Predator Trapping Tips: Tricks of the Trade Extended - The Management Advantage #82

This week, we have a few more tips to help make your trapping season be more successful. Attention to detail and following these predator trapping tips can help make or break your success this season.

Finding locations for predator traps is a lot like looking for locations for deer hunting. Pinch points are always great areas for traps. Often times, these pinch points are subtle, while other times they're very obvious. In agricultural country, ditches are abundant and provide excellent locations for trapping. Any culvert that creates a crossing over ditches is a great spot for not just one, but multiple traps. Coyotes, bobcats, and foxes, are sure to be utilizing these crossings from one field to the next.

Bobcats are still protected in Illinois, so upon trapping one, they must be released. It's important to do it properly to keep from harming the cat. They have arteries that run on the outside of their neck so properly using your catch pole is important. Keep from cinching it too tight and keep the pole near the bottom of their neck to prevent injury.

Our final tip is properly setting your trap in conditions where the ground will be freezing. We've had videos on how to make wax dirt and it is a great tool for a trapper, but one must use it correctly. Fill the hole with enough wax dirt to level it off with the ground around it, then grab the trap by the levers and gently life it up to allow the wax dirt to get under it. Next, seat it firmly back in it's location and the trap will be surrounded by dirt that will not freeze. To finalize the set, sift natural dirt over the wax dirt in a thin layer to blend it back in.

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