CUBBY CHALLENGE

A cubby of one sort or another is part of almost every trapper’s tool kit, and for good reason. Well-made, properly guarded cubbies can be counted on to function through the most difficult of conditions. However, for this type of set to perform effectively, some serious consideration is in order long before installing that first trap.

DEFINITIONS

So just what is a cubby? It is pretty much whatever the builder decides to create, because like all good tools, a cubby is adaptable for many situations. In our trade a cubby is an enclosure, either man-made or natural, guarded with a restraining or lethal device. A properly constructed cubby must attract, hold the attention of and then control the target furbearer’s actions, eventually convincing the critter into the set to fire the trap or snare.

Yes, many cubby trappers use snares. A classic French Canadian cubby set was the lynx house, or Cabane. Th is was made by partially fencing around a large tree trunk with a semicircle of long poles leaning inward against the tree and baited with a varying hare. Enough space was left in the fence to allow a lynx to see the free lunch and search for a way in. An opening was left straight out from the bait, but blocked just