Good stuff so far.
In Oregon, we are limited to #3's and nothing with a jaw spread larger than 6". I should have just been going with the biggest I could from the beginning, but did order some #3's this week to try out. We don't have much problem with temps below freezing where I am trapping. We also can't use any game fish, bird, or mammal as bait, and can't have sets within 15' of a sight bait. Not sure where Beaver would fall on that, but rabbit are considered predatory and would probably work well. I might have to see if I can hunt me up some rabbit. The christmas ball idea is a good one I will need to try.
So far, I have been making sets similar to the ones I found in this video, except I'm using a rebar anchor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrIy03ID3ak
I'm putting them a few feet off the trail where I have photographed them coming through, using sticks/branches to funnel them into the pan. I've only tried a few different scent lures applied to sheeps wool, then spraying the area down with bobcat urine when I'm done. I've avoided putting them directly in the trail as deer/elk are often using the same path.
How far apart to you make your sets? The closest I have so far is about 100 yards apart. Not sure if I should do more in the same spot, or space them out more.
Thanks for the info.
Charvey you seem to be into chasing birds….. if you can (if its legal in oregon) you might try to keep the wings of birds and hang them from a branch at least nearby. I by no means close to being an expert trapper, I'd hardly qualify myself as a good or descent one at that, but I've seen a lot of sets where there is a wing or two or three hanging from a tree, with a trap or two right under it, catch a lot of cats. Its obviously not guaranteed, but its simple and trapping in a lot of ways is made more difficult than it has to be.
I see you said you can't use any game fish, bird, or mammal as bait. Is that "period" or does it apply to the meat or viscera only? In MT, we have something similar…. our regs state: "Exposed Carcass or Bait- No trap or snare may be set within 30 feet of an exposed carcass or bait which is visible from above. Exposed carcass or bait is defined as the meat or viscera of a mammal, bird or fish, or any part thereof that is more than one pound in weight. Bleached bones are excluded."
Wings are lightweight and a huge eye attractant, and I'd guess that you could collect a fair number of them from pics you have posted.