Catching Cats: How to Trap a Bobcat

[@brandonbarkowsky4199]

I like how you add the trail cam footage. This gives us a visual on how the animal approaches and works around the set it really helps a lot. Your content is awesome keep up the good work. Once i get out of the Navy i cant wait to get back to trapping!

[@StaggsintheWild]

Thanks for taking the time to comment, and be sure to stick around as a subscriber; my boys and I will have LOTS of new trapping footage this winter, and I'll be sure to have lots of trail-cam footage again, as well as videos showing drone footage of the farms I'll be targeting and discussing location. Thanks for your service, and God bless!

[@tomkat_Kansas]

Love the videos. You inspired me to set a trail cam on one of my traps

[@TheStickinator]

I'm brushing up on all the trapping tips and tricks for my retirement in Tennessee. Thanks for all the tips.

[@denniswaterford9753]

Great job. Very educational. Seemed like very sound advice throughout. The trail cam videos really added to it. Thanks. I really enjoyed this video.

[@L2FlyMN]

I caught a badger once, & it destroyed both my cable, & the tree it was tied to. I tracked the drag mark to a pile of dirt, pulled on my chain sticking out, & it pulled back. The fight was on!

[@StaggsintheWild]

Wow! We don’t have badger here, but I trap Kansas every so often and hope I’m lucky enough to catch one out there!

[@L2FlyMN]

I was thankful to have had my .22 mag revolver with me! They are nasty vicious!

[@JeffGoetz-t7h]

Want to thankyou! Set two cubbies and a walk through ( with an expand a pan) set on my land in west central Wisconsin. In a weeks time I got my cat! Couldn't have done it without you.

[@StaggsintheWild]

@@JeffGoetz-t7h that’s awesome to hear! Congratulations!

[@northwoodacres3779]

Nice presentation. Too the point unlike other videos where the presenter rambles on and on. Thank you

[@katinthehat_81]

I came here for trapping advice as i have a bobcat issue here in southern ohio. It's a big surprise right? I really appreciate your allowing us to see the house cat be trapped and released with no injuries. Thats amazing. You seem to really care for the animals and do what you do out of necessity. This is what i was looking for. What a great video.

[@StaggsintheWild]

Thank you. Most trappers I know are very much some of the best conservationists I know. We will never put an animal population in jeopardy; to the contrary, the very act of trapping serves to improve their place in nature as we ensure their numbers are kept in check to help eradicate disease and overpredation. Some of the most big-hearted people you’ll meet exist in this community.

[@CoreyMillionaire2029]

​​@@StaggsintheWild You'd never use one of those cruel gin traps with teeth on it, I'm certain. Trapped bobcats and coyotes, as well as wolves, bears, and pumas have been known for chewing off their trapped legs in desperate attempts to escape. Bear traps are both painful and unethical for trapping. Poachers have used huge bear traps with sharp teeth that slam shut with such force that it can break a leg. Other gin traps are forgotten by them and left to clamp down on deer, elk, domestic dogs, and even people. Trapping is an important tradition for many like you. But we always need to remember that certain traps MUST NEVER BE USED!!

[@StaggsintheWild]

@@CoreyMillionaire2029 well, let’s get some facts out there and not just some stuff you’ve read online by those with some sort of misguided agenda … first of all, you’re right: I’d never use traps with teeth on them because traps like that have been illegal in every state for decades and decades. Now, as far as bobcats, coyotes and every other animal you mention chewing their feet off in a desperate attempt to escape… that is an absolute, downright falsehood. In other words, a blatant lie - despite what you’ve read. I’ve literally trapped hundreds of animals, and if you combine my experience with those I personally know, that number becomes thousands. If you stretch that number to include my sphere of influence on the internet, that total is now in the tens of thousands of animals that have been managed through a sound science-based wildlife-management plan by the use of trapping. NO ONE I know has ever seen a bobcat, coyote, mountain lion or wolf chew his foot off. Not a single one. The reason is simple: traps simply hold an animal in place. They lose zero feeling above the jaws of the trap; therefore, it will not start eating at his leg. I - and most trappers I know - run full jaw laminations and employ multiple swivel points that allow an animal to flip or twist to its heart’s content after it first gets caught with no limb or joint damage. It doesn’t take long and they usually settle in and relax. I’ve walked up on several animals that were sleeping peacefully on my trapline. Adding laminations effectively doubles the surface area of the trap jaw and dissipates the force of the trap closing on an animal’s paw. I’ve caught over a dozen feral house cats and untold fox, and I’ve never even broken the skin on any, despite how relatively small their paws are. Much of that information may come as a shock to you when compared to what you’ve read or “heard” before … but it’s coming straight from an educated trapper with an abundance of real-world experience, and not just “hearsay.” Thanks for taking the time to comment, and for sharing your love and concern for animals. I assure you: we trappers hold our quarry in extremely high regard too.

[@jameslandrum555]

Thanks for sharing that knowledge & the cool videos. I’m 56, grew up in the woods hunting & fishing & never learned to trap. That’s fun stuff though.

[@FilmerOfBobcats]

For a feral cat, that cream colored longhair is gorgeous. I've never seen a cat in the feral population like that fancypants cat!

[@moiaredhawk]

Your videos are costing me money! I ordered 2 sleepy creek # 3 long springs and the expand a pans. I'll take them to southern Iowa with me, when I'm bow hunting in November !!

[@StaggsintheWild]

LOL! At least you get to travel to a state you want to bowhunt and trap simultaneously; we turkey hunt in Kansas but then have to make a return trip to go back to trap...

[@JayNoble-h1n]

Great video! Loved the trail cam footage as well!

[@jerrycox2058]

great video. I found that I could very easily funnel a cat to the hole and trap with anything. used a lot of dried blackberry stems stuck in the ground, they avoid them. I also figured out that I could make it so that the cat had not where to step but on the pan. I used blackberry stems scattered on the ground pretty heavy and I also used the burs from pine cones and covered the ground leaving only the spot with the pan. made my catches go from toes etc to solid foot holds. Cats are very picky on what they step on and in so make it where they have no choice. The flagging is super important of course to get them to come over to the set. caught 18 bobcats my first year doing this. I had the little sharp burs and blackberry stems broken and scattered everywhere in front, to the sides and back of the trap. Like you, I studied how they walked etc and what they avoided. you can even watch a house cat and see a lot of the same reastions. the funnel part works great for cats and coons but not so good with canines. I also used saw briar stems for the funneling and to make them step where I wanted them to. Caught 5 cats out of the same set one month at the edge of a clear cut. I don't trap anymore do to health issues but love it.

[@StaggsintheWild]

Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experiences and knowledge! Appreciate you stopping by the channel!

[@jerrycox2058]

@@StaggsintheWild It is just that they are a lot easier to catch than people realize and tend to make it harder. But you have to understand what they like and don't. Caught a turkey once, not because I meant to but by the time I found it, it was already gone and eaten. but the feathers helped to make several great sets. curiosity killed the cat and that is for sure. wish that a video like yours was around 30 years ago. knowledge is such a wonderful tool if you use it correctly. liked your pan mods too.

[@pauldodson2018]

Dear Staggs in the Wild, Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. It's been 38 years since I've trapped and am just getting back into it. I will definitely try some of these tricks. Bless you Sir.-Paul D. Dodson

[@StaggsintheWild]

Best of luck to you, sir; please check back in and let us know how you're doing. I'll have more trapping content up this winter too, as well as an out-of-state trapping trip to Kansas hopefully. :)

[@scotthackett4500]

Thanx for the Awesome Video..& all the Knowledge of Cat traits..

[@connermay8623]

Great info, never have trapped a day in my life. Just bought a bunch of stuff, looking forward to getting into it! Thanks for sharing

[@StaggsintheWild]

You'll love it! It can be the most frustrating, humbling, yet exhilarating pursuit in the outdoors. Check around our channel for other tutorials and educational videos on trapping and how to get started.

[@rogerdraper71]

Great video,use to trap about 50 years ago, thought i might could help with the trap freeze, we would get dried cow or horse manure out of a old barn and set the trap in it but if it rained you had to do it again cats fox and everything else like to step in cow manure also to make trap fast we would take flat file and square off dog and also pan notch just a thought . In 73 caught enough fox and bobcat to buy new chevy 4by4 truck in 3 months .

[@mikemarcusen4773]

Probably my favorite of your videos that I've seen. I'm in upper Michigan and cat trapping is usually in the snow.

[@StaggsintheWild]

Thanks so much! It’s one of our favorites too. We’ve got a few more tricks up our sleeve and will probably put out a “Catching Cats 2” in a year or two. 😊

[@mikemarcusen4773]

@@StaggsintheWild PS If you put wax paper squares, or shrink wrap pieces under your coil spring traps, they'll fire in the worst conditions. I still like the long springs for the over sized pans, but out side laminated mb-650s have been my go to for years now here in the u.p. of Michigan. I also really like cubby cage trapping cats.

[@StaggsintheWild]

@@mikemarcusen4773 Yessir. Learned of that trick after I’d already made the move to DLSs some time ago. I have a buddy in Montana that does that trapping wolves in ice and snow.

[@jw04429]

this was awesome, thank you so much for sharing knowledge and making a super, video !

[@dublelung1]

Very nice trail cam footage of the catches and misses. Those cats and coyotes will certainly humble us from time to time.

[@StaggsintheWild]

Thanks for taking the time to comment; I'm a firm believer in that we often learn more from our failures than we do our successes. It certainly makes better trappers out of all of us, especially when we can see exactly where we went wrong. :)

[@nmelkhunter1]

Great video. I see that you aren’t afraid to approach wildlife management with facts. It’s a great and welcome contrast to the emotions too many people use. God bless and have a very happy New Year!

[@StaggsintheWild]

Appreciate the nice comments! I truly feel there's simply no need to shy away from trapping as a sound, evidence-based management tool for regulating and maintaining a healthy predator population. Wildlife biologists all over the country recognize that fact, and we as a community have allowed a group of people with no skin in the game to "armchair quarterback" managing -- or really, the lack thereof -- animal populations for far too long. The ignorant reintroduction of wolves into the Colorado ecosystem is just one more recent example of people sitting in high-rise condos casting votes, completely ignorant of the drastic damage that's about to be bestowed upon the very elk herd that invites millions of tourism dollars on an annual basis.

[@nmelkhunter1]

@@StaggsintheWild Well said.

[@notmeanttobe6940]

That bobcat is gorgeous!

[@1919donniemcgraw]

Best cat video I have see. Great work.

[@StaggsintheWild]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@terryrothrock5150]

Love the idea with the cable

[@timothysmith6211]

I am new to this so pardon my ignorance. If we can just set exposed traps why bury them at all? I mean if a cat will step on it completely exposed like that why risk burying a tap that might freeze up.

[@StaggsintheWild]

Great question... and that's sort of the point of the whole thing that has been proven by Western trapping methods. Now... we're talking JUST cats here, pretty much -- a lot of people bury traps in the traditional manner when they're going after a mixed-bag target (e.g., fox, coyotes, bobcats). I myself continue to do so when I'm just looking to reduce predator numbers in general and I'm happy to take any of the three. But ... when I'm making JUST a 'cat set? Yeah, I'll throw down a double longspring in the manner you saw in the video all day long and twice on Sunday.

[@timothysmith6211]

@@StaggsintheWild Awesome info thank you

[@charleywalker2982]

That’s an awesome video, thanks for sharing.

[@andrewrish4434]

Great video! Made me subscribe. Thank you

[@streeterboyzoutdoors]

Great cam footage, yeah the walk through and cubby setup are the best, I released a small female last season using a 5 gallon bucket let me tell ya that was an adrenalinized experience lol. Thanks for sharing.

[@StaggsintheWild]

Thanks for the nice words, and thanks for being a true conservationist! We need more small females roaming the woods out there! :)

[@collincissell1381]

I also had to let a female go last year was the absolute most rushing thing I have ever done.just beautiful cats

[@user-nl4mj9rd3r]

Do I have to use I do the same thing with tundra swan feathers/the white bar feathers on a goose here in North carolina. That bright white really shows up at night

[@Ben92912]

New to long springs. Do you still Dig out a trap bed like a coil trap? What about snow?

[@StaggsintheWild]

@@Ben92912 for cats, I place them right on the ground … there’s an example set here in the video. Block in with guiding sticks and leave the pan exposed … For coyotes I would bury them.

[@Donny_Juanny]

20:15 Making myself a bookmark for an idea I like. Good stuff!!!! Thanks!

[@StevenHaymon]

I am a beginner... we have talk before...I just caught my second coyote, yesterday...I have a huge bobcat on trail camera...I would really like to take out...maybe get mounted...this is the first of march...what lures would U recommend...I have a wing set working now...thanks for all the tips...I like the cable tip... steve...

[@StaggsintheWild]

The lure is less important than the visual of the set itself, though I’m fond of both skunky lures and beaver castor-based lures. Badlands Bob is probably my favorite. Good luck in catching him!

[@judithdandavis2206]

the cable trick with the double ferrule is nice .fist time ever seen this , if you go to hobby lobby ,they have fancy feathers, that is what i use they are white with a black tip . great video

[@StaggsintheWild]

Thank you Judith; appreciate the kudos and the tip!

[@Bearsfan871]

At 19:10 do you leave the trap all exposed like that or do you cover up springs and jaws? Also, you said you use finned stakes with the 3/32 wire off of it, can you show a video where you are retrieving those? Thanks for the video

[@StaggsintheWild]

I don't have one yet of me actually pulling a trap, but in one of my earier videos I do a pretty in-depth explanation of how the concept works and I show me actually building them... kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqOTdoSEj8SGars See if that helps and if it doesn't, let me know and maybe I can shoot a short video for you.

[@Bearsfan871]

@@StaggsintheWild Thanks Greg, do you leave the whole trap exposed on that walkthrough set or just the pan? Thanks!

[@StaggsintheWild]

Thanks James! I leave the whole trap exposed... it looks exactly like it does right there when I walk off and leave it. Some of the Western guys who pioneered this method (think Utah, Montana, Wyoming...) sometimes paint the trap a light tan color to simulate the sticks they block the trap down with... it really emphasizes the shingle/pan as the only place for the cat to step. I've never done that, partly because the sticks I use to block the trap in with seem to be a darker color anyway here in the Midwest.

[@leejohnson7293]

Hahahahaha I LOVE your shirt!!! At the end.

[@StaggsintheWild]

Thanks!! 😁

[@CoffeyOutdoors]

Great bobcat trapping information. We still have no season for bobcats here in Indiana even tho they are thick now

[@StaggsintheWild]

Hopefully you will soon... there's way more of them out there than people realize! :)

[@grassroots9304]

Nicely done video. Too much helpful information to point out all the bits. I most found helpful the exposed pan and the videos showing how the 'cats worked the sets. The release of the domestic cat was awesome (I like cats and I don't eat them...by myself or with help) and informative as I plan trying to trap a bobcat which is depredating a neighbor's chickens but which as domestic cats. Are you using offset jaws? Which size trap are younusing for bobcats? Thank you for the educational video.

[@StaggsintheWild]

Thank you for the kind words; they are much appreciated. I use Bridger #3s and some MB550s in four-coiled traps. For the double longsprings, they’re Sleepy Creek #2s. I don’t own an offset trap, and will do a video down the road explaining why. All my traps are regular jaw with full jaw laminations.

[@timothysmith6211]

apparently sleepy creek went out of business do you have recommendation for a similar trap by a different manufacture? I am having no luck finding anything that size.

[@StaggsintheWild]

I'd look at Bridger double longsprings... here's a landing page from where you can look at all sorts of double longsprings from various other manufacturers: www.fntpost.com/Categories/Trapping/Traps/Long+Spring+Traps/

[@timothysmith6211]

@@StaggsintheWild thank you!

[@tintshopnc5552]

great tips and information. gonna try some of them

[@rayst.2934]

really like your trapping methods I will have to try. A friend has a hunt cabin in western Pa. and he filmed bobs on his trail cam. he invited me to trap if I want. I said I would when the season opens in January for 3 weeks. I was wondering if it just as productive on farm land as the woods? I have victor #2 long spring I used for fox . would they hold a bobcat ?

[@StaggsintheWild]

Good luck! Let us know how it goes! Yes, they should work. Cats don’t really fight the trap hard … what you’re looking for in a cat trap is a large pan area for them to step on. At least I am.

[@richardbyrd4385]

I have not trapped in a while now but Bobcat was my favorite target. Not able to use feathers or fur here. So I used cotton balls as my visual. Worked great.

[@StaggsintheWild]

Yessir. There are many alternatives to get the job done, for sure. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

[@allanclose9684]

Excellant video. Happy New Year~

[@THEMANWITHIN89]

Great great video.what size are those long springs you use for cats

[@StaggsintheWild]

Thanks! They’re Sleepy Creek #3s

[@THEMANWITHIN89]

@@StaggsintheWild your welcome thank you very much

[@raydowdy6914]

How far back do you bed your trap? 12 inches or more?

[@StaggsintheWild]

Depends on the set, but I’d say I’m an average of 10-12” on most

[@cecildean3648]

New at trapping, I have watched a lot of KZbin videos on Trapping. When using a Dbl spring leg hold everyone is showing covring the pan with dirt. However you show setting a long spring with the pan exposed with the brown roof shingles covering it. Will the shingle work on a double spring leg hold?

[@StaggsintheWild]

We cover our coyote sets... we use double longsprings for exposed-pan sets in walkthroughs because cats aren't particular about seeing the trap... it just blends in with a jumble of sticks and other things to them; they don't pay it any extra special attention. It's a very common technique adapted from the Western trapper in states like Montana, Utah, Arizona, etc. The pan and shingle gives them a clearly defined spot to step as they're navigating the walk-through.

[@cecildean3648]

Thanks for the informatio@@StaggsintheWild

[@tomstone3645]

What size cable you run for tree anchors? And would it be enough for coyotes?

[@jaclynharlin6225]

Can you add all the pieces (hardware) that you named in the film, brand new at this and some of the stuff I’ve never heard of. Thanks!

[@StaggsintheWild]

I use a lot of regular footholds... both fully modified Bridger #2s and No BS Lure's KO Jrs... always 4-coiled, always with jaw laminations and ALWAYS regular-jawed and not those stupid, gimmicky offset jawed traps. The exposed-pan walkthroughs are constructed using Sleepy Creek #2 double longsprings, and I cable them off 1/8" aircraft cable using aluminum double ferrules. I replace the stock pans with Chip Davis's Expand-A-Pans. Sleepy Creek went out of business a couple years ago, but there are other doublel longsprings on the market made by companies like Bridger and others.

[@clintonfinley9316]

Awesome video great tips but why the release of the bobcate if there bad for quail and the turkey population

[@StaggsintheWild]

It wasn't a bobcat.. it was a feral house cat, and I explained in the video that without the landowner's permission I didn't want to kill one of his neighbor's pets. :) Thanks for the kind words, and for watching! Good luck this year!

[@bradwyatt301]

Sleepy Creek #3 Long Spring Traps are out of stock and no answer at their manufacturing plant. Do you have an alternate trap that you recommend?

[@StaggsintheWild]

Bridger makes a double longspring as well … honestly, almost any DLS should work. Go to Minnesota Trapline’s website and search for double longspring and it should give you a few options.

[@jmichaelbunch5433]

Great information on trapping , I’ve never trapped before but I want to get into trapping bobcats and coyotes. I had trouble catching the name of the trap you use . I live in Missouri Hunt up around Perry MO what the name of the trap you use and where can I purchase them Look for to more videos

[@StaggsintheWild]

So I use a few different ones; not sure exactly where in the video you're alluding to as far as me mentioning the name -- but I use Bridger #3s a lot (that's a coilspring trap), some MB 550s, and the double longsprings are Sleepy Creeks (those are the ones that I use in an exposed-pan manner and replace the stock offering with Chip Davis's Expandapan and put the roofing shingle on). Hope that helps!

[@jmichaelbunch5433]

@@StaggsintheWild Thanks it does where do you order you traps from I hunt in Missouri so I want make sure I get the right one the one you use with the shingle replacing the pad is the one I’m looking for thanks

[@kemac722]

Very informative/interesting makes me want to try trapping Is there any gains from doing this?

[@StaggsintheWild]

Tons … turkey populations are plummeting at an exorbitant rate across the country in large part to the lack of predator management as just one example. The animals themselves benefit tremendously from a sound wildlife-management, science-based strategy to control their numbers to reduce overpopulation, disease, & starvation.

[@kemac722]

@@StaggsintheWild Yeah I’ve heard of that being a major problem, really I ment financially what do you do with the catch? Do you sell it?

[@StaggsintheWild]

@@kemac722 cats actually commanded pretty decent prices this year at fur auctions across the country. Obviously it varies dependent on region, but even our plain Midwest specimens were bringing $75/cat. Western cats continued bringing their usual premiums and it wasn’t uncommon to see $600 cats all day long.

[@CKAMERICA]

Great information 👍👍

[@krispettit1775]

I recently got a pic of a bobcat on my trailcam. I now want to try to trap him/her. Can you give me specifics on your double long spring traps from bobcats that your refer to on your video? Like specific size and stuff? I see a Duke #11 Double Jaw long spring trap? Is this what I need?

[@StaggsintheWild]

I use Sleepy Creek #3s with Chip Davis's Expand-A-Pans (a quick Google search will turn up his website). You may have to search a bit to find Sleepy Creeks now, as they went out of business a couple years ago but I believe Brian at Southern Snares bought the rights to make them again.

[@lucaspriesendorf251]

TIP-I carry a can of spray on disinfectant spray for pets on my trapline. If I release a possom or small coon that chewed on its foot I give it a good dose.

[@carolemcconnell4651]

Try peat moss stops trap from freezing to ground . Works great fox trapping

[@5cbryant]

Where are you located in Missouri? I’m a Missourian from near the booheel

[@StaggsintheWild]

Grew up in Kennett

[@stevebillow395]

Do you have any trap review videos maybe a few different traps you use

[@StaggsintheWild]

I don't really have any reviews per se, but I can work on a video soon showing the different ones I use and why I prefer each in different conditions or applications... thanks for the idea!

[@stevebillow395]

@@StaggsintheWild great. I'm all new to it and found myself hung on your trapping videos. Just got me a f&t magazine and looking for some ideas and input

[@StaggsintheWild]

Appreciate it buddy! We’re going to do our best to create lots of new content this winter - including an out-of-state coyote trapping trip to Kansas. Really looking forward to that one!

[@GeorgiaTrappingandFishing]

Fantastic video!! I learned quite a bit 👍👍 good job

[@StaggsintheWild]

Awesome! Thanks for taking the time to comment; good luck this year, and let me know how you do!

[@bradwyatt301]

What size cable and ferrels to you use to attach the trap to a tree?

[@StaggsintheWild]

I think this was 3/32 and the matching double ferrules. You could use 1/8” as well … just whatever you have handy.

[@kelvinolsen1277]

Very helpful vedio will definitely take these tips on the line

[@modernmonkeybushcraft9699]

Man! Thank you so much im a new trapper. Got into it last season and had minimal luck going after beaver. After finding a few trappers in my area they turned me on to bobs and now I'm trying to learn as much as I can untill the season opens November 14th here in the state of Nevada. Your video was very informative and gave me some good basics to work off of. In my state its illegal to use game animals or parts such as feathers to flag. But according to a few other trappers I've heard they use old cd's, tinsle for xmas trees and pillow cotton. Are there any other non animal parts that wouldn't be considered bait that would attract a cats attention? Thanks again for the video I really enjoyed it! Good luck this year!

[@StaggsintheWild]

Best of luck this season!! All I can say is... it's addicting!! You can tell how much I love walking up on a big ol' bobcat! Hobby Lobby is going to probably be your friend if animal parts (wings) are illegal; look at boa material, tinsel... anything "flashy", really. CDs -- as your friends mentioned -- are great. You can buy polyfil in the craft section, and it's normally used to make pillows. I use it both as an underall beneath my pans (see my coyote video) and it can be used as a visual attractant as well. Good luck!! Let us know how you do!

[@ronmesser9091]

Use chicken feathers , no issues

[@jessemorgan1776]

Love your videos. Do you attach the shingle to the pan or just sit it on it?

[@StaggsintheWild]

Thanks so much! I use extra-large paper clips that I lay out on cardboard and spray-paint flat black... they hold on easily enough, but also get "thrown" after a catch, and more times than not I'm able to find them nearby and reuse them.

[@jessemorgan1776]

@@StaggsintheWild thank you. I got me some double long springs and expand a pans. Hopefully have some luck this year

[@connerallred7829]

Did you leave the pans exposed?

[@StaggsintheWild]

Yes. Just like it is in the video.

[@connerallred7829]

@@StaggsintheWild awesome I didn’t know if you weren’t finishing the sets, very cool

[@neiltron9294]

Do you glue the roof single pan cover on top of the trap pan trigger? Great video by the way!

[@StaggsintheWild]

Thank you! I used to glue them on years ago, but after the first catch they’d get tore off. I started using the largest paper clips I could find (I lay them all out on a piece of cardboard & spray paint them black first) and they seem to get thrown off and stay intact now. I simply pull out a couple new paper clips and reattach it when I remake the set.

[@drdwgmd14]

Everything i see from sleepy creek is a single spring....links to a double long ? Thanks

[@StaggsintheWild]

I know Southern Snare bought Sleepy Creek traps ... beyond that, I don’t know much else. I’d reach out to Brian at Southern Snare and see if they’re planning on selling the double longsprings as well.

[@joshtondevold1865]

Great video! Thank you

[@quintenbullard2921]

Where can you still find long spring traps

[@gabrieldholguin]

8 min in... You got it so right.. Keep it up..

[@saltwateriv5735]

What do you keep your pant tension at?

[@StaggsintheWild]

It varies; if you saw the cat I caught in the cubby set, I had that trap set at just over a pound ... if I’m specifically targeting cats, I like between a pound and two. Some people freak out about light pan tension, but like I mentioned in the video, pan CREEP is much worse to me than light pan tension.

[@saltwateriv5735]

@@StaggsintheWild I have no shortage of dogs, cats, and fox where I trap my own land in NC. If you had to pick a specific tension for all of the above what would you go with?

[@StaggsintheWild]

@@saltwateriv5735 2-2.5. But again, it’s not having any pan “creep” that’s actually more important than pan tension, IMO. The slightly higher tension (as opposed to 1) just keeps rabbits from setting it off if they hop across it.

[@saltwateriv5735]

@@StaggsintheWild appreciate the info! I’ve filed my dogless Bridger #2s down to no creep

[@drdwgmd14]

Ok, so i have my traps ( cannot set my 4 coil, it is too stiff) and my bobcat gland lure and all other stuff. So all i do is make a hole near the trap , put lamb fur in there with gland lure and I am good to go? I have turkey feathers to hang like you showed. Help! Want to get a set out this weekend if possible...but the flemming trap setter tools do not get in until jan 26. Help

[@StaggsintheWild]

You got the general idea ... go back and watch our “Catching Cats ...” video, as well as our newest video “8 sets to catch a coyote” or whatever it’s called ... piecing those two together will show you EXACTLY what to do - much better than I can try to explain here. 😊 Good luck!

[@chasingbitesminnesota3737]

That was awesome, I got my first cat this year it was unreal!

[@StaggsintheWild]

Congratulations... there’s nothing like walking up on a cat!

[@chasingbitesminnesota3737]

Yeah that is true, if you get a chance check out the video. We did a 2 part video of this season. It was awesome definitely a learning experience. Can't wait for next year!

[@jamesmadden7288]

Great video Thanks! So a question for you? Do you cover your double long spring pans or springs for bobcats? I heard you say you wont put feathers on it.... and the beaver set was covered... I know you say exposed pan and you put the shingle on them .... but do you cover at all or just for certain sets?

[@StaggsintheWild]

Great question. I do NOT cover my pans on exposed-pan sets. The way you saw the trap setting in my yard and beside the creek is the way it looks when I’m done. “Give a cat a place to step ...” 😊👍

[@jamesmadden7288]

@@StaggsintheWild Thanks for the fast reply! Nice way to avoid freezing then! Do you cover/camo the long springs.... last question maybe? for cats do you die or wax your traps does not look like it...

[@StaggsintheWild]

I don’t cover the long springs either ... I just “block” them in tight by laying sticks and limbs right up against them. Sometimes I dye them, but it’s more of a rarity these days. They actually blend in a tad bit better by NOT dying them and just leaving them a rust color. The idea is that by placing limbs up against the springs and the jaws, they end up looking like a part of the clump of sticks that is there; therefore, the pan (exposed) looks like the perfect flat spot to step on to navigate through that opening - because we’ve got the sides blocked down so that there’s just a narrow opening to walk through - right over the trap. 😊

[@jamesmadden7288]

@@StaggsintheWild Thanks !!! good Stuff... New to Cats just got a spot with High population so I am told ..... Only fox/coyote/water trapping before.

[@cottrellshuntingandtrappin3016]

Great video and thanks for sharing I appreciate it. I am a trapper here in West Virginia. Some very good information right there. I hit the subscribe button on my way out.

[@cottrellshuntingandtrappin3016]

@@stevehughes2105 I hope you were joking I don’t take to kindly to people like you. I think this comment of your was uncalled for.

[@michaelconley6245]

Wait till u get a cougar in a trap sometime.....thinking ur gonna walk up to see a Bobcat and a cougar pops out from around the tree....lol oh boy

[@StaggsintheWild]

That would be sorta awesome, lol … I have friends who trap out west snd I’ve seen them catch some. I’m in SE Missouri snd there’s probably a .00001% chance I’ll ever catch one, lol - but there ARE occasionally verified sightings.

[@JamesJoseph-te3jm]

Man what size double long you using? Do you use offset jaws?

[@StaggsintheWild]

I use 2s and 3s … and no, you won’t find an offset-jawed trap on my line. Ever.

[@jasonknobloch6447]

Missouri guy here- just subscribed to the page. Good stuff!!

[@StaggsintheWild]

Good stuff! Let us know how your season goes... we can't wait for it to get cold and start slinging steel again! Gonna do our best to put a bunch of new trapping vids up this year!

[@BearlyOutdoors]

Do you advocate a 2nd blind set at each site?

[@StaggsintheWild]

I never do, though it would certainly increase your odds... if I were trapping where bobcats were worth $500 apiece, I may be much more inclined to do something like that. :)

[@JakeyCrackOutdoors]

Awesome video. Great information

[@beebop9808]

hahahaha Love the t-shirt! Those cats are beautiful animals. If it were me providing the service you do I would likely be finding homes for them where they're welcome somehow. That's just me tho, no slight intended at all. Great vid!

[@StaggsintheWild]

Appreciate it! Thanks for watching!

[@jonhfish9803]

Nice video were do you put your swivel at on your flags on top or at the feathers do use one swivel or two

[@StaggsintheWild]

@@jonhfish9803 I put the swivel in the middle of the fishing line, or sometimes closer to just above the feather... in other words, I tie the line around the feather and leave about 4-6" above it... then tie on a swivel. I thread the sinker down from the top and then tie the top to a limb. The main thing is that whatever length of line is below the swivel allowing it to spin and dance, you have to make sure it can't become ensnared in any limbs or twigs to halt its motion.

[@jonhfish9803]

Ok thank you am going to try that

[@johnwaldon1389]

Interested to know your favorite scent manufacture and favorite trapper supply.

[@StaggsintheWild]

I’ve started doing a good amount of business with Blakely’s Trapping Supplies (blakeleytrappingsupplies.com) and he carries Sawmill Creek Baits and Lures, which I’ve become a fan of in the last couple years.

[@johnwaldon1389]

@@StaggsintheWild Many thanks. I like following your videos. Down to earth and entertaining. Stay with it!

[@thefallenone7988]

Just set up a chicken coop they seem to love mine.

[@StaggsintheWild]

😂

[@poodlesauce7560]

Same here and that's why I'm here....lol

[@tomthecraneman]

Great Instructional video! I’m new to trapping and appreciate any help I can get. What part of Missouri do you trap? I’m in north east MO.

[@StaggsintheWild]

Unfortunately about as far away as I can be from you and still live in MO; I’m just above the bootheel in SE Missouri.

[@hillbillyb4u]

@@StaggsintheWild Just found your channel. Originally from Wayne County, MO

[@StaggsintheWild]

@@hillbillyb4u Welcome aboard!! Glad to have ya!

[@gregallsup9522]

Awesome Video!!

[@neildavis1209]

What part of the state are you in?

[@StaggsintheWild]

Southeast

[@ournuminousnature]

Do these sets ever catch coyote? Really want to stick to bobcat only. Thank you for all the tips, I’m only 1 trapping season deep.

[@StaggsintheWild]

I've never caught a yote in one. I'm not going to say it couldn't EVER happen, but the chances would be REALLY slim. Coyotes just tend to shy away from such loud and flashy sets. If you really wanted to ensure you didn't catch one, stick with the exposed-pan walkthroughs or the cubby sets. That's about as close to a guarantee as you could get in not catching a coyote.

[@ournuminousnature]

@@StaggsintheWild that's so cool to hear. I was under the impression you'd get them both no matter what, so that is super helpful and inspiring. Excited to use my turkey feathers and try to get my first wildcat! Thank you!

[@brianaaron8247]

Hi There- Where is a good place to order scents?

[@StaggsintheWild]

Probably my two favorite places are Minnesota Trapline Products or F and T Post www.minntrapprod.com/ www.fntpost.com/

[@xtduubx]

I loved this video! I really want to get into trapping at least part time just to get up skills and experience. I'm curious though, are there videos of how the cats are dispatched while protecting their fur for sale later?

[@StaggsintheWild]

It's an awesome hobby and will add so many important fundamental skills in being an outdoorsman and learning how animals move... You'll absolutely love it!! As far as dispatching bobcats, the preferred method is with a catch pole like you saw me handle that feral cat in the video. Those poles can be used to safely keep an animal at bay (think dogcatcher...), but a cats' anatomy places their carotid arteries on the OUTSIDE of their neck musculature; they'll choke out VERY easily, and quickly. It's a very humane way to dispatch a cat. On that feral cat, had I just cinched down that cable hard, he would have been out in less than a minute.

[@miketibbettsjr208]

Very interesting 👍🏼

[@StevenHaymon]

really enjoyed...thank you

[@StevenHaymon]

thanks for replying

[@stricnine69]

What are they used for after you trap them? I have 1 on my property im trying to trap. Wife wanted to know what id do with it afterwards. I figured just bury it unless there is something else to do with it.

[@StaggsintheWild]

They have some of the most valuable fur among all the furbearers we have available to us ... they’re also quite delectable, as I show in another video on here called “Can You Eat A Bobcat?”

[@brendanwren2327]

Great video. Did you permanently attach the shingles to the pan?

[@StaggsintheWild]

I used to glue them on with some varying type of adhesive (tried many different ones...), but these days I just use a large paper clip on either side. The shingle is usually easily found and can be reused in most cases at the catch site with just a bit of looking. I do lay out several paper clips at a time on a piece of cardboard and spray paint them black to help deter them becoming an object that attracts unwanted attention.

[@MrCat4fish]

Great video , well explained !!! What camera are you using , and what do you use for your editing ?? I'm wanting to produce a informational youTub channel my self !!

[@StaggsintheWild]

Back when I filmed this, most of it was filmed on a simple Canon Vixia HFR500... I have a Canon HFG20 now that will produce a lot better footage. I do all my editing in DaVinci Resolve. It's free, and does way more than I need it to -- plus there's plenty of youtube tutorials available on how to use it.

[@tylersoutdooradventures8919]

I'm from SE Missouri as well! What kind of lures are you using for both bobcat and your coyote sets

[@StaggsintheWild]

My favorite cat lure is John Graham’s Badlands Bob, and I use a lot of Steppenwolf in my yote sets. Of course, like anyone that’s trapped for a decade or two, I’ve got about 50 lures in my bag I mix in on the line.

[@tylersoutdooradventures8919]

@@StaggsintheWild Thank you! Looking forward to seeing more trapping videos in the future!!

[@drdwgmd14]

How do you replace the pan? Any welding or not?

[@StaggsintheWild]

Nope, thank God. It’s one bolt and a nut. Straight replacement with nothing other than that.

[@recklesswhisper]

Cool that you released that feral cat. But man, in Australia! Wow! 3 million feral cats decimating the animal/bird populations! ^..^~~

[@StaggsintheWild]

I would have never released that cat if I lived in Australia; if that were my personal land, I’d probably not released it, either. But since I was trapping on someone else’s land by permission, and it COULD have been a neighbor’s pet, I didn’t want to create strife between the neighbors.

[@recklesswhisper]

@@StaggsintheWild Oh I know. I was just sayin'. I rescue lots of feral cats, got three of them at my house all tame now. But man, one of them one day I got to work had to show me that it had killed a full grown rabbit! I was stunned! ^..^~~

[@chuckeglenn]

How are you attaching the cable to your traps? What size cable are you using?

[@StaggsintheWild]

I put one last J-hook through the last swivel so it ensures that I have COMPLETE swiveling action on it, and then loop the cable through it (obviously you have to completely close the J-hook first) and create the loop with a double ferrule, hammering it shut. (You can see exactly how I do this at the 15:00 mark in our "From Unboxing to Catching Fur..." video on this channel). I use the same aircraft cable I use to create my earth anchors (it's nice to order it by the bulk spool...). I believe mine is 3/32", though 1/8" would work just as well.

[@chuckeglenn]

@@StaggsintheWild I’ll check that out. I appreciate the info. Keep up the good work! @charles.e.glenn

[@gregsteffee2487]

Where did you buy the pans

[@StaggsintheWild]

www.expandapantraps.com

[@cofieldcountryoutdoors4567]

Excellent video. I really like your cable trick. Subcribe button hit.

[@anthonymason2186]

Do you put your feather directly above the trap or to the side?

[@StaggsintheWild]

The concept is to use the flagging to draw the cat over and then let the set itself take over from a visual and scent perspective - though I’ll tell you that I do like hanging my flagging directly over the pan whenever possible. I’ve had many a cat jump up and tear a wing down, and I wouldn’t doubt that’s exactly how some of them have ended up stepping in my trap. 😊

[@banditva8040]

Dos this # 3 trap come in a soft catch

[@StaggsintheWild]

No.

[@travisbancroft9232]

That's a neat way to catch a bobcat.Me and my brother cant seem to catch to catch a coyote

[@StaggsintheWild]

See if this helps... kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGbFe2iPo9V-e7s