Question for cat trappers

[bblwi]

I have had one bobcat tag in all my years of trapping in WI and have only trapped them that one time.

I have read articles, threads and posts concerning cat trapping. My question is this.
Most talk about flagging, visual attraction, exposed baits etc.
To what extent do you have serious issues and concerns with raptors and other sight oriented non target animals?

Bryce

[mostinterestingmanintheworld]

If you use meat you get birds.

Thay aren't attacted to fur flags and feathers much.

If it shows red your dead.

Joel

[timbob]

Out here if you use any real fur or feathers, or meat right at the trap (which is illegal) you may catch a vulture or hawk or owl before you catch a cat- or coyote

I caught an owl once in a cubby, under a tree that had some feathers or a rabbit in it- I thought the cubby and tree would conceal but they were a little sparce or the owl had a good sniffer.

By law site bait must be away from the trap - Its a good law - probobly just for that purpose

[bobwendt]

you are assuming birds can`t be released, just what antis tell us. bryce, it happens on occasion, but I`ve never seen it a major issue. I catch one or two birds a year and 30-40 cats. I use all softys ,so release is no issue. in fact I show a red taul release out of a softy in wyoming ,on my fox and more dvd, and the camera zooms onto the hawks foot/leg as he lands on a post and preens. zero injury- ZERO. I`ve caught as many or more on dirtholes with no sight anything. I guess the smooth dirt and little hole. proper release is both wingtips and depess trap with feet nd then throw the bird into the air. no problems. caught a few eagles in the west, hawks and owls in other places. relese has never been a problem and never a crippling injury. if a guy was #3 or 4 non laminated or offset steel jawing(heavy traps), there would be problems.

[possumpincher]

On exposed baits you have to stay well away with the sets. Way to many red tail Hawks to set close. But the ones I have caught were all released. I take off my coat and lay it down on the hawk and take trap off, flip coat off and step back. That's how I do it any way. As for feathers haven't had problems with hawks just using them.

[lynxcat]

Hawks would be a piece of cake...HOWEVER try a LARGE golden eagle... NEVER thought I'd get my butt wup'd by a bird! Caught him at a toilet set...TURDS only...and exposed traps from 3 directions... crazy bird landed DIRECTLY on the exposed pan w/both feet.... thought I was gonna have to call in reinforcements.. I've only caught 2 raptors in my life... one hawk and one eagle...BOTH released.. as said... you trap where they are and use exposed or hanging bait.. you WILL catch them... there are always better ways or ways that work as well.
lynx

[3n]

Same in Montana..can't set within 30 feet of an exposed bait...hanging baits will catch the raptors.

[Wiley]

Traps cannot be set within 30 feet of an exposed bait containing meat of viscera (intestines). - South Dakota


~SH~

[bblwi]

Thanks for the responses. I was not trying to be critical just wondering how flagging worked and if non targets were typically attracted by the movement as well as the cats are. We have no exposed bait rules here in WI with a footage requirement also.

No Bob I am not assuming birds can not be released as I have released birds of prey from non soft catch traps as well. I was wondering what the incidence or % was compared to targets as it is not productive to have a higher % of traps filled with non target species and especially if the lines are long and the check requirements are long as well.

Thanks for your your responses.

Bryce

[billcat]

I have not ever caught a bird on any kind of dangler since exposed bait was outlawed in 1973. If there is nothing to eat, they just aren't interested.

Bill

[cameron2]

Caught a chukar this year in a walk through set.

[rk660]

caught a golden in a WY once, thought it would be a real hassle to release but about like a hen house chicken, not much fight at all, I just threw my coat over it and once I got ahold of it it just cowered down. seems redtails got more fight to them, worste was a great horned owl in coon snare, in a plumb thicket I had to crawl to get at, alwasy wondered what owl was going under that thicket. Believe it or not, Ive snared more raptors than trapped.