PHOTOS OF CAT SETS

Archer,

Great looking spot. I would have set it too with four days left.

Bucks,

I will be at the Rondy. I am not saying you can't put a lot of stuff on you walkthroughs. I pile it on high, even drag yucca stumps around and toss them on the sides. I think the stuff on the sides is an attraction in themselves. Just tone it down a little on the approach lane to and from the trap. I only put smallish rocks, maybe two inches high, blocking the trap on the approach lanes. Get down on a cats level and it will look inviting to walk through.

If you are catching cats and not seeing any misses, I wouldn't change a thing. But if do, you might try something just a little different.

Thanks for the info rockpile. I will be trying some sets like that next season for sure.

That is the cool thing about this site! You can share info and do what u want with it. Other sites the ego trip is bad and there is not much sharing unless u do it this way! I sure enjoy all the input no matter what the topic is. Rock pile thanks for the input.

I just come on here for the glamour shots . . . .

You are too much Cameron2. Remember I got a long way to go to get even!!

Less than 9 months until december 1st!

Bucks I wonder if you could incorporate a dropping beside or over the lever similar to what O'Gorman does with his Mafia set in order to get the cat to stop... I've caught to many 'cats incidentally in Mafia sets for it to be a coincidence ... my 2cents that's all

That's what has been so great about this site! Love the I fo and feedback for sure!

Could someone post a pic of O'Gorman's Mafia set. I sure would be interested to see it.

How many of you guys have used electronic "squeakers" for some of your sets? I have a few areas that I would think may be helpful for cats that are hunting, to help bring them to the sets. How have you set them up? Directly at the set or in a cedar with a couple sets close by?

I have not seen them as benificial. Rather than spend the money you are better off spending more time finding location. Just my observations.

Great looking pics. Thanks everyone.

The question about length of the walkthrough set is a good one.

I learned a hard lesson one time about it. Was making them a little too short, which worked fine for S. NV cats. Went up north and the bigger cats stepped over too many sets.

You want the distance from the cat's last step to the pan at about six inches. Coming in from the opposite direction, about six inches too. So total length about 12 inches.

if too short, the cat may step over the works. If too long he may just turn around, pee, and be gone.

Thought I would try to send a pic

Nice photo

Still messing with some photos.

Now your just making us feel bad !! You know some of us are still rookies compared to you! Actually I really like the photo. Great work and congrats on the good season.

Thanks Bucks.

I didn't mean to make anyone feel bad with the pic.

I don't post many pics but have been playing with photobucket and this pic popped up.

Location



Set



I missed a cat when this set was a dirt hole, then a couple days later as an exposed walk through and then finally connected after rebuilding it to a buried two trap walk through/dirthole





Exposed walk throughs are fun and addicting to construct but I have nothing but problems with mine and thats why I bury most of them.  Still walk throughs but buried.







Location

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Set

This WAS a cat set



This is an example of the luck I have with exposed pans.  This cat stepped everywhere including both levers to avoid the pan. Should have had a shingle. Would have caught him with a buried trap, I would bet

This exposed trail set is deadly:

Awesome locations and great walk-thrus Mercer. I've had the same experiences with exposed traps. Sometimes, I think they see the pan with the hollow underneath and perceive it as an unstable place to step. That's why I've settled on buried traps with only the bare metal pan exposed (Poly under the pan) and everything outside the jaws with sharp rocks or sticks.

Nice pics and locations.

There is nothing wrong with burying traps at walk throughs.

Two seasons ago I set all exposed with shingles.

Last season I buried them all and my catch went up.  

Before:

After:

I still miss some, just not as many. I miss more if my set gets any snow to cover the pan and they are less likely to center their foot on it. Don't know how I missed this one (trap between the rocks - sharp rocks ringing the jaws). It wasn't froze down. Waxed dirt and fired fine. But it saved me the hastle of releasing him since I had just filled my limit anyway.

If I had one of the big pans I recently obtained from Cameron 2 on that MB550 I do believe it would have been a catch and release.

I never take any pictures, but I really appreciate you guys who do.

Rockpile's pic of the MB550s with the shingle--that is the best example of how much stuff to put in the travel lane to make the cat step on the pan I have seen. This year, we increased our distance of "stuff" and our catch went up 60%, but we still didn't put as much distance as you. 2 years ago, I know we had cat's step over the whole set. This year, looking at that distance and then looking at your catch picture, I'm guessing we did again.

So, having said that, we caught several cats in dirtholes this year that we had made for foxes. We caught cats in #11 longs and 1.75 Bridgers that had the pan really close to the hole. The books all say to put the trap 9-10" back, but these were all 4-5" back. So I guess I don't really know anything about a cat's stride, and we will continue to learn next year.

Dr Fur,

You are right about how important the distance is.

60% more cats says a lot. Six inches or more from either direction to the pan is about right, making a total distance of 12 inches. if you error, better to be 14 then 10 inches. Just don't make it too short or the cat will step over.

A lot of guys are using two traps or the ladder method to break up the stride. It is not necessary. Just add more stuff to make it six or seven inches to the pan and the cat will be yours. And little rocks at an angle to step over is better than sticks and logs as big as your arm.

I like to use two traps at each location. But one each at two sets, 20 to 50 feet apart. I can't tell you how many times the cat is caught at the secondary site, not the primary or picture perfect location. Both sets are walkthroughs, one using a slightly different combination of smells.

At a dirt hole set the cat is acting different then a walkthrough. The cat is going to creep in and if he gets that close at all, will take one last step to put his nose down the hole. His last step is where you want the pan. A blocking stick or rock to guide is very helpful. The distance from the pan to the hole is important. But the slope of the hole itself has something to do with it. A very steep hole and the trap should be close. At 45 degrees about 8 inches is about right. But a blocking stick or rock for a guide really helps.

T76,

Close call.  Catching the big tawny cats should be avoided.  But cant' be helped sometimes. This one shredded the tree.

I can agree with you all on distance to pan, my first year I was way too short and didn't catch a cat on my walk-through sets. I changed it up and have had a lot better luck since. I don't take many pictures of sets, but here is one that scored two bobcats and one pulled out lion this year.



It was actually a lot more rugged looking than the picture shows, I made it so a cat wouldn't want to step on a stick.

Some good reviewing here for me to look at all the sets. Here is one I put in the other day. I am not much for cubbies but my dad has caught a lot of cats out of this one. Says it used to be an old small moonshine still back in day in there.

Who is ready? Ready to pull my coyote line next Monday and get a line out for some cats!!

My best John Sullivan imitation.

Funny you post in this one. I just re-read this thread about an hour ago.
So I have tried Johns sets a couple of times also.

I have found that the smaller rock thing does not work well with any snow over 1" I have ended up adding the sticks again. It may just be me but after a snow I come up to the set and I can't tell where my pan is with the rock guides in the front. The fenced in linking log sets it is plain as day where the low spot and trap pan is.
So as I read through this thread and looked at all the pictures. The levers to not get fenced off. Is this because people are worried about a stick getting in the way/ slowing down the lever as the trap fires?



I have only ever caught a handful of cats so maybe I am missing something. I have never had a sprung trap on the cat line that didn't have something in it... pack rat, rabbit, etc What say you guys?

Lance, your set will catch cats. But could be improved slightly. As long as the levers can fire up and not contact a stick you are fine. In your pics it is hard to tell. Another point, small rocks versus sticks don't make any difference but the distance between the outermost stick or small rock to the pan does. It needs to be about 7 or 8 inches. In your pic the distance looks slightly less. This is very important or a large cat will step over the works and you have big cats in your area. One other comment, a lot of cats will step on an exposed pan. But more will step on a shingle or enlarged pan. And more yet will step on a pan or shingle covered slightly with duff, peat, or waxed dirt. In both Steve's videos and Bill's book they both put duff or dirt on the pans or covers. So do I. Cats are very particular about where they put their feet. If you give them a welcome mat they will step on it every time.

The side guide sticks over the levers are elevated enough that I think they are ok. I add some more guides next check to sets. I think I am ok on some but not all. I have been putting left over wax dirt on the pans this year I wasn't planning on even trapping cats this year... but ended up talking myself into it. I will try and get some shingle covers made up. Thanks for the input as always John... it's very much appreciated. In past years I have grown to dislike cat trapping but really wanted to actually put forth an effort again. I just hate checking empty traps... trying to learn some patience.

Cat trapping IS boring. A person has to get used to checking a lot of empty sets. It can get into you head and you start doubting yourself. Down here we have a lot of grey fox and a fair number of badgers that start showing up in Feb. which ad some action and variety to a line.

The pine duff that is under the needles of a pinon/juniper makes a good light covering. And sage or vegetation that is rubbed into duff works too. Just anything that looks soft and brakes up the outline of the traps.

I am always up for trying something new. Checking empty traps does suck sometimes but I enjoy just being outdoors. I did try some of John's ideas with the sticks and rocks. I often wondered if I was creating more of a barrier vs inviting a cat to walk thru. No cats yet but have caught 4 greys in 2 checks. Turned them loose due to low cost of pelt. Good luck to all out there!!

Tracy,

Rumor has it that you are stacking them up this year. Every thing: coyotes, cats, and fox.

A pic or two is in order.

If bobcat trapping doesn't work out for you guys, you could certainly get a job as a landscaper as much rock as you guys haul to a set. No wonder all you guys are skin covered re-bar.

rockpile wrote:

Tracy,

Rumor has it that you are stacking them up this year.  Every thing:  coyotes, cats, and fox.  

A pic or two is in order.  

Hahahahahahah!

After reading tom krause's book I have been trying the ladder effect this year, not so much with stepping sticks, but basically clearing out a nice smooth stepping spots from about 3 feet out from the set to the set and out the other side, about 12 inches between stepping spots. Seems to be working so far. The other day my confidence took a hit though, a cat checked out 2 of my sets from about 3 feet away then turned around. One was a walk thru flagged, the other was a trash mound all eye appealed up. Too much lure? my tracks in the snow? Any thoughts? I will try to get photos on next check but am always chasing daylight so I forget to slow down and take photos.

This thread never gets old!!

Since I can see part of a bobcat in the picture, I'd say this set is working for you. Good Job!

Beautiful country, just love being out there especially now in November when the rut is on ......saw four nice bucks following does yesterday.........