Bobcat No. 4 - 17 lb Male
Bobcat No. 4 - January 26th 2016
17 lb Male Bobcat - Bobcat No. 4 for season and No. 17 for farm. - Stocky Stud - Let go back in time. On Jan 14th while sitting in the stand Bowhunting I watched some deer start to come in at 4:50 pm they started to blew and darn it, if it's another big bobcat est over 20 lbs off by 3 lb I guess. LOL. Well watched him go between me and deer that's was it for deer hunting, I thought he was going to walk right into a set near a brush pile but he went on the other side then stayed in edge of woods then watched him walk up a log on another brush pile about 12 inches from another stand legs. Then watched him come out into food plot and head right toward another set. But no luck. So Jan 15th added sets to that location and also the wood pile I caught glimpse between the logs. Also had deer blowing and something on that side in the dark on the 12th also. Hind sight 20/20 I am betting it was the same bobcat. Bring it on baby. Well the wood pile was the place to catch him. I had a deer leg, and salt fish as bait and either Deep South Lure Hiney Hole or Booyah can't remember which one. No sign in snow, no harassment of sets, But 11 Days later and pulling sets because of Work, Road Closure and Out of town. He last catch for season.
Same set I had a dig out and it missed trap must have finally came back. But out of every miss comes a learning experience. I have tried not using any anti freeze products. Because I want to see how the coconut liner does in extreme temps. Been in Teens and lower last 3 days. The coconut liner worked great just as plan. Photo is as I found it. It trigger pan and jaws must have moved just a little because jaw moved and threw dog, then the animal cannot get frozen rabbit out of hole so it torn the liner out and chew it in half. All ground froze solid. Jaws where free but levers where froze over or down. It did not take much to make it go off. That's a great sign in my opinion. Snowing like crazy now. Added some Calcium Chloride to traps before snow came in. Next year I believe I just have to mess with the lever to keep from freezing and I have a winner.
Well yesterday while sitting in the stand watch some deer start to come in at 4:50 pm they started to blew and darn it, if it's another big bobcat est over 20 lbs. Well watched him go between me and deer that's was it for deer hunting, I thought he was going to walk right into a set near a brush pile but he went on the other side then stayed in edge of woods then watched him walk up a log on another brush pile about 12 inches from another stand legs. Then watched him come out into food plot and head right toward another set. But no luck. So today moved a two sets to that location and also the wood pile I caught glimpse between the logs. Also had deer blowing and something on that side in the dark on the 12th also. Hind sight 20/20 I am betting it was the same bobcat. Bring it on baby.
Bobcat No. 3 - 23 lb Male - 4th Largest
Bobcat No. 3 - 23 lb male bobcat moves to No. 4 all time on farm and now gives me one verification on liner during freezing weather after a rain. Also this cat has some type of big knot behind it's head under the skin. You can see the ice on the watering hole. This was the set before catch, The same spot as bobcat No. 2 was caught used a blocking rock instead of sheep wool or rolled up grass, because area so rocky can't get dirt hole very deep. Started using my wood boring bit today also for my road kill rabbit I picked up on the way out. I need a bumper sticker that says. Trapper - I brake for road kill rabbits.
Well the last camera pull for the month and 2015, I have big mix feelings. Some of excitement that I am still in the game and some disappoint that did not catch coyote or latest bobcats. To give some perspective, I caught my last cats on the 16th, had a flip over trap on the 17th and caught big tom on 18th. Then I re-baited and re-lured on the 29th. Here are the results, the 12/15 cat might be caught, 12/16 coyote I have to awesume that was the trap flip, but the 12/21 cat hmm still in play, but coyote is big time wonder by his location he right in front of one and had to pass a few coming and going from that spot. But the cat super disappointment he was on top of it but must just never step on the trap. But I guess it's still in play also. Come on 2016, daddy needs a new fur coat. LOL
Trying to keep full disclosure so forgive number of photos here is the all 25 sets of the photos. We got since Dec 26th about 6 to 8 inches of rain after getting 1 to 2 inches just before that. River valley flooded below me and it is slick as snot. All dirt holes for the most part filled in. Still for me impressed with the coconut liner held up just lost peat moss on top. Guess this will be called the extreme water test. Photos are of Sets before then after remade cover I DID NOT have re bed any set except for one because a rabbit caught his self and then got ate. I did have to redo all bait holes some cases water would fill up hole after it was drilled. Grounds is wet enough, freeze test is next. I would not rule as a success but not a failure either.
Believe it or not this is the 4 largest Bobcat ever taken, but I will tell you I blew it I should have taken photo of its pads compared to my hands. This old old hardly any canines left was a huge Bobcat coming in only at 22 lbs but look bigger than my 27 lb cat last year only difference was how big the belly was. First and Second photo is of the set before cat was caught, later photo is of remake. This makes me even more excited we are getting closer to coyote weight for coconut liner. In this case it could not be reused was torn in half. But I do believe this might be a winner it's close of the Bobcat on camera December 2nd.
Stand your ground you big chicken!!!!
Up the food chain we go and another successful coconut liner test and a good catch so no different effects from using it. Interesting did not tear it up too bad so able to reuse and took photos of remake. Also this is a different bobcat by the leg spots.in my opinion, what do you think?
Trends
Some of the hardest things you will ever look for are furbearers per square mile information. Here is some rough math based on some of my trends over the years and some big speculation on if habitat is equal over the whole 640 acres
Animals Per Square Mile Animals on 81 Acres Forest Habitat
200 Opossum 26
90 Raccoon 11
20 Coyote 3
25 Bobcats 4
Something did not expect some of the coconut came up thru peat and made it blend in even more. Just a couple did that. Very cool, I know this I am using so little peat to make sets this year. I bet I am 1/4 to 1/8 thick on top now. It was 40 mph hour wind also last night. Onto freezing weather testing.
With about 1 inch of rain, wanted to document the first time result for using the coconut liner below is full disclosure. First I had a positive result on one trap with a Raccoon setting one off. I did have my first miss but I think it might have been the Raccoon or Opossum that I caught nearby. What I did find out that I did not have to remake any sets but did have to add a pinch of peat to the pan because it take so little to cover and in some case you can see the coconut strands sticking up but that make it blend in even better. Very Very Happy with results. I do believe I have a Fox harassing one of my Sets so I pushed on pan and it set off but I reduce pan tension for fox. See I can catch the little fella. One thing for sure it a mucky mess now you sink in about everywhere you walk or kneel.
Day late and dollar short - Started setting on Dec 2nd but did not make it to this area till Dec 3rd. What is wild is looking at all the photo I have had no predators on farm from Dec 2nd thru December 12th. But it has been hot 70 degrees running trap line on December 12th.
Day 9. - Last sets are up and running. - 25 Sets for Bobcats and Coyotes, 11 DP's and 2 Cable Restraints.
Day 8. Update. Slow but typical also. Up to 21 sets now with 8 opossum getting caught. They can sure mess up a pretty setup. No misses so far. Have only able to reuse 2. The others I started using what is left to put bait or lure in. Good secondary use. So have had 8 postive animal results. Just need big animal test. Sitting on 10 opossum. 2 raccoons. 4 days of rain in forecast. That will be interesting.
Day 2 - Remakes and 10 more sets - A lot of first in 2015, Coconut liner, Tire Set and Coyote Chum
Day 2. As always I have to knock out the opossum to get to the real targets, only 26 more to go. LOL, but in this time they are helping, because they are the first two animals caught using the coconut so animal test, I have my first two positive results. Also put big bore in DP today.
Day 1 Sets off to slow start but 5 sets, 2 cable restraints and 11 DP's
ATV and ready to go
Coconut Liner
Trap preparations during to hot day to go bow hunting.
Trapping Area
