I was walking into a lynx set the other night and saw a set of tracks coming onto the trail and going towards my set. Cool, I say, maybe I got one. Crap, thinks I as I get to the tracks and realize that they are coming toward me, away from the set. Sure enough, he walked right by the cubby because it was occupied by this friendly guy waving at me with his new #4 jump bracelet. I remade the set, maybe I'll get the other guy if he comes back through.

This has been my most productive set, 4 cats the last couple years.

nice job small time

Great pics! Don't worry, that other cat will be back. How is the belly on the cat, much brown left?

Ted

Gator,here is a belly pic. Still some brown, but the cats here don't seem to get the real nice clear bellies. What do you think?



This pic looks pretty yellowish, I just took it with a flash.

There is some brown there. I trap in the Interior as well, and even some of the cats I got in early December still had some brown on them. I have seen a few cats that friends have caught already that have no brown left. One of those things I guess. Keep up the good work.

Ted

Do you wait before targeting cats? The early season ones probably are not worth as much, is that right?

Yes, for lynx I usually wait until Dec. 1st, but I always seem to get a couple early in pee post or blind wolf sets. This year I won't set ANY traps until the beginning of Dec. so no worries there. I got considerably less at NAFA for the cats I got early last year.

Nice pics... Congrats on that cat.

I noticed the one I picked up this weekend has a lot of brown on it as well.

Nice work ! You evidently have that set right on a travel route. You might consider a second set nearby.

NICE! What White said, I think you have yourself a corador!

Nice Cat!!

Early season usually yields the brown ones. I usually seperate those out, and tan them and sell locally. They are still AWESOME critters, and it kills me to see what NAFA sells them for. Hence why I hold them for personal use.

Again, Congrats!

Nice kitty, I sure wish I had some of them around here

That's funny, I pray that we don't have them around where I trap. You talk about trouble.

To take cats early or not?

I do not know, but here is what I do know. I hammer on the cats as soon as the season opens because there is a lot of trapping pressure where I am, and I will be losing out if I do not trap them. Last year I sent in 25 cats to NAFA caught during November and the first week of Decemeber. Nafa held these cats through the February auction and sold them during the May auction. My cats, which were predominatley November cats, sold at the same price as every other trapper I talked to, many of which predominately had cats caught from mid December through February. I have a friend who had a similar experience, in fact his cats sold for a higher average than most people that I know.

I have paid close attention to my fur sales the last several years and I come to same conclusion every year. When selling to the international auctions, it is well worth trapping the cats as soon as the season opens, or at least November 10th which is when my season opens.

I have caught a lot of cats the last 4 years shortly after Novemeber 10th and I have never had one with blue skin.

Good info. Thanks for taking the time.

I am only allowed 2 Lynx during November. I am holding out until Dec to set any cubbies. Last year I had to release an extra early Lynx which really was a bummer.

I'm in the same boat. Have about 2 dozen snares hung and ready to go on the 1st. Have some cubbies ect.. ready to role but have been worried about picking up a litter of kitties in the fox snares so I haven't opened up the lynx snares yet. I'm not actually sure if you can target them yet even though we can have 2 in November.

Same here, 2 until December.

That is interesting Gulo. I wonder if it depends on area? I am like Gator, I don't set for cats until Dec. 1 due to brown cats. I guess I should re-think it. Wouldn't matter the past few years anyways as I've been out moose hunting during most of Nov. so didn't have time to set. Dec. 6 is the day!

From what I've heard and read sounds like fur prices are in the toilet this year. Do you guys hold some of the cats, marten over hoping for better prices next year?

If an XXL pale only goes for $100 it's gonna make this cat population peak in my area kind of a bust.

Nice pics STT, thanks for sharing.