You gotta be kiddin' me!

[Humptulips]

Dave,
 Flagging? Usually used to bring the cat to the set. I think that part is done. Getting him in the trap? I'm not sure I have a good answer. I've caught them in cages but few. It is discouraging. Just had a trail cam the other day with a cat standing in front of my trap. Nice piece of beaver meat inside. I've had them sit down under the door and not go in.
The only thing I can say is on a nice day and that includes cold  and clear or snow I've never caught one. Always a really miserable, cold, storming, pouring down rain period when I have had luck.
When I trapped with foot holds here and in OR the catch always goes up in that kind of weather so I think they are just hungry and want out of the weather. Nice weather is too easy for them.
Tried a new knid of trap this year to solve the problem but it isn't working out. Thinking pretty strongly about the double door traps I'm seeing but jeez they're big.
Hate to say this but it might come down to change the law or go out of state.

[ICEMAN]

Melted vanilla icecream.  Our cat would crawl into anything to get at that stuff.....

[Kain]

Catnip behind the pan. 

[Hannibal]

Yes bruce flagging,,,,,, I believe it triggers a curiosity instinct in many animals,,,,,  The key is getting the curiosity to continue...... because
.... as you have stated food is abundant on the west side,,,
We also don't have the sustained winds to blow a "lure" object around and create movement inside the cage  

I only know of One guy who "said" be caught a good number of cats in cages on the west side,,,,,, But I never saw pictures


Valerian is in many lures......

[Humptulips]

Dave,
I've always been a location is number 1 guy. If you are on location I don't think the breeze to blow the lure around is signifigant. Cats are really underrated on their nose. They can smell the lure fine. Seen a number of videos where the cat sniffed the door of the cage where the trapper touched it. The cat in the pitures in this thread could smell any lure there, so a breeze to blow the scent is inconsequential. Them hanging up out side the set I think is unavoidable some times. Don't think it didn't happen before we had to use cages.
 Some will not go in no matter what you stick in there but the walk through cages I'm intrigued by. Has new possibilities which gives me hope.

[boneaddict]

Someone mentioned "legal" feather.   Just curious what was meant.  Are their illegal ones to use, (I mena other than say a Bald eagle. )    Just curious if there were any regs.

[rasbo]

all my traps are on sign and some were pre baited,I have the good cages that all the high desert guys use{yancy}still no takers,.the colder it gets the more sign I find,but so far nil.long cold temps is key,im sure...

[Hannibal]

Bruce .....I am calling the "Visual Attractant" that is in on the inside of the cage..... a "lure"........
 I agree with location,,,,,, Otters tell me that even a couple of feet or a differnt angle can make a difference

Anyone ever try a mirror secured to the back of the cage? It will work for coon,,,,

Rasbo has been prebaiting without success....so that is out,,,,,

Sounds like we need a grant for research....

[Cylvertip]

I know WDFW frowns on wood pecker and blue jay feathers.  If you have those or similar on your sets you may be in for a heap of trouble.  What ever you use should be from a bird that's legal to kill.

[jager]

I know WDFW frowns on wood pecker and blue jay feathers.  If you have those or similar on your sets you may be in for a heap of trouble.  What ever you use should be from a bird that's legal to kill.

Yes, I believe it would have to be a game bird feather....not of any protected species or songbirds

[Kain]

You could use house sparrows and starlings all you want. 

[Humptulips]

Bruce .....I am calling the "Visual Attractant" that is in on the inside of the cage a lure........

I see what you're saying now and yea the wind to move that "lure" around could make the difference.

[Hannibal]

I have been tring to "google" some kind of motion activated device,,,, that would work inside the cage...BUT,,,,my internet speed makes it about imposable....

Something that could make a "lure" move.......

[rasbo]

I though about hanging a rabbit head by the ears,but havent done that

[TeacherMan]

This year in AK I'm using pink feather and tinsel boas from the little kids section at Walmart, great attractors. I put them about 10' up in the willows so cats can see them from a distance. Most of my sets are under marten leaning poles with grouse wings also hanging from that pole but I have box trapped cats as well.

What size trap are you using? I liked a 14" x 22" opening on my cage and then I would make it more tunnel like than closed cubby like with a nice piece of beaver or muskrat in the back with beaver castor also. But them I would also take a small piece of tinfoil or bright colored feather and put it in a dirt hole under the trap so they could see it just poking out under the pan area, Curiosity killed the cat.