Gonna Trap In Kentucky

Got invited to do a little predator trapping in Kentucky this late fall early winter after deer season ends. My son and some friends asked if I would like to trap their lease and the landowner asked if I would trap some other ground he has to get rid of some nuisance animals. Really excited about the opportunity to trap out of state in some unfamiliar territory with the possibility of catching a Bobcat that I do not have to release. Going to buy a couple dozen more traps and trap tags since I have never needed them in Indiana, but have everything else I need. 2100 acres that I have seen before and saw plenty of sign. I am planning on taking 6 dozen predator traps and quite a few Dogproofs to help with the Coons. Will be my first out of state trip trapping so have been studying regulations thoroughly as I dont want to make any mistakes. I am thinking of buying some of the MB Alpha traps to go with my 550 Off sets and would like to hear from guys who have ran them. Also any advice from guys in central Kentucky and those who travel out of state to trap. Thanks for any advice.

Sounds like fun! Does the landowner use the land for timber or is it farmland or a mix of both?

Good luck! And we're gonna need lots of pics....

Go to kydfw and check trap regs . Nonresident licensed are pretty high. Bring snares also in case lots of fenced areas Hopefully there is a lot of bobcat sign. Cubby sets if it’s wooded, fields the hay bale set is deadly and of course the dirt hole Dp for coons is set on sign but also use them like a pocket set along streams Faster than making pocket sets. Peat moss sifted is your friend, have it sifted and dried during the summer. Good bait I threw together for fox and yotes this year on a place for a guy was one day in the sun deer meat chunks with beaver castor mixed in
Just order prestamped copper tags with your name and address. Stick them thru the chain and fold them over themselves . Good luck and Pm if I can help in anyway . I'm about 70 miles south of lexington

Don't forget your bobcat permit. It is free but you have to go to their website and answer some questions.

I take my boys down to KY to deer hunt their youth season on public land normally. But it was crowded last year and it's 3 hrs drive so probably won't unless I find a new location.

Going out of state on new ground is always very exciting. The different rules make me nervous also. Always need to be sure what I'm use to is ok there. KY is a great state with lots of game and they are light years ahead of indiana on their public land hunting.

I will get the trap tags ordered ASAP and have downloaded the regs and am reading them. I run about 4 dozen MB 550s throughout the season here in Indiana and am wanting to add traps for this excursion. The property is a mix of farm and forest with a ton of CRP ground. Coyotes, lots of coon quite a few bobcats and the usual possum and occasional skunk show up on trail cams. I will have a 24 foot modern camper to stay in with electricity and water so that will be nice and I will trailer my 4 wheeler down also as I prefer to trap off of it most of the time. I checked the regs and jaw size on the MB Alphas and looks like they are good for Indiana and Kentucky so need to get those bought and ready. This should be a lot of fun. The last couple of years I have given my coyotes and coons to a friend for free who skins and stretches them to sell. I have all fur handling equipment needed however so thats not a problem.

RHuff, I don't know where in central KY you are going to be obviously but depending on where you are at the ground can be pretty rocky so you may want some drags just in case. Also, plan on dealing with mud and freezing and thawing since you are going to be trapping after deer season, I assume you meant modern firearm. The good thing about KY is if you halfway pay attention you almost have to try to break the law to violate, particularly with the gear you are using. Do read the regs concerning gang setting. It should be a fun trip.

Sounds like a fun trip. If their bobcats are like ours, just make your best coyote set and they’ll find it. Or the gaudiest dirt hole you can dream up, lol. Hope you have full traps daily.

If you catch any cats or otters please turn in the jaws to KDFWR. If you do you get extra cat tags next year.

Good luck

sounds like fun , take lots of pic. and post

What county? We hunt a farm in Trigg Co. and I do see some cats and yotes. Check out the gut pile areas even if it is been awhile since carcasses have been dumped. Good luck.

i am in central kentucky. we have plenty cats around here.
any help i can be just ask.

The drags are a great Idea. I read up on gang setting and that was one that is different from Indiana. I make up a lot of waxed dirt and sifted peat moss every year but need to pick up some cover hulls from Hoosier Trappers Supply. The lease is in Butler County and I have been offered a spot on the Lease next year. I will definitely keep the jaws off of any cats wont be setting for otters but if I do I will turn them in also. Have not read yet but do I need to get the Cat tags in advance or immediately after the catch. Not Gonna lie guys this is as exciting as the summer when I mowed yards to buy my first dozen 110s for Rats and Mink.

Kaintuck is a great state to trap, wish you luck and hope you stack them up!

When you catch a cat you call it in on an automated telecheck system. Write confirmation number on back of your license. Then a week or two before you sell you’ll call or go online to request your CITES tags. You’ll need that confirmation number. They’ll mail to you. Be sure to telecheck cats and otters. We’re having our fall meet in Glencoe, near Cincinnati, Sept, 30-Oct 1. Don’t know how close you are but your welcome to come meet some Kentucky trappers.

I am 30 miles north of Indianapolis so would not be to bad and I would like to meet some of the local guys and pick their brains a little. My whole family is from Harlan County KY. But I was born a Hoosier. Still have lots of relatives down there. I am clear on the telecheck that sounds easy enough. I am retiring in 4 years and will be 60 so hopefully have a few years to trap a lot more.

Ky trapper is right about getting cities tag but I do it same time I telecheck it on the web site. If you wait you might forget to do it Good luck !! Like I said PM me if you need anything.

Will do and thanks to everyone for the advice so far.

One bit of advice I will give you is to take a tablet and gps and at each spot you make sets write down how many traps and snares are at that location.When you put down a waypoint white 3 traps two snares or whatever you set.When looking and setting new ground like that it can be hard to remember everything after a long day of setting.

Well I got two boxes from MTP today. Replacement springs for a few of my 550s, Some #3 chain, MB Crunch proof swivels and a dozen new MB Alphas. Only problem is I got sick last night and having trouble breathing today so did home Covid test and it is positive. Hopefully I will recover quick and can get back to work on some trap prep.