Why won't coyote work my sets?

[25-06shooter]

I've got 26 sets out between 2 locations. I've caught fox, coon, and possum but the coyotes won't work my sets. I've not had a single track in any of my dirt patters and I am setting on fresh sign. I've had them carry away a couple of dispatched possum and some dead chickens out of the farmers chicken houses, but they won't come to any dirtholes i've made.
I've got dirt holes, a couple of post sets, and a couple of blind sets put in. I'm using fresh beaver meat, chicken meat, tainted beaver meat in Dobbins Bait Solution and just plain urine. I've also used just about every lure I've got on the backing and i'll give it 5 days or after a rain before I rebait or relure.
Every time I see evidence of one passing by one of my sets I will pop in another one and do something different trying to figure it out, but nothing has worked yet.
I baited a spot the other day with about 6 chickens that were about 4 weeks old. 2 days later they were gone, feathers and all. Today I rebaited it and put in a trail set leading to them. We'll see tomorrow.
I also put in a very small dirthole with a very small pattern on the opposite side of the road baited with fresh venison, no lure.
Traps are all boiled, dyed, and waxed. Dirt comes from the same area so there is no scent problem with it. I am using Calcium Chloride for antifreeze. Wax paper for a pan cover. I wear rubber gloves and rubber boots. I don't chew while I am out there.
My original sets went in 2 weeks ago.
Fox will work my sets but no yotes.
Any ideas why?

Nate

[Traveler]

It could be the Calcium.Most of the times coyotes pay little attention to it,but this would be the first hunch I'd have.

[trappnman]

thats a very good question and hopefully you will get some thought provoking answers.

I do think that the #1 problem of beginning cooyte trappers is not getting coyotes to work their sets. Hell- that can be a problem for any coyote trapper- as it was for me a few weeks ago.

My number 1 thought on bare ground is visuals. I really do believe that more pattenr refusals are caused by visuals that make a cooyte wary.

But even with bad visuals (usually blending problems) you should get some digging at the lure/bait holes.

C Chloride can cause contrasting ground colors- and that I find is a problem.

I also have never had much luch with small dirthole patterns- now don't take that wrong- its just I never did well with them- I am sure others have it down to a "T".

I found either a big pattern and big hole or subtle flat sets.

Wind direction, all that can be a factor- but if oyu are having that much activity without any working- to me visuals and change lures.

Maybe natural baits will do the trick. If yo uare having them eat chickens- dig a big hole and put chickens in it- to your coyotes, those chickens are "natural".

Check out the land trapping archives- plenty of good cooyte info to get you going.

[Stef]

Hard to say exactly but...

First thing that I suspect is calcium chloride
Maybe unnatural looking dirthole?

Every time I see evidence of one passing by one of my sets I will pop in another one and do something different trying to figure it out, but nothing has worked yet. ------------------- I've also used just about every lure I've got on the backing and i'll give it 5 days or after a rain before I rebait or relure.

Put your lure in the holes and stop disturbing the area too often. It should help

You said you have foxes...
Maybe your coyotes population is very low and you're dealing with a few coyotes who travel a lot of miles.

Sure other members will add some more comments.

Good luck

Stef

[3n]

I agree with Travler about the calcium chloride.

[blakcoyote]

If you are catching fox and fox are working your sets,alot.Maybe there arent coyotes around,and the tracks you see are fox.`Just a thought.Good luck.

[trappincoyotes39]

Try natural baits and gland lures, don't make eye sore sets, blend them in as well as can be blended. If your setting on sign they will come, try checking from as far away as possible, lure usage at this time of year can be a good gland lure, bait lure, I would shy away from the "exotic compounds" such as those called by some as curiosity lures. Human scent is an issue, no matter what you do they know you have been there, stay as far away as you can and still see your sets.
I don't know your temps, but unless you have weather, I wouldn't worry about reluring every 5 days, if using good lure/bait.
Allow the coyotes to come to you, if your on location they will come, some mellowing out time of your sets at this time of year, will really help your catch. Calcium chloride, I don't use because of the attraction to deer and other critters, but unless your using way more than needed, you should catch coyotes. If you have good dry dirt from under bridges, give that a try without the chloride and see if your results pick up. A good visual would be something black against the white back ground, red and green are other colors I like at some of my flat sets. I make some simulated getter head sticks wrapped in felt, that work great at this time of year.
Follow the tracks and see what there motives in the area are, that will help you out as well, traveling corridor,hunting area, etc. Make your sets according to your surroundings and what the coyote tells you he/she is after in that area.

[Edge]

**Every time I see evidence of one passing by one of my sets I will pop in another one and do something different trying to figure it out, but nothing has worked yet.**

Next time,try leaving it alone;by adding another set you are also adding more disturbance,scent,etc....

Calcium chloride *can* be a problem,but with chickens around,I wouldnt think that was it.

Edge

[3n]

tc35 your choice of colors for your grub stakes is interesting..I have made them out of black or brown..will have to give red a try.

[trappincoyotes39]

3n I have tried about 13 different colors and have kept my results, black being excellent because of the contrast in winter, but red and green run right up there in winter also, if you have cats in your area red is a killer, works excellent, white is my best summertime color along with chartruse, I deem it as fishing for coyotes I have caught them on a travel way with nothing more than a match stick head size of lure so I know the grub stakes hold plenty of interest to get them to work the set. Let me know how the red works for you in your area.

[25-06shooter]

So why will the fox work my sets but not the coyotes?
It was warm last week, above freezing every night, and best I could tell they were coming by about every other night.
Maybe I'll know more in the morning.
Thanks for the help,
Nate

[mac]

This is a great post with much information. Re-read what Trappingcoyotes35 and the Edge man wrote.

I would think it would be a real mistake, that is commonly made, to start trying everything under the sun as soon as one sees a refusal. A few things to keep in mind. 1. Don't show them everything ya got in one fell swoop. 2. They are coyotes not fox. 3. Make a well blend flat set with a natural bait and stay to heck away from it! You do not have to add lure and or bait every time you turn around. The coyotes will know what you have offered. 4. Make sure what you offer is something they want to eat or pee on. 5. If you are catching fox try using some stomach contents and fresh bladder urine in a cache set. 6. Try to find some bone dry dirt or perferably bone dry peat moss or try some straight salt, and not much of it.
Good luck.
Mac

[25-06shooter]

Dosen't look like anything moved last night. It got down to about 15 degrees and nothing was touched.

Heres the blended set I put in yesterday. The trap is just after the stick laying across the trail. They were already stepping across it so I used it. This is where they ate a half dozen chickens 2 nights ago.



Here is one of my dirtholes. I've got it fenced off pretty tight but I had a fox come from the downhill side (left side) and clean the hole out the other night.



Here is the small quiet set I put in yesterday. No backing and on level ground. The hole is small and sloped at about 25 degrees so they have to come around the front to get the venison that is in it.



All of these sets are right beside a gravel logging road that they are walking.
I am expecting the first one to connect as soon as they come back through.
Is the second one fenced to tight?
Any suggestions?


Thanks,
Nate

[blakcoyote]

Nice pics,the sets look a little crowded.The last pic,the set looks good.The first set I'd snip of the little tree and weeds in front and get them out of the way,you have a nice guide already in plce with the dirt mound,I think you just need to open it up a bit.The second one I'd get rid of the bare weed or little bush to the left.Good luck.