Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Trapping => Topic started by: Humptulips on March 25, 2015, 08:21:20 PM

Title: Cougar damaged trap
Post by: Humptulips on March 25, 2015, 08:21:20 PM: I had a cougar in one of my new traps today or at least it had been in the trap. The way my doors are if they go in it can catch them by the head for a while. From some tracks at the site it looked like a big cat.
I always tell everyone they should wire their traps to something. I should practice what I preach. I did not and the trap was gone. At first I thought the trap was stolen. Then after a bit I saw the ground tore up about 20 feet from the set. I followed that about 50 feet to where it had been hung up for a while, then another 10 feet to the next spot and finally another 10 feet to where it finally blew the door out of the trap.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0719_zps9j8sjkdx.jpg&hash=e9e981b30463bb7477046ddd90d66cbb7a7a1473) (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/humptulips/media/DSCN0719_zps9j8sjkdx.jpg.html)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0720_zpszbec09sw.jpg&hash=ea7387826ea52dc6534e44fdea5930fc11d64bdd) (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/humptulips/media/DSCN0720_zpszbec09sw.jpg.html)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0721_zpsiwkvfl1q.jpg&hash=dc20a253ccfd25c2963f2515413c21be9edeefd5) (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/humptulips/media/DSCN0721_zpsiwkvfl1q.jpg.html)

Needs a little straightening but nothing major. The door still swings straight.

Didn't catch anything today but I put out 19 cat sets and an otter set 8 days ago. Have caught 4 bobcat two of which I released, kittens.
Incidentally both toms I kept were skinny and I thought maybe something was wrong with them but then it occurred to me, end of breeding season. I'd say they burned the fat off lookin' for lovin'.
Title: Re: Cougar damaged trap
Post by: Smossy on March 25, 2015, 08:31:36 PM: Jeez. Cool story Bruce :tup: glad to see your still at it all the way up until the end. I however have tapped out.
Title: Re: Cougar damaged trap
Post by: Halo on March 25, 2015, 08:37:30 PM: I have an old, (very old) leaflet printed by the Department of Agriculture in 1933 that maybe you should look over. "Hints on Mountain Lion Trapping". :chuckle:
Title: Re: Cougar damaged trap
Post by: Dan-o on March 25, 2015, 08:52:02 PM: Wow.....

Would have been something to see the cat trying to get out of that trap!!!
Title: Re: Cougar damaged trap
Post by: Trapper John on March 25, 2015, 09:41:09 PM: I'm thinking it was a cat but ............... Civit Cat. :chuckle:
JC :hello:
Title: Re: Cougar damaged trap
Post by: Trapper John on March 25, 2015, 10:07:39 PM: Quote from: Halo on March 25, 2015, 08:37:30 PM
I have an old, (very old) leaflet printed by the Department of Agriculture in 1933 that maybe you should look over. "Hints on Mountain Lion Trapping". :chuckle:

I would like to see that leaflet :drool:
JC
Title: Re: Cougar damaged trap
Post by: winslow on March 25, 2015, 10:24:49 PM: Would have been awesome if that cat had somehow squeezed in there and you came up on him and the trap was filled to the brim with cougar.

I always wonder how I would let one go safely...
Title: Re: Cougar damaged trap
Post by: Humptulips on March 26, 2015, 12:03:01 AM: Quote from: winslow on March 25, 2015, 10:24:49 PM
Would have been awesome if that cat had somehow squeezed in there and you came up on him and the trap was filled to the brim with cougar.

I always wonder how I would let one go safely...

I had an Oregon State Policeman out to help me release on once and he said "Why don't you shoot it first and then we'll release it."
Title: Re: Cougar damaged trap
Post by: Skyvalhunter on March 26, 2015, 05:33:33 AM: I hope you took his advice