to pull the stake?

Our cats are not that big but I don’t think one could get a paw in a DP.

wws

I run push/pull. And I’ve never caught a feral cat. Obviously caught coons in them but besides coon I’ve have opposums and skunks.

Someone had told me before they caught a coyote in a dp. But if I remember right it was the old soup cans. And it was very malnourished and in horrible condition

Caught a Fisher in a DP. I've heard of Grey Fox being caught in DP's.

Why are you thinking bobcat? I’d be thinking more of the two legged type of critter. Sounds like someone came up on a caught critter and took everything. Not a lot of folks out there that can depress a Duke DP. The fact the rebar is gone from “firm ground” means it had to be pulled from above and whatever did it would need both paws/hands to do so.

Only other option is the stake is still in the deck and something broke off the rebar. Bobcats aren’t getting their paws in a Duke. Coons, skunks, feral cats, possums, and Grays can, but even our smallest/youngest bobkitty’s paws are too big.

Bobcats fight a trap less than practically any other critter, so the extensive catch circle you describe pretty much rules them out. I've never used dps, but would doubt a bobcat would stick his paw in one. However, for those who think their feet are too big, look at a bobcats foot without the fur on it, it is smaller than a coyote foot, as small as a coons foot basically, just without the long, finger-like toes.

What has me thinking bigger animal is almost 8' catch circle. With stock DP and big racoon are catch circle is 4'. Unless stake slowly being worked out gave animal a bigger radius, it had to be a big animal. I trip DP by hitting trigger catch on outside of trap. If animal had one paw on top of trap and hit trigger from outside could be caught with paw not able to work trigger. Also picture shows several 3 to4" holes at edge of ring like making dirt hole set. Dont know how to post pic but not good picture anyhow.