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Diggin'
May 10, 2005 8:55:23 GMT -6
Post by trappnman on May 10, 2005 8:55:23 GMT -6
at the trap. This can only be caused by 3 things- at least thats how it looks to me- 1) odor on the trap, 2) mechanics of setting the trap- either visual, texture (soft dirt), color etc or 3) curiosity.
Whats your take on digging and why? Most common cause for experienced trappers? Most common cause for new to canine trappers?
You don't have to admit you get dug up traps if you don't want to- you can speak hypothetically.... I am.... ;D
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Diggin'
May 10, 2005 9:42:49 GMT -6
Post by dj88ryr on May 10, 2005 9:42:49 GMT -6
dIGGIN??? You mean by the critters? Can't say as I know what your talkin about ;D ;D I am not as much of a fan of scent causing digging, that is human scent etc. I believe it has more to do with set mechanics, if the set is good, by the time the critter gets suspicious, you should have him in a bracelet. This is under most circumstances of course, there are always those few critters that for whatever reason, get the notion to dig, in that case, change up or move on.
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Diggin'
May 10, 2005 9:48:08 GMT -6
Post by Traveler on May 10, 2005 9:48:08 GMT -6
I think the number one digging problem comes from pups.There's one thing that pups love to do is dig near a point of attraction.Why this is........I don't know. I believe the next biggest cause is odor on the trap.Not cleaning well enough after a catch.I always scrap any blood or fur off with a knife and then give the trap a heavy duty rub down with clean dirt taken outside the catch circle.If I feel like it needs it,I'll rub urine into the jaws and especially where the laminations are. Last I think is bedding.If that trap moves under his feet I believe a coyote will dig for it thinking it's a mouse or mole moving under his feet just below the ground surface.There's really few excuses for a trap not being bedded solid. All in all..............there's probably more reason yet as to why a trap gets dug out from time to time that we just don't understand.The education continues..............
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Diggin'
May 10, 2005 9:55:37 GMT -6
Post by thefoxtrapper on May 10, 2005 9:55:37 GMT -6
i rarely ever have a problem with a fox "digging", most problems are coon however most trappers fail to realize this, just re-bed and forget about it, if you know its a fox, fresh set nearby or set two traps at the set, the fool will keep coming back till he's caught. my hunch is the times it is a fox, the trap was bedded improperly and it moved when he hit the pattern. fox are around people and machinery,fences,old trucks, all the time, so I dont think the rust/metal is as big as some think, also, if your bait/lure is doing what it is suppose to, then the fox will be focused on that, not what he is stepping on. been trapping a low population of fox all my life, so already at a disadvantage yet I cant say they are smart to a trap, I think they are flat out dumb...
w
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Diggin'
May 10, 2005 10:22:04 GMT -6
Post by Wright Brothers on May 10, 2005 10:22:04 GMT -6
Used gasoline dip one time and had the most digging of all. I know others use it, I must not have followed directions. Always wondered if speed dip is soluble in acetone or alcohol. This past year I noticed digging right at a new stick weld. Scent on the trap gets my first vote. Coons the second vote, for me. Premade blending material would be nice in cold weather.
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Diggin'
May 10, 2005 11:04:46 GMT -6
Post by Stef on May 10, 2005 11:04:46 GMT -6
For me the way I trap with the different stuff I use now (antifreeze, dirt etc...) when I have and see some pattern scratches etc... and sets worked by back sides of the trap patterns... It is caused by the "peatmoss".
I'm sure 100%.
I keep my traps as clean as possible and replaced them when they get dirty often.
I don't like having rust on my traps so after 3 days, at a remake (ground always wet here) usually, I change the trap... Real sand blasted chrome shiny traps ( a fox almost at every check in the same trap )... I leaved those traps in the ground and they almost don't rust anymore....LoL
So all in all... I don't have much diggin problem and when I see this problem on my line... It is cause by the peat moss that I'm using often.
Stef
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Diggin'
May 10, 2005 11:21:55 GMT -6
Post by vttrapper on May 10, 2005 11:21:55 GMT -6
I do not get dug up much anymore but when i was getting DUG I think there were 2 main reasons:
1. Before I would sift on dirt and smooth out the area, now I am a packer with either waxed dirt or hte dirt at the set. I feel this is the biggest problem.
2. Using the same gloves after remakes. A few times is fine, but after the gloves get wet and lure/bait/ blood/ pee and everything else gets on them, its a problem. Taht is the one good thing about rubber gloves. I could wash them at any brook and have clean gloves. Now i have several pairs of clean gloves ready when I am.
frank
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Diggin'
May 10, 2005 11:30:06 GMT -6
Post by thebeav2 on May 10, 2005 11:30:06 GMT -6
I think some animals just have to dig and It's not a bedding problem or a scent problem It's just there nature..And It's not just coon either. I try and keep the whole set packed so there are no soft spots,but I have noticed that i have less problems with a large pattern then I do with a small pattern.
Beav .
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Diggin'
May 10, 2005 16:29:37 GMT -6
Post by musher on May 10, 2005 16:29:37 GMT -6
How about trap wobble as a factor? If a trap isn't well bedded and the critter steps on the jaw it might cause them to notice the trap.
With cover hulls, mice and birds sometimes do a little number on you. I caught a grouse last fall (first time ever) in a dirthole. I think it was planning a dustbath.
Dirty screens can cause digging also.
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Diggin'
May 10, 2005 17:22:57 GMT -6
Post by Mike Spring on May 10, 2005 17:22:57 GMT -6
I used to be the king of dug up traps and not one bit ashamed to admit it. I used to set tight to my dirt hole with no guiding, if I missed the canine on the approach as they dug at the hole they would flip out my trap!!
I dont buy the idea that a fox young or old will dig at fresh dirt in front of your dirthole just because there is a fresh dirt smell, there is fresh dirt smells comming from the hole itself and bait and or lure aroma too.
The only dug up traps I get today are from contaminated traps, or sloppy bedding on my end, and that dont happen often.
Mike Spring
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Diggin'
May 10, 2005 21:18:19 GMT -6
Post by NEPISIGUIT on May 10, 2005 21:18:19 GMT -6
stef. Not quite sure why you say peat moss is the problem. Can you explain please? charlie
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Diggin'
May 10, 2005 21:21:26 GMT -6
Post by JWarren on May 10, 2005 21:21:26 GMT -6
I have had digging problems with pronghorn antelope and cows. I don't have any digging problems with coyotes.
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Diggin'
May 11, 2005 4:50:21 GMT -6
Post by jsevering on May 11, 2005 4:50:21 GMT -6
for me I think its the type set presented along with actual distance in lure placement along with how much body fluids are accumulated on a particular trap with time.
often wonder if the smell of blood and saliva that builds up with time can kick in an adolesent feeding instinct, or flash back of being feed at the den as a pup, that would cause a digging or scratching response, in part...jim
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Diggin'
May 11, 2005 8:12:19 GMT -6
Post by trappnman on May 11, 2005 8:12:19 GMT -6
Some good thoughts here...
I know for me- rust causes problems- I just accept this like I know the sun rises in the East-
Rust doesn't cause digging though- rust more often than not causes aviodance of the trpa bed and working sets from other angles. While I don't subscribe to the old school advice of changing a trap after every catch- I see the gems of truth in that.
Last year for the first time, I was fairly good about ...ah heck, I was "pretty good" about it- changing traps after a catch and then not a catch within 3 days. I for sure saw less standing back and side working.
I understand rust isn't a problem in some areas- and I attribute this to a combo of the type of rust- dry rust doesn't seem to matter, its actively rusting traps that are the problem- soil type, acidity of the soil and humidity.
For sure, for me- speed dips and latex dips caused digging at the set. More so on the speed dips in rainy weather. Why some have no problem, is one of life's mysteries to me- probably having to do with the same qualities of soils that makes rust an issue.
I find Reds do more digging at flat sets than coyotes do- esp considering my proportion of fox to coyotes. Fox seem to get into a habit of messing with the set for a few nights- then you got him- familararity breeds contempt in those situations I guess.
Coon aren't a problem at flat sets as far as digging- moreso at stepdowns. I don't find coon digging to really be a problem- if it happens 2 nights in a row- vertical gudes make sure he's there the next morning.
I envy those that never have any coyote digging. While I don't have an epidemic of diggin like I have had with dips, rust- I still have those times when you come to the set- the corner of the trap is uncovered or dug at...and the lure holes are blasted out.
scent on trap, movement of trap, nature of that partiucular coyote, visuals,...as part of the equation.
I do find this more at fresh sets than remakes.
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Diggin'
May 11, 2005 10:01:15 GMT -6
Post by Stef on May 11, 2005 10:01:15 GMT -6
NEPISIGUIT I've seen too many sets where the traps were bedded in peat and they were well blended with natural dirt, leaves, wood moss etc.. trail sets dug up by coyotes.
I also see... catch a coyote or two with peat at lured sets.... next 2 nights.... all sets dug up "fresh and remake"... Switch to dry dirt and killed all those "diggers" the next 2-3 nights.
With fox... I don't have the problem I,m talking about but with peat moss especially early in the season... I have this problem every year with coyotes with some INDIVIDUALS.
Hope to make enough waxed dirt for all my coyote sets this season.
Stef
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Diggin'
May 11, 2005 19:50:19 GMT -6
Post by CoonDuke on May 11, 2005 19:50:19 GMT -6
I rarely get digging but want to add...
If I see an canine dig, I know that animal can be caught. I maybe have to change something but I can catch that animal.
Set avoidance is what scares me...
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Diggin'
May 11, 2005 20:38:07 GMT -6
Post by jsevering on May 11, 2005 20:38:07 GMT -6
one thing about diggers, theyll make you scratch your head and bring you back to earth. had one location this year that took five coyotes in two weeks about every third day the sets would be dug out, figured the digger must of been running with the first yote the set hooked into. that day there was a fresh dropping about five feet out side of the original catch circle. slipped in a walk through flat about fifty feet down the trail after the second time the sets were dug out low and behold day before I had to pull that line segment, I caught an old bitch at the walk through, was feeling pretty full of myself, until the next day when I went to pull and found that all three sets were scratched in from solid ground to the jaws of the traps. swallowed my pride and went on down the road, with commentary from my good buddy ed, somthing to the effect, that he knew the bitch I caught the day before wasnt the digger, because she just plum looked like a dumb coyote to him.
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Diggin'
May 11, 2005 21:18:25 GMT -6
Post by psb1011 on May 11, 2005 21:18:25 GMT -6
The biggist problem with digging for me by far is bedding,mostly the chain-- think about it.Like the beave said coons dig my traps out most often.And Coonduke is correct,that digging canines can be caught ,cause they are working a set,but I don't worry about cainines that avoide my sets ,cause I just want to catch the dumb ones---the smart ones don't cause me any problems.
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Diggin'
May 12, 2005 4:17:32 GMT -6
Post by musher on May 12, 2005 4:17:32 GMT -6
And the smart one and the dumb ones sell for the same price!
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Diggin'
May 12, 2005 6:13:35 GMT -6
Post by rionueces on May 12, 2005 6:13:35 GMT -6
Here's a picture of a digger yote caught by the hind foot in a mafia set. This one dug my traps up for 2 nights in a row before I finally snagged him with a trap set about 2 feet away from the dirt hole. sorry for the small pic, i must have screwed it up when i loaded into photobucket.
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