2025/2026 Trapping season.

Sorry, only took a picture with my ugly mug with the bobcat.

#3 for the year, blind set along a rock edge. Cut a track about 200 yards south of this trap 8 days ago coming right to the set, but nothing in it that day. Same size track, must have been coming back through and got it this time.
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This is my second season trapping, and I just made the switch to double door traps for beavers. It's made a HUGE difference setting those in runs vs. making castor sets on the bank.

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I renovated a crappy storage shed on my property to be my fur shed-

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The last one I caught had a round, hard lump of scar tissue and pus attached to the underside of the hide against its ribcage. Inside, I found a 17 HMR bullet. It looks like it had been shot from the top. The bullet barely touched a lung (based on some scarring I found) and didn't quite make it out the skin on the other side.

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Last year, I was trying hard to trap bobcats, and only caught some grey foxes. I've seen a bunch of bobcat tracks in the area where I'm trapping beavers, so I'm gonna play trap tetris in my truck and load up everything and get out tomorrow to see what I can find. It's been a steep learning curve, as I don't really have anyone other than the internet as a teacher!
 
Blind set walk through.
Snow is deep, which lead to an additional 3 miles of walking because of drifts and lots more snow coming, so the traps got pulled today. And just a mere 70 mph wind gust.
I have zero traps I can check from the truck, everything I have to hike into, in 21 days I logged just over 108 miles of hiking to check traps.
Marten traps get deployed January 1.

Good luck to everyone and stay safe out there!

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Target
 

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Got a few cats sets out finally yesterday afternoon. Went back in today to get a few more out and found this waiting for me. Blue Christmas tinsel was its kryptonite. Followed its tracks in the snow and it was walking about 100 yards away. Once it came into view of the tinsel it turned 90 degrees and came right for it. Made an exposed walk through beside the cedar tree knowing cats would circle it. Worked to perfection. Skinned out without stretching cat is 43” from tip of nose to base of tail.

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Got a few cats sets out finally yesterday afternoon. Went back in today to get a few more out and found this waiting for me. Blue Christmas tinsel was its kryptonite. Followed its tracks in the snow and it was walking about 100 yards away. Once it came into view of the tinsel it turned 90 degrees and came right for it. Made an exposed walk through beside the cedar tree knowing cats would circle it. Worked to perfection. Skinned out without stretching cat is 43” from tip of nose to base of tail.

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Doesn't get any better than that, congratulations!!!
 
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