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Post by bobwendt on Jun 2, 2007 11:38:42 GMT -6
give me your advice on your first choice for traps, sets, lures etc for lions. they appear kind of easy to me and most of the bobcat trappers complain they can`t keep them out of their traps. I`ve some summer damage work on a couple ranchs and need to catch them fast as I can with the least effort in probably 90-100 degree heat. I figured just do the same o` same o` unless someone has any better ideas. I`m not enthused about it but it beats sitting in indiana all summer.
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Post by mostinterestingmanintheworld on Jun 2, 2007 12:33:35 GMT -6
I'd use a 114 Newhouse, 4 1/2's are slow, the beefed up #3 coils will hold the females and yearlings but if you have big toms you need the best you can get, they can be monsters.
Find the scratch grounds, saddles, creek bottoms, points, tree/meadow edges. Ask lion hunters where the crossings are that they hunt.
They move around quite a bit and I can't predict when they might show back up in a place.
Other than that they are just cats, I've noticed that they will stop short if you have a stepping stick "in front" of a walkin set, even worse than bobcats.
Make everything bigger, they will step clear over a walkthrough set for a bobcat.
Snares are death on them if you can find a place where they are hanging out.
I have one friend that seems to catch plenty that thinks they like catnip lures extraordinarily well.
Joel
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Post by billcat on Jun 2, 2007 12:51:04 GMT -6
The big toms cover quite a bit of ground, you might have to wait a while for them to come back. They can easily be 20 miles away the next day. Best spots are on high saddles dividing drainages and/or scratches. Females, especially if they have kittens, are much more localalized. Joel's recommend for traps are good, as would be anything setup for wolves. Scents and sets would be same as for b'cats, adjusted for critter size. About 10-12 lbs. pan tension will allow most bobcats to work the set and not set the traps off, yet catch all but the smallest lions.
Bill
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Post by bobwendt on Jun 2, 2007 12:53:31 GMT -6
these are west texas cats. I`m guessing run small, but never caught cats there before ,even tho I have trapped it. but that was quite a while ago, maybe 20 years. apparently they have gotten quite thick since then. I asked why they can`t get any gman help on them but never got an answer. usualy that means a combination of the gman just has too much ground to cover and more likely the rancher far and away over estimates the cat numbers he has.
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Post by Cliffdweller on Jun 2, 2007 17:46:01 GMT -6
You might try using leg snares. I knew a man in Wyoming that trapped ADC lions and he would set on a kill with a leg snare. The snare was pan activated and had coil spring that pulled the snare tight around the lion's leg. The snare would be set down in a hole and covered with a cheap pane of glass. Coyotes and other smaller animals could not break through the glass and the set would stay working until the lion or bear came back. The carcass would be set in "V" made of logs or brush.
To find lions one thing is to look for their food source. They really like bighorn sheep. They follow deer and elk between winter and summer ranges and are never far way.
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Post by bobwendt on Jun 2, 2007 17:50:56 GMT -6
thanks guys, and for th pms too.
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Post by Dhat on Jun 3, 2007 15:50:47 GMT -6
never have used lure for em just set up a walkthrough type set with two traps and a stepping stick between them in a pinch point. have snared a couple also in same type locations. not hard to catch once you find a spot he hits when passing through.
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Post by lynxcat on Jun 3, 2007 19:04:28 GMT -6
Bob, I "hook" usually around 5 or 6 a year...most small/medium females, kittens etc. I've only lost a couple (one had my MJ 600 on him sniff..sniff)..most were held in fully modified #3 coils.. the ONLY one that I've "hooked" that I've had issue with was a MONSTER tom 2 years ago.. hooked him in a #3 dogless monty(ONLY stock trap on my line!!), he bent the drag and pulled out.. SAME cat went 1/4mi down the rim and step'd in a the only OTHER non 100% modified trap I had a #3 Northwoods..4coiled,offset,baseplated but NOT laminated..he pop'd a jaw!!(impressive fer sure).. the SAME cat was waiting for me less than 1mile later in a pair of #4 double long spring victors(baseplated,lam's, pan fixed,miles triggered)...the cat is the LARGEST I have ever held OR SEEN... a head the size of a basketball!! .. to date I dont think I've had a lion even HURT a #4 dls trap.. PERIOD!! I sold some to a guy in Canada that due to BMP's... jaw restrictions or WHATEVER were using them for wolves with NO PROBLEMS... food for thought??? IF trail setting/blind setting ... 2 #4 dls traps have a WIDE enough pattern set that even a lion wont step over... THAT is why I catch them... and why I DONT miss the occasional bobcat that DOES step over a single trap..
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Post by mostinterestingmanintheworld on Jun 3, 2007 21:43:10 GMT -6
Lynx is right about two traps, I catch lions when I set two where they step over one.
Use enough trap, some of are awful big and powerful as heck.
Joel
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Post by SteveCraig on Jun 4, 2007 19:50:58 GMT -6
Belisle Foot Snare or the Fremont will work too. That way you got a good piece of CABLE holding them. This is what the Wildlife Service guys are using here to remove problem lions. No weight to pack around either. You will appreciate that hiking into saddles and up ridges.
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Post by robertw on Jun 4, 2007 20:22:03 GMT -6
Bob,
When are you leaving again?
Be happy to set you up with the needed traps.
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Post by bobwendt on Jun 5, 2007 4:21:36 GMT -6
up in the air robert. I`d liket o stall them till winter, to take advantage of the grey fox/bobcat hides, but they want me right now of course. it pays $2,000 a month , good housing ,and $200 a lion. I can`t work that cheap. in spite of their claims to being over run with lions, probably 1 or 2 a week would be good after the first round.
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Post by wmeyer on Jun 5, 2007 11:24:23 GMT -6
Bob if you want to try leg snares I have some aldrich springs for leg snaring. Snare shop has every thing to make snares. I have bear snares made already, big stuff compared to coyote cat snares.
Wayne
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Post by robertw on Jun 5, 2007 12:51:00 GMT -6
Concerning the actual sets for lions....Bill Applegate is THE lion trapper in the United States, there may be a few others with 200 plus lions to their name but, I am only aware of Bill.
It is my understanding from talking to Bill that he uses a "cubbie type" of a set constructed of brush. This "Cubbie" (more like a corral) needs to be big (6'-8' diameter) enough to allow the lion to comfortably enter into and turn around in. The trap is placed in the opening so that the lion must pass over the trap coming into and leaving the cubbie. I believe Bill uses mainly LPC traps.
My personal experiences, you will catch lions using the dirt hole and flat set methods you are currently using. I've caught lions in dirt hole sets using prairie dogs and beaver castor.
Concerning gland lures.....You already have the best lure available, use your red fox gland lure. Most of the guys that I talk to all agree it is very hard to beat for lions.
Good luck.
If you head out, give me call, you have the 800#
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Post by lynxcat on Jun 5, 2007 19:10:43 GMT -6
Concerning the actual sets for lions....Bill Applegate is THE lion trapper in the United States, there may be a few others with 200 plus lions to their name but, I am only aware of Bill. It is my understanding from talking to Bill that he uses a "cubbie type" of a set constructed of brush. This "Cubbie" (more like a corral) needs to be big (6'-8' diameter) enough to allow the lion to comfortably enter into and turn around in. The trap is placed in the opening so that the lion must pass over the trap coming into and leaving the cubbie. I believe Bill uses mainly LPC traps. NOT doubting your info... HOWEVER a cat...is a FREAKIN CAT!!! If one takes "brush cubbies" as opposed to "brush walkthru's"... ANY guess's WHICH one would take the most..... I have NO doubt they work for him.. AND if one is TARGETING lions.. I'm sure his numbers would be up there... HOWEVER I've caught 24 lions(give or take 1) in the last 4 years W/OUT trying... given the "bobcat mentality" towards a STRAIGHT thru walk thru set as OPPOSED to a cubby... me thinks the walk thru would win HANDS DOWN.. doubt it'd be any different on lions... COMMON SENSE..  lynx |
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Post by robertw on Jun 5, 2007 20:59:04 GMT -6
Lynx,
In your area, I'm sure your walk throughs work well (and would in most areas) and lions are fairly easy to catch but...Idaho is not the same as that Texas grease wood country and it very hard to keep livestock out of these walk through type sets.
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Post by lynxcat on Jun 6, 2007 7:13:51 GMT -6
AHHHH... livestock.. that could make a difference... OUT OF NECESSITY...
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Post by robertw on Jun 6, 2007 12:27:11 GMT -6
Now you understand the reason for the cubbie type sets.
Cows are bad enough but mustangs are truely not a trappers friend unless used as bait!
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Post by mostinterestingmanintheworld on Jun 7, 2007 5:58:02 GMT -6
Elk are animal rights fanatics.
They'll hunt your sets down and stomp on them.
Joel
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Post by trappnman on Jun 7, 2007 6:10:50 GMT -6
What about antelope? When a herd of 100+ comes to a water hole, everythings pretty much walked over and ruined. Learned to PAY ATTENTION at such places. Had an antelope break a cable stake, but found the trap a short ways away- must have shook it off.
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