Trapping Season??? Bobcat in NOV>

[TeacherMan]

So does trapping season for bobcat really open 11/1 now? I've been out of state for a while and I always remember it opening mid Dec. Anyone actually trying for them in Nov? Thinking I way toss a couple boxes out while deer hunting...

[JakeLand]

Fur won't be good
January 1st is when I start cat trapping and February is the best

[TeacherMan]

Fur won't be good
January 1st is when I start cat trapping and February is the best

I was looking for one for my wall. I have a full body mount of a lynx jumping for a ptarmigan. Would like a bobcat going for a grouse.

[TeacherMan]

Fur won't be good
January 1st is when I start cat trapping and February is the best

Plus thats kind of my point... Why are they letting people start so early!

[bearpaw]

If you are coming back to the NE it seems like bobcat fur starts priming up around the first week of Dec.

[JakeLand]

Fur won't be good
January 1st is when I start cat trapping and February is the best

Plus thats kind of my point... Why are they letting people start so early!

you got me but water animals are good in late November plus you can trap beaver for bait and castor

[Trapper John]

Fur won't be good
January 1st is when I start cat trapping and February is the best

Plus thats kind of my point... Why are they letting people start so early!

you got me but water animals are good in late November plus you can trap beaver for bait and castor

There is very little fur that is worth going after in November !
Beaver & Otter are no good in November.  Better off taking Beaver & Otter at the end of December first of the year, and they stay good all the way to the end of March.
Now rats on the other hand are okay first of November but here again I would wait until the end of November first of December for rats too.
WAIT until stuff prime up.  No reason for taking stuff and get very little money for your work.
We owe it to the animals, put some pride in what you do.   
JC   

[Humptulips]

So why is the season on an animal open when the fur is less then fully prime?
All furbearers are under-harvested in WA at present. Easy to see why with the current prices and the other obstacles thrown in our way like only being able to use cage traps.
On the other hand complaints about nuisance wildlife are up and animals end up getting trapped outside trapping season for the problems they cause.
The Department is trying to give trappers the maximum amount of time when they can harvest furs so that some of these problem animals can be used instead of wasted.
Easy to see with something like a beaver but not so easy with bobcats but there are a few bobcats trapped that are getting into someone's chickens or whatever and a long season allows a chance for some of these animals to get used instead of wasted.
From a management perspective they are under-harvested so if a couple more get harvested by having a long season so what?

As far as trapping one in November if that is your only shot at it I would say go ahead. If you have the option to wait 'till a little later that is probably a good choice.
Especially for your own personal use a cat caught in November will still be OK just not as good as one caught later. If you are selling the fur I think it will put money in your pocket to wait until after Christmas or at least Thanksgiving.
I have caught bobcat in October and they looked decent but a fur buyer would surely like to see you walk in with some nice January prime cats.

[predatorpro]

i will set some cat traps in november in a few areas because by december there will be 2 feet of snow..they may not be fully prime but they will probly go heavy still...still worth twice as much as a prime west side cat?

[JLS]

Fur won't be good
January 1st is when I start cat trapping and February is the best

Plus thats kind of my point... Why are they letting people start so early!

Why not? 

[3nails]

...still worth twice as much as a prime west side cat?

Sad but so true!