Bobcat cage size; discussion.

[SunnySlopes]

OK, for a good idea on how to build a permanent box trap look up how the State traps wolverine up the Methow. The Canadians came up with this trap. The US one is an upgrade. Study the pics and you will see how their trigger mechanism works. I build two of these summer before last. At spots that are historical cat spots for me. Last season I took 3 cats out of those traps. This season I am not working that cat line. So they are disabled and waiting. I made mine out of shelving material instead of logs.

[KFhunter]

It would seem that a large varience could be found between trappers and cage size in how they present their cages.

tall/narrow  - is it place along a large rock or cliffside to look like an alcove or left in the open and piled with branches/sticks? 

I'd think  *I haven't done any cage trapping*   that the presentation would dictate a lot in the desired shape/size of trap.



I plan to build my own cages due to cost, I've got everything needed so I follow these threads.

[Chesapeake]

OK, for a good idea on how to build a permanent box trap look up how the State traps wolverine up the Methow. The Canadians came up with this trap. The US one is an upgrade. Study the pics and you will see how their trigger mechanism works. I build two of these summer before last. At spots that are historical cat spots for me. Last season I took 3 cats out of those traps. This season I am not working that cat line. So they are disabled and waiting. I made mine out of shelving material instead of logs.

Looks like a heavy drop door top and a pair of vicegrips that get released by the critter pulling on the bait as a trigger???
http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/olympia/wet/team-research/for-carnivor/North_Cascades_Wolverine_Study_2010_Annual_Report1.pdf

[SunnySlopes]

Yep thats it. The canadians use a "panic snap" off a lead rope as their release. The vicegrip from the American disign is better in my opinion.

[Chesapeake]

Yep thats it. The canadians use a "panic snap" off a lead rope as their release. The vicegrip from the American disign is better in my opinion.

The panic snap might be harder to rig initialy, but likely more resistant to corrosion than the vicegrips would be. The vicegrips would be more easily adjustable as for trigger pressure than the panic snap though.

Did you use the same roof door setup, or rig a guillotine type door? What did you do as for killing the cat, small hole to shoot through, or lift the door a crack and shoot?

Seems interesting enough.

[SunnySlopes]

I feel the vice grip is easeir to "grease up" to protect from freezeing rain. And your right it is very adjustable. My traps are made from heavey wire industrial shelf material. super heavy mesh. The top is covered with old plywood then 50 +- pounds rock. Sides are brushed in. No different than dealing with a cat in a cage.

[UrbanTrapper]

OK, for a good idea on how to build a permanent box trap look up how the State traps wolverine up the Methow. The Canadians came up with this trap. The US one is an upgrade. Study the pics and you will see how their trigger mechanism works. I build two of these summer before last. At spots that are historical cat spots for me. Last season I took 3 cats out of those traps. This season I am not working that cat line. So they are disabled and waiting. I made mine out of shelving material instead of logs.

  Do you think you could catch coyotes in a trap like this?  Do you think coyotes refuse because of the metal on a normal cage trap or is it the confined space?

[Humptulips]

I think both are a problem but the confined space is the biggest problem IMHO.

[SunnySlopes]

In one study in Canada they reported a non-target catch of a yearling wolf in a log trap.
They also caught fox in the log traps. A coyote would be possible in a log one.