Mb650 too large for bobcats? Beginner trapping questions?

[Bowhunt_406]

Hey all, I live in SW Montana and didn’t get to grow up with the luxury of knowing anyone who trapped and I want to learn. I worked with a guy who told me Mb-650s were his preferred choice of footholds when he trapped years back in NE Montana. I ordered a few and they just seem to be a bit large? Are they too big for cats? How many traps should a beginner get for a small and manageable trapline? I’ve never done any trapping before and it seems to be a little difficult finding quality information. I just want a bobcat pelt or two for a wall and some garments. Having never trapped is it foolish to start with predators instead of water sets? Vis versa?

 

[wytex]

They will work but yes they are a tad big for bobcats. We like 550s and Bridger #3s, No BS K9 extremes too. 2 coils will work fine but we use a bunch of 4 coiled traps too.

Check out Trapperman forum: https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/forum_summary

The archives have a ton of info too.

 

[jpc01101]

If it’s legal in Montana then you can catch cats in those traps. We are limited to 5.5” in KY so I use 550s and I have caught several cats in them. YouTube is a good resource have seen folks trapping bobcats not even cover the traps because a cat doesn’t really care. Look into cubby sets. You can start a trap line with just a couple traps if you want. Start with what you have and just learn. What works, what doesn’t. One thing for cats is if you have access to duck or chicken carcasses (after they are breasted of course) they love feathers! They will also come in on coon or bobcat carcasses as well. Good luck!

 

[Jbotto]

They will work but yes they are a tad big for bobcats. We like 550s and Bridger #3s, No BS K9 extremes too. 2 coils will work fine but we use a bunch of 4 coiled traps too.

Check out Trapperman forum: https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/forum_summary

The archives have a ton of info too.

Aren’t those Bridger #3’s about the same size as the MB650?


Haven’t trapped cats, but I’d grab two or three traps of a few different brands, for the appropriate size you’re looking for to try out. See what you like setting the best and then buy more of those later. Most all of them will hold the critters that end up in them.

 

[sigpros]

They will work but yes they are a tad big for bobcats. We like 550s and Bridger #3s, No BS K9 extremes too. 2 coils will work fine but we use a bunch of 4 coiled traps too.

Check out Trapperman forum: https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/forum_summary

The archives have a ton of info too.

I’m liking the NO BS traps I have handled. Haven’t set any yet but I will be buying 2-3 DP’s and a couple dozen 1.5. I have been looking at the K9 extreme jr really hard. Going to grab one the next time I’m at scheels just to mess with. I’ve been using MB 550’s and really like them.

 

[wytex]

Aren’t those Bridger #3’s about the same size as the MB650?


Haven’t trapped cats, but I’d grab two or three traps of a few different brands, for the appropriate size you’re looking for to try out. See what you like setting the best and then buy more of those later. Most all of them will hold the critters that end up in them.

I think the 650 is a little larger jaw spread.

 

[Jbotto]

I think the 650 is a little larger jaw spread.

Couldn’t remember and didn’t look it up. I got into trapping as MTP was bring ing out the MB traps. Always thought my Bridget 3’s I was using for beaver were big trap until I handled those 650’s and then later the 750’s. All their traps are seriously great products.

 

[JBS]

Bowhunt- the first animal I trapped was a bobcat for the very reasons you described, I wanted a full body mount. I had a friend that showed me the basics and i bought a dozen bridger #3 offsets. I put em all out and did what any single guy with a decent job would do and bought another dozen. I caught a nice tom, and the season closed before i even used the second dozen traps. I took about 10 years off from trapping and got back into it about 5 years ago, I still have those traps, and they are perfect size for bobcats, I have since mostly switched to duke 650's. To answer your question, I think mb 650 is a perfect size for cats. That said check the regs on the lynx zone if you plan to target cats there they will not be legal. Also, just a word of advice find a mb to play with before getting them, they are great traps but I like having a free jaw to keep my fingers out of the trap.

 

[brymoore]

Are you allowed to use Conibears for bobcat in your state?

I’ve caught bobcats with footholds, snares and Conibears. I switched from footholds to Conibears for several reasons. Weather froze my long springs a lot and heavy snowfall would bury my line. It took hours to reset. There were the close misses too. My final reason to move to Conibears was lions. I was a good enough cat trapper to attract way too many lions. I had to pull one of my lines in an area I had four lion catches in a week.

My catch rate went up with a 220 Conibear box sets. Lions don’t bother it. If there’s heavy snow, I pick up the box and reset it. It only takes a few minutes. My trapping became a lot more efficient.