Coyote trappers- read and comment

[trappnman]

www.aphis.usda.gov/ws/nwrc/is/01pubs/01-25.pdf

this got lost in another thread- a very worthwhile read.

[woody]

Steve, could you print that and send it to me ;D I know the eyes are going but dang I didn't think they were that bad could hardly make out the words so I gave up ;D can you tell me what it said. woody

[dj88ryr]

This would have been good to have referenced when we were talking about which coyote was easier to catch, the home or core area coyote or the transient, this pretty much sums it up.

Now the questions.
1. If the coyote is out of his home area, does he always travel the same routes? If he does, this would lead one to believe, that the reaction to unfamiliar scents in his home range, might carry over to his normal travel routes as well.

2. Are the coyotes we catch, all those that are trying to establish a home range, therefore they are totally unfamiliar with the area we catch them in, while others that use this area extensively pass by our sets?
3. How many other indices can we put into play here? Weather, Hunger, Competition from other Yotes, Competition from other trappers educating the critters, Prey availability, just a few that I can think might have some bearing upon what we see or percieve.

[Edge]

Woody,when the link opens;maximize it,a freakin bird of prey couldnt read it in the "little" window.

Edge

PS;I didnt read the whole thing;what does it say?I'll take your word for it.Cliff Notes version;eliminate superlatives and frivolous literary nonsense.

Oh yeah,and all Latin.

[woody]

Edge, it was maxed I guess I am going blind ;D I need to get out of retail and get a real job before the site goes.

[Edge]

You work in a store?I'm sorry to hear that.I worked "on" a store once or twice;that was bad enough.
Keep the spirits up tho,you can always look for a new job while ya got that one.Never know when your opportunity will come.

Edge

[woody]

Hopefully soon, thought i had on till they lied to me about joining the union when I turned in the app. they said i could join the union after I was hired, then after calling them every week and checking on the app. for aver 2 months, they said that since i wasn't a union member I wouldn't be hired. Their loss. I am currently looking into going to Heavy Equipment School, that will get me out of retail and into a real job. I just have to figure out how I am going to attend a school 100 miles away and still pay the bills since the course I want to take is 12 weeks long ;D woody

[coyoteman37]

that is only 1 of a few studies mentioned in hoofbeats. you can get the whole study from aphis. think about it the coyote is a nomad. even with humans when you are on the edge of your trapline you often say hmm look at that field, or something has caught your eye becuase of a white stone in a black patch of dirt.

[trappnman]

Come on- if it was easy....everyone would know the secrets.... ;D

The real interesting thing- is going back to core areas vs fringe areas-( or territorial vs nonterritorial)- there is a consistent response from both wild coyotes and penned coyotes to 1) new visuals 2) new scent stations.

Looking at the chart- it is easy to see 2 things happening= 1) in familar territory- coyotes approach a new visual/scent station with much more caution and avoicdance- but approach more often and 2) in unfamilar territory, coyotes apporach a set less often- but more boldly.

this translates into the figures that during this study- only a small % of collared coyotes were caught in their core area- for example-2 of 26 females- for 8% were caught in their territorial areas-

Another interesting finding that while coyotes would approach stimuli with caution and fear in theri core area- te same stimuli was NON threatening if encountered OUTSIDE of their core areas.

The final conclusion- coyotes in their home areas were much harder to trap (ie become interested and work a set) than those same coyotes in nonfamilar siettings.

This result stood out so clearly- that one byproduct of the research (btw- this particular study confirms earlier similar tests) was to question the validity of placement of scent stations to determine population densitys.

The tenative conclusion was that scent station results were based more on location viv-a vis territory than anything else. (FYI- core areas were defined as that area in which a coyote spent 60% or more of it's time.

Remember our discussion earlier concerning core area and the behavior of our collared coyotes?

We found out that the biggest % of our collared coyotes were caught in nonfamilar surroundings or non core areas- evidenced by their range patterns throughout the study period (Fall 2001- Spring 2003).

So whats this mean to coyote trappers?

To me, it means (as evidenced by coyotes working the sets in a bolder, more confident fashion) that coyotes work sets consistently (both penned and wild) different in core areas and fringe areas.

so- as a fur trapper- your time would be better spent seeking common areas, fringe areas- then trying to get right on top of the coyotes.

[dj88ryr]

Ok then, to play devils advocate for a second. What if, a coyote is not in " his " home area, but in anothers?? Could't we say that if an area is attractive to one coyote, it may be to another? So, if you had a bachelor male entering anothers core area, wouldn't this be a trappable yote?

[oso lento]

besides the core/fringe area thing. If you don't know if your inside or outside the area. It show a real reason for pre baiting/luring correct?
I think i would have a hard time telling if i'm inside, outside or on the fringe.
oso lento

[trappnman]

DJ- the key is familarity.

If a coyote is in familar territory (the study defines core area or familar territory as that in which a coyote spends at least 60% of its time)- he approaches new things with extreme caution.

In unfamilar territory- EVEN THE SAME STIMULI approached with caution in the core area- is approached almost casually in finge areas.

Raburn- knowing what are core areas and what are fringe areas isn't as mysterious as some would have you believe.

In many cases- the old adage "Its easier to catch a travelling coyote" says it all.

I have 2 locations- that based on the tracking info of the collared coyotes taken there- are non familar areas to most coyotes coming there- that is, they spend much, much less time there- certainly far under the 60% needed to define core area.

These 2 locations are also the 2 best producing locations on my line. In a previous thread, I tried to determine common denominators in an effort to locate more non familar areas that are visited regularly by a variety of coyotes and family groups- albiet sporadically for individual groups or coyotes.

Based on the common denominators- and using as a clue my other "hotspots", I think I have located a few other of these non familar areas- I call them "social areas" for lack of a better descriptive term.

Unless you have a study in your area- these social areas are going to have to be found like little gems- but like 'shrooms- once you find a few and figure out the patterns of success- others are easier to find.

Remember- common demoninators.

[dj88ryr]

trappnman said:

DJ- the key is familarity.

Understood, so if a coyote from a different area is in a core area of another family unit, he is then trappable, the next question is, how often do coyotes from other areas try to infiltrate the core area of others?

[trappnman]

Now that I don't know- define core area as home range-
I'll browse Logan when I get time....

[coyoteman37]

easy way to do it, gang set on sign . treat them like a child and get it done. if one is not working the set the way you want him too follow the landscape in his travel direction and you should be able to pick him up 100 yds or so away from the previous site. humans will find it very hard to tell if they are in the core unless a den is located. coyotes will mark territory but the hard part is to determine what is core and what is not.

[trappnman]

" humans will find it very hard to tell if they are in the core unless a den is located."

From what i understand- denning areas are just the core area during denning- that in a lot of cases, once the pups are raised- the denning areas are abandoned.

The defintion of core area as "where a coyote spends at least 60% of its time" is the best definition I have found yet.

[Maineman]

The defintion of core area as "where a coyote spends at least 60% of its time" is the best definition I have found yet.

What is the typical "size" of a coyote's "core area" in terms of square miles or acres?

[Traveler]

Here's another fly in the soup........should the TYPE of lure (call,gland,curosity etc.) vary from fringe to core area ? Would the type of lure being used inside the core area raise or limit the amount of caution ?..........I dunno .

[Edge]

Maineman,there may be a generalized answer to that question,but even in my small scope of things;it varies.

Traveler, it has been my expeience that gland lures work thruout territories,because they have appeal to the residents AND the squatters.
Curiousity lures....Hmmm,definately appealing to the residents or more dominant travelers,but would a subodinate traveler take the time to investigate.....maybe so.Good question.

This isnt an original thought,but if you are finding kickbacks,chances are you are in a fringe area;not core.

Edge

[dj88ryr]

I think from what the study states, ANY introduced new scent will cause extreme caution or complete avoidance for some time, in a core area.