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Post by mattduncan on Feb 15, 2004 19:56:36 GMT -6
any thoughts on how previaling wind direction affects general and specfic canine location?
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Post by 17kiss on Feb 15, 2004 20:52:38 GMT -6
Winds seem to change so much I usually put sets on both sides of area trapping to cover switches. If a good constant wind will always set downwind side of fencerows and points , and upwind sides of grass patches and clearings. roads too.
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Post by trappnman on Feb 15, 2004 21:24:45 GMT -6
Hmmmn- Honestly- I never give wind direction a thought. Maybe I should- but on most occasions, I am setting on location and think more approach than anything.
Thinking "if a coyote would come out of there- and walked across from there to here- he should pass here..." Tracks and or scat make this easier. Plus, I like and use visuals- and in farm country with open fields and smaller territories- I believe most coyotes can be "called" with added visuals.
Wind direction might be much more important in open, bigger country- where you might need to draw cooytes further- since travel patterns might not be a apparent. One thing most western trappers preach- set on sign. While this is good advice anywhere- in western type locations, with larger territories- the coyotes spend less time at particular locations- that is, they wander more.
In farm country, territories are smaller, coyotes are more homebodies- spending weeks at a time on a relatively small acreages- so you have coyotes more pinpopinted and directed- and in small home ranges- the coyotes will notice your sets- wind direction right or not.
Just my observations, of course.
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Post by dj88ryr on Feb 15, 2004 21:40:01 GMT -6
We have a pretty dependable prevailing wind in this area, southwest to northeast, because of the way the mountains are set. Still though, I pretty much try to cover both sides of a farm lane or a point going into a field I figure this way I have a better chance if the wind changes.
Nittany Lion showed me what difference ten feet can mean when setting for fox, I would have never believed it.
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Post by trappnman on Feb 15, 2004 21:43:52 GMT -6
How so?
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Post by coonwhacker on Feb 15, 2004 21:50:15 GMT -6
Now i am no canine trapper but I do take wind direction into consideration anytime I make a coon or beaver set, especially beaver. I do always put in a set for coon that is oposite the norm for wind direction in case the wind direction changes. I live more in the mountains that DJ does and the wind changes quite a bit in my area. mike
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Post by dj88ryr on Feb 15, 2004 21:56:03 GMT -6
I was setting tight to cover, just as I had done in NH. All I was catching was grinners and skunks. When Ninny came with me, he didn't change my locations, just moved the traps out from the cover 10' or so. He explained that the fox were running the edges indeed, but, when my set was out from the cover, I had more of a chance to be on target or at least give them a better chance of picking up the lure scent. Up in NH, the canines, both fox and coyote were running very close to the cover, you could see the trails in most spots.
Here in farm land, they seem to run farther out from the cover. He showed me where I was missing sign, ( scat ) because I was looking for it too close to the edge. No self respecting canine would run that far away from the edge up home. The results were instant as I caught 6 canines the next day, and continued picking them up through out the season.
The sets that I had in when he went with me had only produced 1 Red in 4 nights till he got there. So 10' did make a hell of a difference. This isn't totally because of wind, but I would have to think that the scent would travel better being more in the open and having a better chance of the critter stumble in to the set if it is where he is walking anyway.
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Mark
Demoman...
Posts: 219
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Post by Mark on Feb 15, 2004 23:22:27 GMT -6
I just set a trap where they travel. They will find the set if it is near their travel route. I guess I am more concerned with sight line than wind. I do sometimes think about the wind direction and set up-wind, but I am usually putting in two or three sets anyway. The wind changes a lot here with the hills and such , so with those two or three sets near a travel route I am sure to get at the least, a visit.
Mark
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Post by vttrapper on Feb 16, 2004 4:46:19 GMT -6
Depends.
If i am setting a log road or skid trail , i will set both sides and figure the area is covered.
But if I am setting a corn/hay field, pasture land you bet I set with the wind in mind. If you trap in snow it can become real obvious how the wind can help or hinder you by watching the tracks. Even in large log headders, i use the wind to blow the scent to the animals.
frank
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Post by Edge on Feb 16, 2004 10:01:53 GMT -6
If wind is a factor,I do as 17KISS does,but honestly,I take more wind into concideration for castor mounds than I do for canines.My area is not very "open"but is getting moreso every year. Finding good set locations comes from experience,most experience comes from making bad decisions,I cant say unequivically that wind direction has ever cost me fur.
Edge
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Post by rk660 on Feb 20, 2004 18:40:58 GMT -6
Ive read many times that canines will approach a set downwind 80% of the time, with this in mind I usually try to face the north or west when making sets, weather it really matters or not, i dont have a definate answear. If Ive got tracking snow i have seen a number of times where a coyote will go around set and work from the downwind side. got myself in the habit of setting facing the prevailing wind and it seems to work for me.
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Post by briankroberts on Feb 20, 2004 20:05:19 GMT -6
I watched bird dogs work for years and they always work into the wind. I take it into consideration when making K9 sets. Take a post set a lot of mine are a clod of transplated fescue, if the wind chages I will move the clump to the otherside so that it favors the trap on the downwind approach. I don't feel its as big of a deal on sets that have more eye appeal like loud dirt holes or t bones, but then again it sure doesn't hurt anything either. I can't help but think that smell is a big part of any Coyotes life and when he moves around to work a set and can no longer smell what he did, I think you loose something, just my opinion.....B.....
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Post by trappnman on Feb 20, 2004 22:06:10 GMT -6
Boy, I don't know about aways working into the wind. Maybe so, maybe not. We as hunters tend to work into the wind and the dogs work with us LOL In cover- scent holds and isn't as affected by wind. Be that as it may....
If the visual part of the set is towards the coyotes travel way or if the set is made close to the travel way- I wonder how much difference wind direction makes. Sure, a coyote might come in from the downwind side. but he will still circle and work from the front if the backing and guides direct him.
I guess many of my sets are actually made on points- which as ChrisM pointed out are in effect the junction of two travel ways and by setting at these pinch points I have no problem having the yotes find te set. In fact, I think in farmland country if you are on location, generally- it would be impossible for a coyote NOT to find your set.
It might be I'm subconsciously choosing set locationg taking asdvantage of wind and simply not giving it full awareness. I know that by setting waterways and weed points- you many times are out of and/or protected from the wind.
Ah what the heck- I'm going to saw off that branch and say that, IN MY AREA, I don't think wind direction matters much if at all. There, I said it ;D
But, like making a track- it can't hurt and might, esp in certain areas, make a big difference.
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Post by musher on Feb 22, 2004 7:26:32 GMT -6
I believe that making your set "high" or "low" will also affect scent detection. Day time and night time temperature changes cause convection currents that can change the "wind" in a limited area.
Since fox are usually set for on the "flat" it isn't much of a factor there. However, it does come into account for your fisher and marten.
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Post by trappnman on Feb 22, 2004 8:00:13 GMT -6
I agree with that. Its common here in the ravines and coulees- lots of tricky stuff going on- which is why I ignore wind direction.
Here something about scent to think about- how does scent move? If we could see "odor" moving, what would it look like,. Have you ever seen propane gas that is free flowing? Propane is heavy, and flows just about like you poured water on the ground. Yet parts of it are airborne- becauee you can smell the gas.
Does a good lure put out odor the same? Or is it more free floating and airborne. To be of a value as a "call" lure it would need to act more like propane- leaving a scent trail both on the ground and in the air.
What about odors like skunk- that seem to disperse very well in the air- and yet be heavy enough to "stick" around.
What happens to call lure put up high. Do they disipitate more in the air? If so- it would be defeating the purpose. Would they work better lower down?
Do martin and fisher sets need to be high because in part those animals hunt high? Or do they hunt low- and only go high for food?
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Post by musher on Feb 22, 2004 11:56:16 GMT -6
I think fisher and marten run ridges (high) but they hunt the gulleys (low).
I agree with what T-man writes regarding scent being like a liquid. Some pours off and goes places and some stays behind leaving things wet (scented). A good lure does both at the same time.
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