Some bobcat and beaver trapping

[snareman1234]

I trap the Chilliwack River Valley. I trap beavers for fisheries during the fall trying to clear blocked spawning channels, and then I target bobcat in the winter(hopefully after the bears have denned up) I put out some bobcat cubbies last week and they all got stomped by a bear who ate all the beaver meat. But its not really that bad because he can't really get caught due to the size of his foot, it is even larger than my trap.

Last year I trapped 60 beaver, 3 coyotes, 15 raccoon, 3 otter, 3 bobcat, 7 muskrat and 3 mink.

So far this year 20 beaver 2 muskrat.


Here is 1 of the bobcat cubbies I set up yesterday, I set up four total.

I start with a "tent frame" like structure and wire my beaver meat into the back. You can probably see the foothold trap uncover in the front.
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/PC080051.jpg


Here;s a better pic of the uncovered trap
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/PC080056.jpg

Then I brush in all the sides and cover the trap with a leaf, This is the finished set
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/PC080058.jpg

I also hang a salmon flasher in the tree, because Bobcat hunt with their eyes mostly so a visual attractor is very useful.
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/PC080057.jpg



Here's a bear scrape from on my line, that was made in the last 2 weeks. Highest scratch is about 9 feet. But hard to judge b/c it is a black bear and could have climbed a bit I guess, so doesn;t mean he's that tall
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/PC080060.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/PC080061.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/PC080063.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/PC080064.jpg


And here's two beaver I got, another dam that can be broken to allow fish through, hopefully wont be repaired overnight like the untrapped beaver ponds can.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/PC040045.jpg

[KB90]

That's awesome snare man!!! I can't wait to start trapping. Look forward to hearing your progress.

[trigger]

awesome post allready snare man. Keep us posted

[seanps]

Neat! So are you hired by fisheries folks?

[snareman1234]

Yes, DFO pays me to trap the beaver. Its not a gold mine, let me tell you, but its good right, but I feel good doing it, learning how ecosystems work, and having personally seen the over abundance of beavers and the struggle of the salmon I feel I am helping. Plus I am a biology student in u niversity, heading towards a degree in Biology so it is good work experience!!

[Maxx]

Great post, thanks for sharing...

[pupper]

Good on you man! It is good to see a young guy out there doing old guy things! You dont see to many people trapping or passing down that trade. It is encouraging to know that some are doing it.

[BlacktailStalker]

Thats really cool, keep the pics coming, very interesting.

[Mik]

Starting to look like a great season already, thanks for sharing the pics.

[Chuck]

What do you do with the castors? I'm aware that they have value, but never found anyone to sell them to. Used to keep some for attractant tho.

[snareman1234]

I don't sell the castors, I just use them as attractant to catch more beavers, and use it at bobcat traps

I strictly use castor mounds to catch beaver

[Chuck]

I don't sell the castors, I just use them as attractant to catch more beavers, and use it at bobcat traps

I strictly use castor mounds to catch beaver

Thanks for that! Oh I forgot to ask......that salmon flasher - isn't it a bit too costly (they aren't cheap to buy) to hang around like that? We would use a piece of heavy tinfoil pie plate.

[snareman1234]

ooh they are super expensive! but I am a fishing guide all summer, and I just take all the old ones that everyone says doesnt catch fish haha, they still catch bobcat!

[BimmerBob]

Thanks for the post snareman, really interesting seeing the set. I have just "discovered" the area and am tromping around trying to find Blacktails but no luck so far.

Take care, Bob

[snareman1234]

Went out today for a check because I was bored, no bobcats but saw some good sign.

Here's my snare set with beaver backstrap!(Lol more like a male hunter trap, because we all love beaver and backstrap!!)

This is a walkthrought cubbie, most of mine and close on the end, like up against a tree, but I've heard cats dont like to back out of a cubbie so I am trying this

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/PC090066.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/PC090068.jpg


Here's some scat, don't know if its coyote or cat. one of the 2 though, has tapered ends, and was full of little bones and hair
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/PC090070.jpg


Here's a grouse that a bobcat probably got
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/PC090073.jpg



And the big bad bear that I am trying to avoid!
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/PC090071.jpg

[snareman1234]

**I asked around and so far people say thats coyote, because supposedly a bobcat will dig a hole/ scuff the ground before**

[338]

thats neat. i've never actually seen the snares. Keep the posts and pics coming.

[Dutch Ppoacher]

flashers are cheep if you look around, just don;t buy them brand new! lots of out of work commercial guys slowly selling off their stuff. get them for 2-5$ a pc. ceriously, need help finding them?

[snareman1234]

Well forgot the camera today!!

but checked the traps, and the snare set got robbed, no catches, I caught a raccoon, in one bobcat cubbie, and had bobcat tracks walking right beside the catch circle of the raccoon, I am guessing the raccoon got caught first then bobcat came and had a look.

[theK.G.B]

thats way awsome bid. you should show me how it's done some time

[wighty]

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/PC090071.jpg[/quote]




Be careful where you put your ruger? down.... might not find it one day.... I love camo!

[snareman1234]

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/PC170074.jpg

bobcat tracks

and a trappers dream here
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/PC210076.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/PC210075.jpg

[snareman1234]

Well I finally connected on some cats
Been trapping hard the last 2 weeks with no real payback, just a skunk possum and 2 coons

But after the 2 cold clear nights we had, the cats ran hard and I picked up 3.

2 good sized ones, and one smaller.

here's the 2 big ones in the trap.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/PC240079.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/PC240081.jpg





And some after the catch photos.
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/PC240083.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/PC240084.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/PC240086.jpg


So these are for sale if anyone is interested in a cat for a mount or one for tanning.

[Ovis17]

Very nice looking kittys..........

[Brew]

Thats awesome snareman. Man those are nice cats. Are those from the same place you told me to go? Is there any point in me heading there now haha. Man those are nice. Thats it I'm going to get my trappers license.

[snareman1234]

nope they are from a different spot

[Brew]

How much do those things cost if your selling them. you can pm me if youd rather not tell the world

[snareman1234]

I'm looking for around 150 for the good sized ones

[303Brit]

Nice cats, looking like a good year for ya

303

[FLHTCUI]

Looks like its going to be a pretty good year for the tax man .
Paying them Royalties ;)
I sent you a private message too.
Lets Talk.
Rob

[snareman1234]

Picked up number four today

Big Tom, about 26-27 lbs

snared him.

Rained the last 2 nights so there was very little movement, but thrusday night there was some short breaks in the rain during the night, thats when I think I caught him.

He is also for sale would be a beautiful taxidermy mount, tanned skin, or just dried and stretched on the wall


http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/P1020096.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/P1020098.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/P1020100.jpg

[Blainer]

Wow!
I missed this thread for a few days and it looks like all hell broke loose in the cat dept.
Good on ya!Great looking cats!

[snareman1234]

hey thanks!

yea took awhile to get dialed in, but now I am on them

[Brew]

Did it again eh. Your gettin really good at this snareman. I have not gotten a chance to get out. I was heading out to chilliwack the other day when it snowed but saw someone drive off the road and I stayed to help. Messed up a great day I bet. I had that lucky feeling that it was my day to get one. Oh well.

[snareman1234]

hey, what goes around comes around, that stuff never goes unthanked in the long run

[d6dan]

Nice going Snareman!, Been following your thread here and I have to say, Right on!!.I think you have them figured out. Sure nice looking cats:-D...

[mitchell]

geeez those bcats look sweet good for you keep up the good work

[BlacktailStalker]

Brew; are you trapping them or calling them ?

[hunter1947]

Snareman 1234 you are doing very good at your trapping ,keep up the good work ,them two bobcats are a good score way to go http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif.

[StalkerKevin]

just wondering how you got into trapping it looks like somthing Id b interested in thanks
Kevin

[snareman1234]

lol started snaring squirrels in my cousins back yard with snare wire from candian tire when we were bored

[deerstocker]

snareman1234 great cats i use to do lots of trapping -- have u ever used aluminum pie plates with some fishing line to tie a nail to the plates in sted of fish flasher works great will do the same thing but nail makes noise on plate or put up a grouses wing works great to works for bob cat and linxs

[Alpine Addict]

I helped build that Cubbie.

[snareman1234]

Very good advice deerstocker. The pie plates would be great! I love the noise of the nail idea too,

I have been using flagging tape, cd's on fishing line and bird wings and flasher so far

Alpine Addict, you helped build the cubbie that didnt catch the cat haha, the cat walked by the cubbie and got snared! But it truly was a beautiful cubbie, picture perfect in every way

[BlacktailStalker]

Maybe find a local duck hunter and ask for his wings.

[ChilliwackWinchester]

Snareman, just wondering. Have you seen any cougars around Chilliwack River Valley? I've heard reports of one right in Promontory. Might be a rumour, but you never know.

[snareman1234]

I have not seen a cougar, or seen any tracks of one.

I also have not heard of the one up promontory, but that doesnt mean it isnt true

[snareman1234]

Whitened up a Bobcat skull

Kept dipping it in nearly boiling water, then scrape off a lil more flesh, did this about 5 times, took awhile.

Then soaked it in hydrogen peroxide from grocery store

Before
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/P1030107.jpg




After
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/P1050112.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/P1050113.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/empire_baller/P1050110.jpg

[Brew]

that scull looks awesome snareman. Good job

[Blainer]

Awsome job there Clayton.
Turned out real good.

[snareman1234]

Thanks guys!

Lots of meat on a cat skull, holy moly.

I want to do a beaver next

[ROEBUCK]

hi snareman!

congrats on the cats you have trapped!!

have they all been in or around cubby sets??

ive just set a couple of dozen snares on snow shoe hare trails after lynx and on fresh lynx tracks!
i also have some box sets with 330,s and a few snares behind them ,but tey have been set now for over a month with no luck at all!
so im hoping my trail snares will work out!!
good luck snareman hope you enjoy the rest of the predator season!!

[snareman1234]

Hey Roebuck

Thanks!!

3 were in cubbies baited with beaver, use bird wing or cd on fishing line for eye appeal, and beaver castor for lure.

1, the newest one, was in a snare that was on a trail about 20ft from one of my cubbies.


I also have some boxes set with conis, but have had no luck either, I dont really have too much faith in them, but may aswell have them out I figure, rather than in my garage!

Best of luck to you aswell!

[ROEBUCK]

an old trapper told me that the boxes work better in the latter part of the season!
that was BCtrapper himself!
but im losing a little confidence in the box sets,although a real nice cross fox poked his head in 1 box!
all my boxes are in snow shoe hare infested areas so im surprised to not have any hits from lynx, im using sharpes lure and grouse wing as attracters, but still 6 weeks left so were only mid way through the season !
stay safe roebuck!!

[Blainer]

I want to do a beaver nextI always want to do a beaver!:-D

[ROEBUCK]

I always want to do a beaver!:-D

yeah!! the haireir the better for me!!

[snareman1234]

lol a never ending trapper joke