beginning trapper in wenatchee

[nategood21]

Hi everyone. This is my first year trapping. I've had the traps i built out for 3 weeks now and have caught a bluejay and 2 magpies. since then i have covered them better. I still don't know exactly what I'm doing. i was hoping to get some tips or tricks on how to be more productive. I was also hoping someone could post a picture of an example of a cubby set for bobcats. my cages are 11" wide 14" tall and 36" long. 1"x2" welded fencing. i based my design off the duke traps with the sliding lock rings. i have a piece of deer hide with some lure smeared on it hanging in the back and a chunk of muskrat wired to the back wall just below it. (i just started wiring the bait because i checked my traps yesterday and the bait was gone in a couple and one had mice chewing on it so i know the mice didn't eat the other baits) I also have an aluminum pie pan hanging up near by the cages for a visual attractant.

Any advice will help. Pics of cage sets would be much appreciated. more of a visual learner.

If there are any trappers around the Wenatchee area that would be willing to take me out and show me the ropes or how to set traps properly or the right location in an area to put one or just any part of it I would be VERY grateful.

[pnwmtnmn]

That would be Sunnyslopes! he lives there.

[Machias]

Hi Nate, welcome aboard.  I'll try to find some good photos of cubbies for you.  Another good source of information and photos is www.trapperman.com 

Are you setting your traps on bobcat sign?  One of the hardest thing for new trappers is reading sign and setting in good locations.  Are you trapping for any other critters or just targeting bobcats?

[nategood21]

right now just bobcats. i got my traps set in an area where i have spotlighted em. and found lots of tracks. the area i set in was just about on the tracks. and by tracks i mean there were 2 sets on one side of the road and one more on the other. seeing fresh sign every time i go back up. there's beaver in the area but i don't know how to trap for them either. i have an area in mind for some muskrats but all the materials I've bought have gone to making the cage traps for the bobcats. i can make one cage for about $25 compared to buying one for $75 at cheapest I've found.

[Machias]

Beaver meat is the absolute best bobcat bait.

[Humptulips]

If you can come up with some extra bait I would suggest you put out some baits and check them occasionally. If a cat comes in and starts working the bait then move your trap to that location.
A lot of locations might not produce but you can essentially extend your line by setting out prospect baits. Beauty of it is you don't have to check the baits everyday so you get a longer line without a lot of time tied up checking traps everyday. Just the short check on the 3 traps and check the baits when it is convenient.

See if you can trap some beaver. Good bait and you will have success more often then with cats which will keep you from getting discouraged.

[SunnySlopes]

The set up you have sounds like it will produce on sign. Personally Id change out the pie tin for a bird wing. Less attractive to humans for one thing. Dont wander around your sets makeing tracks and drawing attention from passerbys. Your trail to your sets lasts along time when theres no new snow coming down like now. When you get your cat take it back to your truck in a sack. Keep a low profile. Never set your trap where a jacklighter could shine your caged cat. Think of these things before you set your trap.
Now, If I couldn't get beaver meat Id get duck, chuckar, chickhen, etc carcasses. Make sure edible meat is fully removed from the game carcasses. Next sunny day Id go shoot a couple rabbits use the hide, head , insides in your trap. Sometimes better than beaver.
Stay confident and be patient. The cats will show you the rest.

[nategood21]

I've seen lots of ppl talk about putting a bird wing on some fishing line. i was curious, what kind of bird wing? do i just shoot a couple sparrows with a bb gun and take their wings?

[SunnySlopes]

If there could be other people around, a flag is more of a liability than an asset. Most of my cat sets have no flag at all. The only times i'll use a flag is if I'm not sure of my location, and nobody else is likely to be around. Or if I cant go to the cat for whatever reason and need to bring the cat to me, and nobody else is likely to be around. A flag does not have to be a wing at all. Experiment.

[nategood21]

I read somewhere on this form that the person puts a plastic bag over the back of the trap to make it more cave like. i was wondering if it mattered what color garbage bag it was like white or black? i have branches and grass covering my traps right now. i mainly used what was directly around where i put em.

on another note, I'm altering my traps making them 17" tall from 14" I'm keeping the entrance to it at 11" on the outside the slider bars that the locking rings slide down take off 2" so the actual entrance is 9"  Does that sound like it would be good?

[Humptulips]

I read somewhere on this form that the person puts a plastic bag over the back of the trap to make it more cave like. i was wondering if it mattered what color garbage bag it was like white or black? i have branches and grass covering my traps right now. i mainly used what was directly around where i put em.

on another note, I'm altering my traps making them 17" tall from 14" I'm keeping the entrance to it at 11" on the outside the slider bars that the locking rings slide down take off 2" so the actual entrance is 9"  Does that sound like it would be good?

Black.

If the entrance is smaller then the rest of the trap I think it will do little good to increase the height. The door should be as high as the rest of the trap.

[nategood21]

Sorry I meant i was making it taller to 17" tall, 11" wide, and 36" deep. they're currently 14" tall, 11" wide, and 36" deep. I'm basing my design off the "Duke Heavy Duty Single Door Cage Traps" I've almost completely copied it but use the welded fencing on the front instead of all the bars. the entrance is the complete height of the cage 17" tall. because the design I'm using uses slide down rings to lock the 11" wide door is 9" otherwise the rings would get caught in the fencing and hog rings. http://www.duketraps.com/cage/1112x700.gif that's pretty much what it looks like just not green and welded nicely. still learning that part