My Wisconsin Bobcat Season

This morning I went to check my coyote sets and see that I caught this beautiful bobcat in a Bridger #2 dogless!  It's no secret that Wisconsin has PLENTY of Bobcats.  I've had several big cats on my trail cameras just this year throughout 3 counties, have cut more coyote and bobcat tracks than deer tracks in some areas, and have watched the turkey population in this area decline rapidly.  It takes a hunter/trapper an average of 10-12 years to draw a kill tag for Bobcat in the area I'm in.  Regardless, I had to release this big kitty because I don't have a tag.  It was an easy release, he was unharmed, no paw damage, and just sat there staring at me for a few minutes before walking off.

THE SET:

The very next day, I went to check my sets and caught a SECOND cat, except it was this year's kitten.

Yep, you guessed it.  It's three weeks later and I'm back on this blog to update this post, changing it from 2 cats to THREE.

Here's my third bobcat in three weeks.  All released because of no tags given out.

I'll just make updating this post as frequent as my morning coffee.  Here's bobcat #4 from this morning.  Caught in Bridger dogless attached to a drag; my critter drag caught critter.  It was a flat set with Coyote Jelly Urine from Southern Snares and Supply and a scat pile.

Update: 12/28/2015
Caught my FIFTH bobcat this season.  A 2 year old, in a flat set using bait and urine.  I can't believe I have had to let 5 cats go this season because the Wisconsin DNR will not issue enough tags.  They go for average of $100/each on market, so that's $500 that I've had to let run off in the last 2 months.  Ridiculous.