Post Sets.....

[trappnman]

Think possums and coyotes.

I know stef uses charred wood- as do others. Never have tried it myself. Wonder how much the charcol itself is an attractant- rather than just the visual.

[musher]

T-man: If I'm not mistaken, those Michigan wolves are protected. Being on a "cuddle" list won't help make things wary. Around here, unfortunately, wolves are hated. (The only animal despised more is the black bear.)For most of the year any encounter with a human is negative. This situation creates a gene pool where the brazen or stupid never get the chance to reproduce.

I would make the uneducated guess that the vast majority of wolves caught in Quebec are the pairing of a lucky trapper and an unlucky wolf in a 'yote or fox snare. Guys that target them and are successful do not seem to be common. (My opinion - for what it is worth.)

My ego would like to think that wolves are tougher to catch than 'yotes. However, wolves have been exterminated by man in many places; Coyotes have not even though attempts have be made to do so.

Every time I catch a wolf I wonder if it will be the last one I catch. If I was living in coyote country such a thought concerning coyotes would never enter my mind.

[dj88ryr]

Every time I catch a wolf I wonder if it will be the last one I catch. If I was living in coyote country such a thought concerning coyotes would never enter my mind.

That would be right on as far as coyotes are concerned. If you look up ultimate adaptability in the dictionary, there should be a picture of a yote there.

[Stef]

I know a guy who caught right in the middle of an old small wooden road a huge alfa male wolf on a scent post.

You cannot imagine what he used for his post.

Believe it or not but he used an old timber jack battery left by wood workers.

Good thread guys

Stef

[trappnman]

Very good point about the "protection equals wary"

The "genetic memory" Dusty was talking about.

[Appleknocker]

No one want to reply about trap distance in reference to different type sets?

[musher]

There are two things I am wondering about regarding post sets. The first is cats. Sometimes lynx urinate on an object and at other times they just hit the snow with no visible object near. I also cannot tell the difference between male and female because they both squat. Is a post set useful in cat trapping?

The second is trap distance from the post in relationship to the height the trapper places his lure/urine. When canids are sniffing low their nose and feet are quite close. The higher they have their head the further their feet seem to be from their nose (perpendiculerly sp?). To further muddle things most urine does not hit the post but hits beside it. However, if the canid is male, some does hit the post. How attractive are these up spots as opposed to the more concentrated ground ones? Which ones will get used the most before curiousity is satisfied and the critter leaves?

[trappnman]

There is no doubt, as you said musher, that the height of the lure is directly related to the distance the trap is set from it.

A while back it was being bandied about how a coyote does not lift his leg when he pees- so that in effect a post set was ineffective. I've since talked to a couple of people that either have coyotes or have been around them a lot- and they all say nonsense- a coyote can and does lift his leg. (BTW- I have no doubt cats don't lift their legs- this wasn't posted to cast doubt on that.)

Watching my dog- if there is something to lift his leg on he will- but if not- as an older dog- he just squats and goes- necessity overrides the instinct I guess. I'm thinking coyotes do it the same way.

I also think that coyotes (and maybe fox- you fox trappers will have to chime in) pee a lot in certain weather and under certain conditions. Esp males- I think they pee for a variaty of reasons.

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A male dog will pee all over on every conceivable thing. My dog's first reaction to a dead coyote- yup, you guessed it. Where I laid a beaver carcass down- same thing. In fact- as every owner of a male dog knows- if there is something in the bladder- they just have to piddle!

I'm thinking matt jones summed it up pretty good- if you are using urine and/or gland lure at a set- in effect you have a post set- that is -a set that induces the urinating action.

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So- are urine sets (post sets) just another type of flat set?

For those of you that use post sets- that is- making sets strickly to capitilze on the urination instrinct-

1) what lures (if any) do you use?

2) what type/how much urine?

3) do you put it high or low?

4) trap position?

Does your technique change seasonally for this type of set?

[dj88ryr]

Not sure about foxes lifting their legs, I have never seen one in action, but I always assumed that they did as you can usually see several drops spread around, if they squated, it should be all in a small concentrated hole is the snow.

If I am not confidant that the wind direction from my set to the trail I believe they are using is going to remain in my favor. I take the spray bottle and mist from the set to and across the trail. I have seen where the tracks lead right to the mist pattern and then make a bee line to the set, most often resulting in a catch. Would I have caught them without the mist trail? Maybe, but urine is cheap and I like to think it helps.

[Stef]

Steve, one thing I know is when I punch a scent post for coyote, its a real scent post.

For fox, I normally lure the hole in a stepdown with gland and urine at one set at a location.
Since I've seen many "dog" behaviors with my gland lures, most of them try to pull out the lure holder, sniff and sniff than rub their side of face/neck/shoulder area than on their back, roll a while and finally end up with a good piss ;D

Stef

[SteveW]

What kind of tricks do you have for making post sets in 6-8 inches of snow? Do you simply brush out your tracks? I need some advice as stepdown sets are not working for me.