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Post by vttrapper on Jun 1, 2004 15:38:38 GMT -6
As Zag's says, if he sees a track on the pattern, it is to the side or rear of the trap. I also have seen this in the past. This reason is why I keep the pan back 6 to 9 inches and to the right 3 or 4 inches from the hole or backing. I have seen fox prints in the pattern useing this offsetting,but not coyotes, yet.
frank
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Post by thebeav2 on Jun 1, 2004 16:18:28 GMT -6
For years I allways made the smallest pattern I could. And I caught fox. Coyotes came along and I still kept to the small pattern,and I caught coyotes. BUT the last few years I have gone to a larger pattern In fact a lot larger and I have been doing better on both fox and coyotes. Do you think the animal feels more at ease walking In the larger pattern?
My dirt holes tend to be pretty straight up and down or with a very slight angle. The loose jaw sets back about 2" from the edge of the hole. I pull up a ridge of dirt In front of that loose jaw, In fact most of the time It will cover part of the jaw. I think It makes a pretty good foot guide. I pretty much keep the trap lined up with the hole.
Beav
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Post by chub618 on Jun 1, 2004 16:58:25 GMT -6
thanks guys for all the imput so far.. this seem to be a good topic of discussion. and it does make sense that the shallower the angle of the hole the farther back the trap should be.. do any of you ever use a hole at a 90 degree angle or is this to much
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Post by Maineman on Jun 1, 2004 17:43:19 GMT -6
how big a pattern do you make? Steve, Usually as small as possible...The smallest pattern I use is a trench set in the sod where both jaws are actually tucked under each side of the trench and "under" the sod...The only noticible dirt is directly over the pan...Which again, id directly in front of the hole... Don't get me wrong, if I had coyote's down here, my tactics would probably have me moving the trap back...But not quite yet...lol
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Post by Maineman on Jun 1, 2004 17:44:51 GMT -6
I should note that the sod set is the exception and that most of my sets are normal dirthole sets...(still use a small pattern,)
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Post by dj88ryr on Jun 1, 2004 19:15:00 GMT -6
Chub, The only time I use a 90 degree hole is with a walkthrough, most of the time 2 holes sometimes 3, but I am no where near satisfied with my way of doing it yet, more brain picking of the big boys at the demo day on that one. ;D
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Post by thebeav2 on Jun 1, 2004 19:29:10 GMT -6
I know a very good coyote trapper from La Thats all he uses Is the old post hole set. He digs straight down with the post hole digger,at least 18". He piles up the dirt all around the hole just leaveing one side open.And he beds his trap here. One thing about this set Is It gives you great eye apeal. Have I tried It ? yep. Did I catch any coyotes? Yep.
What I did was dig a slight trench down into the hole,like a modified step down. You need to have a longer chain so you can stake back a bit farther, so you will have solid ground to stake In.
I had several partners that gave me a hard time about this set but I had the last laugh. Now I don't make alot of these sets but they do work.
Beav
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Mark
Demoman...
Posts: 219
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Post by Mark on Jun 2, 2004 0:09:05 GMT -6
Wow! A lot of opinions and that's great. When I trapped fox I put the trap jaw right next to the hole and did well that way. I started trapping coyotes last year and found that with a step-down close is too close. I struggled for 6 weeks to get three yotes and then after some advice from you folk, I put the trap back about 10 inches from the hole and got three in one week. Now I was using a different combo of lures this week and that could be it also, but when the trap was close I found a lot of tracks in the rear of the pattern. I got a lot to learn and you guys are helping.
Mark
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Post by lynxcat on Aug 28, 2004 7:04:38 GMT -6
I putz my trap in front of the hole...that's how Steve told me to du it....seemz to werk fer me. ;D later lynx
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Post by mattjones298 on Aug 28, 2004 7:45:09 GMT -6
i think trap placement is over rated, some put the trap up close, some put it farther back. some offset some dont, we all catch canines. i feel (how) the trap is put in the set is more important then where.
matt
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Post by MickMcLaughlin on Aug 28, 2004 8:12:25 GMT -6
Every location I set up,I make two sets.One set is a dirthole,trench or step-down set for more eye appeal and this trap is right up against the hole,the hole is probably around 70 degrees if 90 would be straight down.The other set that I use is the two dirthole or walk througth set.The two holes are pounded in with a trap stake and are 14"(appr)apart,the trap pan is 14"from either trap and they form a triangle.I am usually facing north when I make this set and the trail,fenceline,edge or whatever is south of me.I read about this set in Tom Miranda's book,he called it a walk through set.I don't know what it is but it catches 'yotes.I put a diffrent lure in each hole on a peice of something and I use bait and urine on the dirthole.I think for coyotes,that making sure that the trap doesn't move and making sure in this Kansas wind that the trap stays covered are my two biggest concerns. I have tryed the trap facing everyway and every distance,but this is what is handy for me and seems to work.
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Post by trappincoyotes39 on Aug 28, 2004 16:24:42 GMT -6
I learned long ago from guys like Slim Peterson, watch a coyotes tracks in soft ground or snow how close he gets to something that triggers his curiosity. I put almost all my traps 6-8" away from the attractor, be it a flat set, dirthole, etc. I have the trap straight out and bedded solid. I check each trap by pushing on each jaw and make sure there is no rocking of the trap. Some types of covering pack much better than others. I always have something blocking the loose jaw a dirt clod, small stone, bean chaff etc. Seems to work.
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Post by chub618 on Aug 28, 2004 17:19:07 GMT -6
man i forgot about this post of mine! ok do any of you use a jaw guard for the opposite side of the hole and if so do you put anything on it such as urine
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Post by bobwendt on Aug 28, 2004 18:03:12 GMT -6
man, I read this whole thing, and with the exception of zagman mentioning "working the set", I think everyone else is missing the forest for the trees. Do you all honestly think a fox or coyote makes 1 or 2 steps in the pattern and leaves? If that is happening to you then by skippy you better change whatever you have down that hole! I want that canine there a minute, 10 minutes or an hour and working that set till he gets caught. On my recent foray to wyoming I had a 20 fox day and never had a miss or visit, 20 out of 20. And soil harness ,rock, etc dictated every hole was at at a different angle and every trap set a different distance back , forward or sideways. But they all worked like a charm. Just what are you guys putting down the hole that elicits a single track? I`m serious, instead of asking who`s lure is good lets list who`s is so bad it illicits one track and then he leaves without "working" the set. I`m serious as a heart attack here boys.
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Post by tim125 on Aug 28, 2004 19:00:39 GMT -6
i think there 1 track is doing just 1 reaction- its the trapper not the lure
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conibear1
Demoman...
Beaver trapping
Posts: 247
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Post by conibear1 on Aug 28, 2004 19:05:16 GMT -6
Bob,
What are you using to cause the coyote/fox to not miss the pan?
I love your video and I think it is the same stuff as what you mentioned in it, but is there something else?
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Post by bobwendt on Aug 28, 2004 20:02:14 GMT -6
I place the trap a little different and the hole a little different every time, due to soil/rocks/etc. Generally it is a hands width back and maybe slightly to the right, but honestly, that is all irrelevant. I do tend to dump a little rubble pile , what is left in the sifter, to the right, but no other guiding. I count on my urine to get him there (setting on a track or known good location) and what is down the hole to keep him there- like I said, 1 minute, 10 minutes or an hour- till he steps right and gets caught. I consider a track on the pattern and no catch as a total bait or lure failure. Heck, that is what you would get with a empty dirt hole, i.e. no lure or bait at all, just dirt.
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Post by chub618 on Aug 29, 2004 9:03:54 GMT -6
Mr. wendt... i never really thought about how much time is spent at a set by a k-9! just figured he would walk up check it out spending little time there and move on. maybe we should make a new thread about how long a k-9 stays at a set to check things out
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Post by lynxcat on Aug 29, 2004 10:01:03 GMT -6
THANK you Bob...that's why I made such a stupid/simple post...I ALSO do NOT believe that trap placement is critical or one fits all. The rare times that a person has an amimal "work" a set and NOT get caught it's usually trapper error..be it from getting something under the pan OR something ON the pan such as a displaced stick or such....and MAN what a TON of tracks!!! ;D later lynx
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Post by bobwendt on Aug 29, 2004 11:31:48 GMT -6
lynx, doesn`t that just make you mad to no end, I mean a tracked up set? Once in awhile I have solid tracks over a 3 foot wide area, a hole blown out from digging and the only place free of a track a little bity spot about the size of a 50 cent piece right over the pan. Just bum luck, happens to everyone once in a great while. Know what I do then? Put in 2 more identical sets and get a triple the next morning!
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