Author Topic: trapping coyotes (Read 889 times)

just learning · « **on:** December 24, 2003, 06:51:56 AM »

Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 1:58 pm Post subject: trapping coyotes

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how do i start out trapping coyotes, what do i need, were can i learn about this

they keep eating my turkeys and ducks my chickens they got my kids 4h goat, just plain tired of this

KYtrapper17 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 24, 2003, 09:02:30 AM »

Just Learning: Hi. First I would like to say that trapping coyotes can be very hard and aggravating especially when you first start out. Snares are probably one of the easiest ways to catch coyotes, but please make sure they are legal where you live.

If you are going to try to trap coyotes with footholds, then first you need a good video on coyote trapping. I personally like the Fur-Fish-Game videos by Tom Miranda. He has 8 videos I think. One is on trapping coyotes. It shows equipment, trap treatment, sets, techniques, and proper fur handling.

Good Luck,
Zach Ellis :wink:

yote · « **Reply #2 on:** December 24, 2003, 10:17:39 AM »

Learning is about all ive done on yotes.i just started this year and i did learn to small of a trap dont work exept to teach the yotes where not to step.

Asa Lenon · « **Reply #3 on:** December 24, 2003, 10:34:23 AM »

As was already mentioned, a video could help you get started a lot sooner than plain trial and error. Meantime, if you would like six free pages of basic fox and coyote trapping information, drop me an e-mail at lenon@upmail.com and i'll forward them over to you. Ace

KYtrapper17 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 24, 2003, 10:39:25 AM »

For size of trap I recomend anything from 1.75 to a #3. The brand of trap is your choice.

Some good sets are dirtholes, post sets, flat sets, and many more.

There are many lures to choose from on the market that will take yotes. But lures do you no good if you are not on location. Look for intersections of fence rows,etc., two track farm roads, and trails entering a field.

The two main things to remeber is location and being scent free. Coyotes are a very wary animal. If you leave alot of human scent around they may not work the set. Also the trap needs to be kept clean. No scent what so ever should be on the trap. The lures should be behind the set.

Go to www.traps4kids.com This site has alot of good info on many different animals and sets to use.

If we were going to teach you 1/2 the stuff you need to know about coyote trapping we would have to write a book. A LONG book. I recomend you to get some books and videos on coyote trapping. They are a big help.

Good Luck,
Zach ellis :wink:

rascal (Joe Duncan) · « **Reply #5 on:** December 24, 2003, 02:30:36 PM »

just learning;

Be sure and get those tips from Asa. They will help you. Also as mentioned, a video will also help.

Here is one thing I think anyone who is trying to coyote trapping should remember!!!! DON'T MAKE IT ANY HARDER THAN IT IS! No doubt, the coyote is the most cunning of the canines you will trap, he still can't count to one, so don't screw yourself up by making it to complicated and hard. I have caught my share of coyotes and for the first couple of years (early 70's) I made it to hard on myself. I thought there was about 100 different steps I had to go through just to get a trap in the ground that would take a coyote. So I would take 20 minutes to get a trap in the ground. That is nonsense! Now I punch out a bed, set and gone in under 5.

1. Habits: Learn the habits of coyotes and you can't get it all in books or videos. You have to be out there with him. Learning what makes him tick. Not just where he travels, but WHY he travels that route instead of another. When you learn to "think" like him, then he isn't so hard to catch. Remember that a coyote (or any other animal) CANNOT go beyond his nature. His sole instinct is his preservation and survival. He cannot "think" beyond that. It just can't happen! Everything he does is directly linked to the perpetuation of his species. Even his "play" is linked to his survival. So if you know his nature, and his habits being a part of that nature, then you have an advantage over him.

2. Locations: Some of his locations have been mentioned above. Others on the places you are trapping will become evident. You may find his tracks or sign and that may be a good location to set. HOWEVER, I DON'T TRAP TRACK! While I do pay attention to tracks that I see, I do not set specifically because of a track being there. What if it is a transient coyote just passing through and looking for a new home? He may never come back. A good 80% of my sets will not be set directly as a result from seeing his tracks. I set where I know he will be without ever seeing a track. Believe it or not, I can sit here at my computer desk with a topographical map of your trapping ground and pick his locations without setting foot on where you are trapping. But that doesn't make me special-most any good coyote man can do the same. That is something that you will have to work at by staying out there with him and getting a lot of experience under your belt. "High Rollers" / "Long liners" often use this technique when going into new and unknown areas. If the terrain makes it possible, these same men can spot a set location 1/4 to 1/2 mile away or further. Scouting an area is good but "going in cold turkey" can be just as productive if you know what to look for and "home in" on a location "just because he will be there". Once you have mastered Step #1 Habits) above, then you can get his location with no problems. Many, many times, I have seen a location from a distance that I had never been to before and go there and find scat, tracks, etc. That comes from the experience of knowing his habits. That won't come to you in a week or even a season probably. That is why I say get out there with him and not just rely on books and videos. Books and videos will definitely help and I have a number of them. But NOTHING can make you a coyote trapper if you don't get out there and do it and learn him in the field.

Yes, it would take volumes of this forum to "teach" coyote trapping to its fullest. Set construction, lures, cleanliness, etc. all play a part. Just to much to post all at once. Stay here with the forum and I bet you will get a lot of answers that will help you.

Wackyquacker · « **Reply #6 on:** December 24, 2003, 05:30:28 PM »

I want to recomend that you go up one post and re-read the statement that the old one typed in blue!

Just ask us questions and will fill in. Pretty soon you'll have them jumpin in your traps. If you can snare in Az that maybe the best way you can go to end your killin problems fast and cheap.

RdFx · « **Reply #7 on:** December 24, 2003, 05:43:50 PM »

Yes Joes blue quote is something to consider. Ask questions and we will try to guide you along. Good Luck

just learning · « **Reply #8 on:** December 26, 2003, 10:34:55 AM »

:grin: Thanks i got some great info and seems like ive got some studying to do :grin:

traditionalhunter · « **Reply #9 on:** December 29, 2003, 06:50:07 AM »

I am also new to trapping. My problem is finding the right location. I know that you get better with experience and it will come in time. But I have a problem of thinking that every spot looks like a good spot. This ends up waisting time setting traps in an unproductive location, when I could be using it to scout for an ideal spot. I am trapping mostly brushy farmlands, wtih scattered small wood plots. Can anyone give me some pointers on how to speed up my search for the ideal location. I got the info from Asa, and this is a tremendous help, I was just posting to get more information on top of what I already have.

rascal (Joe Duncan) · « **Reply #10 on:** December 29, 2003, 02:51:23 PM »

thunter;
Perhaps one of the hardest things to really get down to the "nitty gritty" of coyote location is trying to do it as it applys to your particular trapping area. I can tell you to work the entries and exits and work off of sign but that really doesn't give you much to go on.

You state: But I have a problem of thinking that every spot looks like a good spot. This ends up waisting time setting traps in an unproductive location, when I could be using it to scout for an ideal spot.

CONCENTRATE: While every spot might look good to you, it probably doesn't to the coyote. Go over the area you are trapping and study the "lay of the land". Where does he enter or exit those wood lots you are talking about? Are there farm roads or truck trails that the farmers drive? Check those. Coyotes are no different than us in that they have their "hiways" they travel. They often follow an old road leading from one place to another. Be sure to check drainage areas and see if they are working any.
Experience and time will make you better at finding the "perfect" locations but I know it is frustrating to see what looks like so many good set locations and not being sure which is best. Finding the right locations really is an art that cannot be mastered overnight. But one thing that will help, if you find track, and not just one track but several working in both directions, you better make a set there. Better yet, make two or three sets there.
As an example: Day before yesterday, I was going across an open field toward a wooded area where I had some sets. For a couple of days I had been noticing a small bare spot next to a small drainage area. That spot had been calling to me for 2 or 3 days, but I was "to busy" looking at other areas. So, I finally detoured over to the spot and it had rained the day before and there were fresh coyote, bobcat, and coon track all in that small bare spot. Needless to say, today there is a set there and two more withing 50 ft.
Sometimes, we overlook the best locations trying to find the best locations :eek: Just keep at it and learn your area well. It will pay off. I am sure others here will try and help and together, maybe we can get you on the right track.

Wackyquacker · « **Reply #11 on:** December 29, 2003, 03:10:02 PM »

Ya know "T", ya don't have to get it perfect from the get go. :eek: Tinker around, experiment a bit, think percentages, get out and about every so often instead of just running the line. None of us set a ranch / farm correctly the first year...now the second year things change cause we just "know" more about the place and the critters.

Joe brought up a very important issue...regional differences. Reading books, watching videos, going to conventios etc are all helpful but very likely ther will be differences from "their" line and yours. You just need to fiddle a bit and it will come...honest! :wink:

Asa Lenon · « **Reply #12 on:** December 29, 2003, 04:52:53 PM »

One should never bother setting traps unless they are certain that the animal persued has visited, frequented or passed by very near to the set location. Finding tracks in the sand, mud or snow along with looking for droppings is the best indicator of a good place to make a set. Next to that comes sightings and/or information from landowners as to where they see animals crossing. Once one sees signs or hears details that animals are present, they need to think about the lay of the land and why the aniaml might regularly pass that way. Is there water near by, a food source, easy going between two fields, ridges, lakes, etc. Farm lanes and woods roads passing from one field to another are always great. Visuals that get the animal attention like rock piles or brush along the edges of fields where a canine might look for small animals for a meal. I guess what i'm trying to say on such a vast topic a location is to THINK, THINK, THINK and use COMMON SENSE! Good luck! Ace :grin:

rascal (Joe Duncan) · « **Reply #13 on:** December 30, 2003, 01:50:16 AM »

Ace;
I totally agree with what you say-- "One should never bother setting traps unless they are certain that the animal persued has visited, frequented or passed by very near to the set location."-- if the trapper is not well experienced with coyote. But I bet you have also done something like this.
I topped a small open ridge and about 100 yards off, I spied "the place" for a set. When I got there, there was no sign since the grass was thick and short and no actual trails that would show me any track or scat etc. I made the scent post set and got out. Next day nothing. Second day big female coyote. As I topped the ridge to where I could see the set, I saw the drag gone and also saw a coyote run out of the tall grass and across the short grass to the timber. I thought, boy did I mess up! It got out of my trap. NOPE! I shut off the 4-wheeler and heard my chain rattle in the tall grass. There she was. I suspect it was a male running with her and he was hanging around trying to get her to leave but she couldn't. I actually did mess up!!!! I should have had 2 or 3 sets there and I probably would have taken the other one as well.

Asa Lenon · « **Reply #14 on:** December 30, 2003, 02:42:18 AM »

I know what you mean Joe, one sort of gets a sixth sense about set locations after years of experience. Whenever I make a grouping of sets I always choose the most productive set spot in my mind and nine times out of ten i'm right. This also show how critical set location can be. I've used some of the same exact set spots over and over for scores of years and they just plain continue year after year to peform better than other sets just a few yards away. My Dad used to say "one has to think like a coyote" and that he couldn't teach that aspect to students. The student had to have that inate ability to think if they were going to be truly successful. I do believe he was right as this has been my experience too. When students arrived, I could tell right away which ones had the imagination to grasp the untangible aspect of detail. I always remember one 20 year old student who had never even seen or touched a trap before the day he come for instruction. It was uncanny the ability that young guy had to choose absolutely correct set locations within two hours. he was very successful right from the get go too. Ace

rascal (Joe Duncan) · « **Reply #15 on:** December 30, 2003, 04:12:18 AM »

Ace;
Your father was exactly right about thinking like a coyote! He was also right about that being something you cannot give instruction on. Herb Lennon was one of the finest trappers ever. His son aint to bad either. :grin:

I think a good coyote man "feels" the coyote and "sees" the coyote even when it is not physically there. Know what I mean? Sometimes it is almost like the hackles on the back of your neck stand out when you see that "perfect" location from a distance and go directly to it for the first time just to find track or droppings there. When I go into a new area, I first stop at the gate (or whatever road etc. I am entering the area with) and just stand and look out at the area as best as I can. In my minds eye, I can almost watch him as he moves from one spot to another. I follow him in my minds eye. Then and only then do I go directly to the set location. I know this may sound like BS to some, but it is fact. Won't a coyote survey the territory when seeing it for the first time and pick the salient features to visit? When any trapper can learn to "read" the coyote, he can pick locations. Like your Dad said: "That is something that cannot be taught with instructions". There has to be an inate sense along with experience.

Asa Lenon · « **Reply #16 on:** December 30, 2003, 06:00:07 AM »

For many years I tried to figure out why one special set only 20 feet from an identical set would produce double the number of catches year after year. The only criteria for picking these special spots is that inexplainable sixth sense. On some of the sets I could attribute better visibility along with nothing obstructing them from being lit up by moonlight more often than the other sets. However, more often there is no logical reason so I give up trying to figure them out and just use them every year without question. This is a great advantage to drag use, these hot spots are preserved in their original state for use each year. One might have to haul in some fresh dirt to make the set in the same spot but it is always worth the effort. Ace :grin: