Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Trapping => Topic started by: Pockets_full_of_sawdust on December 30, 2018, 08:37:44 AM

Title: Scouting for bobcat / habitat
Post by: Pockets_full_of_sawdust on December 30, 2018, 08:37:44 AM: Hi guy I have been trying to trap bobcats for the last 3 years but now this year really getting after it.
When trying to scout areas for them what type of habitat should I be looking for to start at.
Trapping west side
Thanks
Title: Re: Scouting for bobcat / habitat
Post by: Humptulips on December 30, 2018, 10:01:28 AM: Think about what they eat. Look for rabbits, mountain beavers, small game. They go where the food is. I find they don't generally like it too open. That field or clearcut with trees less then 6 feet high is a little too open IMO but the edge of it can be good. They venture out more when the clearcuts are just a bit brushy but if it is all good small game habit it gets to be a bit random so you need to look for focal points. The top edge of a bench where a cat can look down is always good. Stacks of brush, even a large stump that has holes under it. There is a limit how far one can pack a cage so I often find myself just setting along an old road which is good but the best I find is when it is getting a bit too growed up for small game. That road lets in light so it can be the last corridor of food for small game so naturally a good place for a cat to hunt.
Try and put things together, old road intersecting a clearcut, old road ending at the edge of a bench, etc.
Another good place are travel ways. Maybe a couple good clearcuts are a good distance apart with an old road connecting them. Cats will use that road. Maybe that clearcut is interested by a creek. If there is a bridge or a natural crossing log, there you go.
In short think like a hungry cat. Where does he go to get a meal?
Title: Re: Scouting for bobcat / habitat
Post by: Pockets_full_of_sawdust on December 30, 2018, 12:02:43 PM: Thanks Bruce that helps out a lot I have one trap set now with a lot of rabbit track. That trap was walked on by a cat. When I arrived I found the door closed and tracks All over the cage but no cat.
Title: Re: Scouting for bobcat / habitat
Post by: Humptulips on December 30, 2018, 05:18:58 PM: So it was interested, probably be back. make sure the cage is covered so it can't see through to the bait except the door.
They can be finicky at times. Drives you crazy.
Title: Re: Scouting for bobcat / habitat
Post by: Bigshooter on December 30, 2018, 05:51:17 PM: Scout when there is snow on the ground and look for tracks. You will be surprised that a cat or maybe it is more than one cat will cross a road in the same place time after time. Even year after year.
Title: Re: Scouting for bobcat / habitat
Post by: Triplej on December 31, 2018, 06:43:28 AM: Pretty much everything Bruce said is what I try to do! One important thing is don't let one cat set slow you up if its not committing to the trap move on to another location (I know the old saying why would you leave bobcat to find bobcat) but you might spend most of your time on that one cat and you could pass up several others down the road! :twocents: Good luck!
Title: Re: Scouting for bobcat / habitat
Post by: 3nails on December 31, 2018, 06:02:28 PM: Quote from: Triplej on December 31, 2018, 06:43:28 AM
Pretty much everything Bruce said is what I try to do! One important thing is don't let one cat set slow you up if its not committing to the trap move on to another location (I know the old saying why would you leave bobcat to find bobcat) but you might spend most of your time on that one cat and you could pass up several others down the road! :twocents: Good luck!
I'm too stubborn to leave a cat. I'll waste a whole season on one cat. Just because. :chuckle: :'(
Title: Re: Scouting for bobcat / habitat
Post by: JakeLand on December 31, 2018, 08:59:16 PM: I’m a fan of along water ! rivers ,streams or beaver ponds they all have a food source!! Find benches above them and always have some eye appeal for the cats to see ( wings hanging )
Title: Re: Scouting for bobcat / habitat
Post by: Pockets_full_of_sawdust on January 01, 2019, 06:04:31 PM: Thanks guys! I checked my cameras yesterday have a picture on one camera of a cat looking at the camera and the trap behind him. Don’t know if he ever looked at my trap but I got one picture of him.
Title: Re: Scouting for bobcat / habitat
Post by: lewy on January 01, 2019, 06:29:20 PM: If he was there he seen ur set. Try putting your camera we’re it is not a distraction, maybe higher up. Remember they are curious critters, that’s why a feather, cd, ect works to bring them in, don’t let that work agains you
Title: Re: Scouting for bobcat / habitat
Post by: Cultusman on January 01, 2019, 06:46:05 PM: If you want to catch some fur get rid of the cameras,they will scare off everything that walks in front of your traps. You said you got a pic of a Cat and I bet it left right after that camera clicked its pic.
I have used cameras on traps before, not anymore.
Good luck hope you get him.
Title: Re: Scouting for bobcat / habitat
Post by: bugs n bones on January 01, 2019, 06:49:17 PM: Quote from: Cultusman on January 01, 2019, 06:46:05 PM
If you want to catch some fur get rid of the cameras,they will scare off everything that walks in front of your traps. You said you got a pic of a Cat and I bet it left right after that camera clicked its pic.
I have used cameras on traps before, not anymore.
Good luck hope you get him.
x2 on that!
Title: Re: Scouting for bobcat / habitat
Post by: Humptulips on January 01, 2019, 06:50:09 PM: :yeah:
Title: Re: Scouting for bobcat / habitat
Post by: flyfishWA on January 01, 2019, 07:19:16 PM: Quote from: Pockets_full_of_sawdust on January 01, 2019, 06:04:31 PM
Thanks guys! I checked my cameras yesterday have a picture on one camera of a cat looking at the camera and the trap behind him. Don’t know if he ever looked at my trap but I got one picture of him.
mine didn't even look at anything :'(
Title: Re: Scouting for bobcat / habitat
Post by: Pockets_full_of_sawdust on January 01, 2019, 08:46:35 PM: For some reason I can’t upload my picture to this post. But I’ll move my cameras back a bit or just remove them all together.
Title: Re: Scouting for bobcat / habitat
Post by: Pockets_full_of_sawdust on January 02, 2019, 09:44:19 PM: Update today went and pulled my cameras on my sets. Found more cat pictures.
Title: Re: Scouting for bobcat / habitat
Post by: Jonathan_S on January 02, 2019, 10:15:07 PM: Quote from: Pockets_full_of_sawdust on January 02, 2019, 09:44:19 PM
Update today went and pulled my cameras on my sets. Found more cat pictures.

Good work. Now get some traps out!!!