I get to cross something off my bucket list today!

I trapped my first bobcat. We have had a very limited season for a few years now. The quotas were raised some this year and I have been getting more and more pictures on trail cameras so I decided I would give trapping one a try. I made a couple of dirt hole sets a few days ago and scored this morning. It is a young male but has nice color and spots and I am pleased with it. I have not done a lot of trapping for years and have really enjoyed making a little time for it this year. Good luck to all you trappers!

 

Very cool, Fletch! I was sidelined by the wifey and the new business, otherwise I would be joining you this year. I can't wait to get going on it

 

That's awesome fletch!

 

Very cool Fletch! Do you plan on selling/tanning/mounting it?

 

HOW COULD YOU? kidding. Awesome job, congrats on the cat!

 

Good for you. I know nothing about trapping but now you have me intrigued. I might have to give it a try come January.

 

Thanks guys. I learned to trap when I was 11 years old. My family moved to the country and the neighbor had a problem with muskrats in his pond. He asked me if I could trap them and the obsession started. My Dad knew nothing about trapping but had the local fur buyer come out and show me a few things. I started with 6 traps and a strong desire. I read every book and magazine I could on the subject and it was always a dream of mine to one day travel to a state where I could catch a bobcat. Over the years, bobcats moved into our area and 34 years later my dream was realized. Really cool to get to catch one on my own land. I would have never imagined that prospect when I was a kid. I also caught a nice badger the other day along with several coons so far. It has really got me fired up to find a little time for trapping each Fall again. Brings back a lot of really great memories.

I think I am going to have the hide tanned. If I catch a large Tom, i will likely have it mounted. The badger I am having made into a rug. Like a miniature bear-skin rug. Kind of goofy, but I think it will be neat.

 

Outstanding Fletch!! What's the quota down there? Congratulation's bud!!

 

That is awesome. The thought of trapping has grown on me lately, but last year I started getting serious about predator hunting and am not sure how I would feel about mixing the two. I have had plenty of bobcats on my trail cam over the last several years and plenty sightings in archery season but had only been able to call one in while hunting them. I am hoping to put my tag on one this year and I will be getting a full body mount done.

Congrats again, that is a beautiful animal, and I amsure that memories it brought back are worth their weight in gold!

 

Checking traps is like having Christmas every morning, always fun, good luck if you keep going this year.

 

I want one for a pet. They look too cool.

 

Wow that's awesome fletch! I've never done trapping before but can imagine the rush it must be approaching a set and not knowing what you'll find. Very cool. Congrats.

 

Cool, nicely done.

 

Very cool!

 

Thanks again guys. Schultzy, the quota in Iowa is 450 bobcats and then the season closes. Each trapper can harvest one. Since my youngest son has been helping, we can take one more. It looks like we may have a week or so left before the quota will be filled. The season is only open in certain counties where the population is high enough to sustain harvest. I saw a huge male the other evening while bowhunting and hope he makes his rounds again before the season is closed. It can take a week or more for an adult male to make his loop through his territory.

 

Looks good, Fletch! I would love to start trapping again but I just don't have time to run the line or process the skins.

 

Well done!!!!!

 

Does a released cat count as one?

 

Nice Job Fletch! He is beautiful. I saw my first one this fall on our land when I was in stand. It was really neat to see.

 

No. I have a couple of large cage traps set for that purpose. If I catch a female or another young one in those I plan to release them.