Scouting a new trapline

[KFhunter]

Hey when you're all scouting for a new potential trapline, if you come up blank for Bobcat sign do you go back over it in a week and try again?  Or just hit new area.

It was very promising looking area with ooodles of rabbit and a few grouse but not one Bobcat track, hasn't seen snow for a few days and the wet snow was perfect for cutting tracks. 

I ran mostly creek bottoms and some 5 yr old logged areas and some cedar draws, birch areas, seems there should have been bobcat.  Think I'll wait a few days and run it again. 

[JakeLand]

I hang baits around rivers , ponds ,streams and power lines a month or so before trapping then check them once a week and that tells me if there's cats around and it could take a couple weeks before they start getting hit

[TeacherMan]

There are cats in your area trust me on that one 😏 The areas your describing are perfect. I set on area! Out of my 18 sets out only 2 have been on tracks. Neither have produced yet lol. Use good bait and good LD lure and you will connect.

Biggest thing look for other HUMAN TRACKS. When I started my new line I cut other trappers sign and moved to completely diff area. If you have questions on good spots in your area let me know I’ve trapped most of it over the years and there are dumb amounts of cats in it!

[KFhunter]

Interesting, I would have thought people look for sign then set up nearby but you just set on areas that look good. hmm

How long to you soak a cage that doesn't produce before you move it to a new area even if it looked good?

[JakeLand]

If a cage doesn't produce atleast one cat in a MAX 10 days it's pulled

[Bigjon]

What about when the weather is this warm and the cats arent moving as much do you still pull your cages and go to another location?

[JakeLand]

It doesn't matter, max 10 days and I move them I only trap January and February for cats so it's time to move on when they don't connect
My 

[Triplej]

It doesn't matter, max 10 days and I move them I only trap January and February for cats so it's time to move on when they don't connect
My 

   I agree !

[Eric M]

I hang baits around rivers , ponds ,streams and power lines a month or so before trapping then check them once a week and that tells me if there's cats around and it could take a couple weeks before they start getting hit

What r u hanging for bait? Are u using beaver carcasses or do you have something you found that's effective if you don't have beaver meat?

[JakeLand]

Beaver
Duck or goose carcasses
Muskrats ( they rot quickly when warm out)
I like to hang them high so the coyotes don't get them

[Eric M]

Beaver
Duck or goose carcasses
Muskrats ( they rot quickly when warm out)
I like to hang them high so the coyotes don't get them

Thanks!

[TeacherMan]

Interesting, I would have thought people look for sign then set up nearby but you just set on areas that look good. hmm

How long to you soak a cage that doesn't produce before you move it to a new area even if it looked good?

Depends on the part of the season I’m in. I also have a lot of box traps. I let them soak a month. I’ve done that and then pulled 3 cats in a week. PLUS February is like the whitetail rut. Toms expand their range to over 60 sq miles! Great time of year to have double sets out. Bait for me consists of deer hide strips and beaver carcasses plus few duck and grouse wings. AND good LD lure.

[Skyvalhunter]

It doesn't matter, max 10 days and I move them I only trap January and February for cats so it's time to move on when they don't connect
My 

Found the same thing on my traps along the Sky and Miller.

[redi]

Teacherman. What is LD lure?

[JakeLand]

Teacherman. What is LD lure?

Long Distance lure