HINTS ON BOBCAT TRAPPING 



The hunter may commence with a quantity of ground fish placed in 

 a large galvanized-iron container, similar to a milk can, and as the 

 original lot is used on the trap line, he may replenish it by adding 

 more fresh fish and others of the ingredients mentioned. The addi- 

 tion of new material froni time to time seems to improve the desirable 

 quahties of the scent mixture. 



Oil of catnip, diluted in the proportion of 35 drops of the pure 

 oil to 2 ounces of petrolatum, has proved an effective lure in bobcat 



trapping. As this is a fine oil, the petrolatum is used 

 Catnip Oil to give it body, and this tends also to prevent loss of 

 as a Lure the scent when exposed to rain. Pure catnip oil is 



manufactured at a few places in the United States, but 

 if the pirre oil is not obtainable, the leaves of the catnip plant may be 



boiled to a pulpy con- „.„„„_„„__ 



sistency in water, and IS^^SSBffiSMHWBHH^;^'!^-^ 

 this will produce a 

 mild tincture of cat- 

 nip, which can be 

 drawn off. Catnip in 

 this form has been 

 used as a lure by 

 some trappers with a 

 fair degree of success. 

 A few drops of the 

 mixture of petrola- 

 tum and pure catnip 

 oil, or of the tincture, 

 should be placed on 

 the scent spot every 

 third day. 



Some Fish and 

 Wildhfe S e r V i c e 

 hunters employ this 

 lure by bmying at 

 one side of a bobcat 

 nmway a small glass 

 jar or bottle (fig. 4) 

 into which has been 



dropped gauze or cotton batting, saturated with catnip oil. The 

 mouth of the container is left open, but level with the ground, and is 

 protected by a perforated top. If the top is bright, it should be made 

 inconspicuous by moistening it, and while wet brushing it over with 

 dust or sand. Trap sets placed as described around such scent points 

 have accounted for many bobcats. 



Success in trapping, whether for bobcats or for other predators, 

 is in many respects dependent upon the trapper's attention to what 

 might seem to be minor details. While digging holes for 

 Care in the sets it is well for the trapper to stand or kneel on a 

 Details "setting cloth, " which is made of canvas or a piece of sheep- 

 skin or calf hide about 3 feet square. Human scent on the 

 canvas may be avoided by previously burying the cloth in an old 

 manure pile. The dirt removed from the place where the trap is 

 bedded may be piled on the setting cloth. Surplus dirt not needed 

 for covering the trap should be scattered evenly on the ground at 



Figure 4^ — Drt, lils of plicing scv'iit set on cleared space between the 

 trail and a clump of higher weeds or gr.iss used as a scent post. 

 Between the trap set and the scent post may be buried ajar having 

 perforated top and containing cotton saturated with oil of catnip; or 

 other scent material may be sprinkled on the clump of weeds to lure 

 the bobcat to the trap 



