whats critical for yotes?

[trappnman]

While we all have theorys on this or that, I find that there are really only 2 things that are hard and fast for me with yotes.

Number one, is a clean trap. I'm convinced that at least for me, most of my pattern misses are caused by dirty traps.

Number two, is a blended pattern. Next to or maybe even equal to dirty traps, is an obvious trap in causing pattern misses.

I don't worry much about much else....

Comments?

[kyboy]

location.................Ive caught them in the gaudiest cat sets, but you cant catch em' if they aint there.

[thebeav2]

I found one thing to be fast and true Is when you have lots of coyotes you will automatically become a better coyote trapper. Or at least you will catch more.
came from WI with a very small coyote population sure I caught some but wasn't trying. Went to MS and became a coyote trapper over night I think there was a coyote or maybe 2 behind every bush. The best day I had was 7 and averaged 26 or so a month now that number would have been a lot higher but I couldn't keep them dam cats out of my coyotes sets. Ya and on that trip I became over night expert on cat trapping.
It's like Phil Brown coming to WI,even with his work ethics he wouldn't even catch 100 reds more like 50.
Population density Is the key Even i blind hog will find (acern) southern pronunciation for you Yankees LOl If there are enough to find.

[trappnman]

Bob- I don't mean clean trap that way- but I would not start a season with a bunch of traps piled in the corner from last year.

but also, and this is a definite for me, a RUSTING trap is a liability.

location is important to me only in that it has the correct features, habitat....the yotes will be there.

[kyboy]

Here in the wooded mountains location is everything.You have to find the right spot or they wont be there. Good strong equipment is another must for me.

[pat]

I used to be paranoid of rust on my traps. I came up when the training was that in order to be successful at trapping canines you had to hold your breath while making the set or the wax would catch and hold the odor of your breath and the canines would detect it. Plus you had to wear waders with a gallon of urine down each leg or the canines would smell you. And your traps had to be completely waxed, absolutely zero rust, and you had to pull the trap, replace it with a clean one, and move the set after every 'coon, skunk, and 'possum catch because the canines refused to come into a catch circle with the smell of those trapped animals.

Over the years I learned that was all b.s. And after taking instructions from O'Gorman and Wendt alot of other procedures went out the window as well. Using dogless traps I never waxed them - just dyed them good. Made recycling them faster and easier. Dogged traps got waxed but never dyed. And if any of them got a little rusty - scour them with dirt and set as usual. Never had a problem.

I remember once riding with Bob Wendt down in Indiana setting for summer coyotes - he was in between Wyoming trips. Bob found a location along on old broken down fence line right along a grass driveway out in an old bean field. The soil was hard clay. Bob was chopping away on the first of three sets when he tells me to grab three traps out of the truck and three rebar stakes. Now you have to realize that it was like 85 - 90 degrees and the humidity was just as high. I look into the back of the truck and here are a bunch of #3 soft-catch traps that look like they have had a month of hard use - lightly rusted with a shiny under coating. The stakes didn't look much better. Without laughing out loud I told Bob I didn't have any gloves to use to pick them up. He uttered something under his breath and said he didn't either so just get the damned traps and stakes. I told him that there were numerous book authors out there that would have heart failure if they say his equipment and setting methods. All he could do was make a comment about how they were book writers while he was a coyote catcher. Of course there were some other colorful adjectives and verbs mixed in there. There was rust everywhere in the area of those sets. There was the fence, some old machinery not to far away, and if memory serves me correctly there were some coyote turds right in the middle of an old oil stain right in the lane. And yes, Bob did catch some coyotes at that location.

Steve, I don't think rust - light rust - is a problem in catching coyotes. At least not for the majority of coyotes that we are catching during fur season.

Pat

[NEPISIGUIT]

I spent half the summer last year looking for coyote sign which let me tell you is not easy to find in heavily forested areas without snow,
. Even the old roads did not give much sign of coyote movement. I looked at lots of these areas without luck. Yet by setting them up, got lucky and caught seven. This is one area. I think there is a great deal of difference in locating coyotes when dealing with different habitat types. Even with this i believe they can be located using different methods,such as calling. In the case of farmland most owners are aware what goes on on their property and are quite willing to let you know what they see if they are asked. The biggest thing for me about coyotes is that they may be here today and gone tomorrow. Success= hard work - large territory and lots of traps. and for me patience. One big problem for me is raccoons digging up my traps and turning them over so maybe in some cases traps are dirty. Bob is always mentioning how bad the conditions are where he traps yet he catches lots of yokes.From the comments i hear here i wonder if they react differently to traps under different situations or in different parts of the country? Would like to change that patience for quick success.

[k9]

Be on top of the coyotes. No other theories get to work if you are off on that one.

[robertw]

Funny....but in the mud of the south (or where ever I am) a blended pattern just isn't inportant. I throw dirt and make a mess, sometimes I even get the pick-axe or mattock out to dig the trap bed.

Blended patterns are fine at flat sets and blind sets but certainly not needed to catch a coyote.

As for rusty traps..When I am out of state and my traps start rusting I just keep catching coyotes.

[trappnman]

I don't care at all, if no one else has trouble with RUSTING traps. I know, from many delibrate tests, that RUSTING traps cause some avoidance from coyotes that work the set.

[robertw]

Steve,
I don't follow (understand) what your saying "cause some avoidance from coyotes that work the set."

If they work the set then how did they avoid it?

[jdp4202007]

i know i am far from a yote trappin pro but i didn't dip my traps and they had rust on them and i still caught quite a few yotes never wore gloves put one knee down at the set i chew so i even spit at the sets and had a good year i think as far as rust goes they have to be used to it they cross under rusty fences they walk by rusty staples in blowouts and they don't avoid them at all christ i've even caught yotes with the traps just sittin set on the ground not covered up at all even no bed or nuthin just set on the ground i think it would be a good idea to dip or wax just for preserving the trap which this year i'm gonna try but i don't expect my catch to be any better and if it does get better it will be because of more steel in the ground

[trappincoyotes39]

Rust active puts off an odor and unless you have high densitys and the greed factor and that smell is not common place you will get digging at that set or not work it like they normally would. Why would any one not want a clean well opeational trap at a set?
Out here the gumbo is tough on steel and wax is a must or a severly rusted trap will be found in 7-10 days and coyotes digging up those traps, something they are not accustom to smelling.

[trappnman]

TC is exactly right-

Bob- I hear all about you never missing a coyote and every track that comes by is a coyote- frankly, I don't believe you.

rusitng traps, HERE- didn't seem to matter out west- SPOOK coyoes in that they often refuse to step over a rusty trap. FACT.

you don't agree thats fine- OGorman agrees, Leggitts agree

I didn't agree until I SAW the evidence year after year and SAW that changing out a trap took care of the problem. You think I like or want to change traps when RUSTING (notice how I shouted RUSTING for those that think RUSTED is the same word)?

I remember a post a while back 6-8 traps- would be over in a day....then 2 days...., then a week.... then forever...

should have hired your grandma...

[trappnman]

rust? there are miles of rusted fence everywhere and no rancher or farmer ever heard of a dump, any piece if wire ,steel, engine, can, whatever, throw it out the window. house window, truck window, whatever , and at every gate take a piss, right on the coyote dump

seriously Bob, think a little... what different in the picture from that picture boys and girls....

[thorsmightyhammer]

I dont think traps can rust underground.

They need oxygen.

[trappnman]

I was hoping tis post would be fun and informational, but I see thats not going to happen..

I still read posts on the forums bemoaning bad luck the coyote jacked the stake or broke the wire.

I know- I just read where a couple of guys let animals escape wearing catch poles.

Steve, I don't think rust - light rust - is a problem in catching coyotes. At least not for the majority of coyotes that we are catching during fur season.


no pat, I don't think light rust means much.

but its apparant that you don't trap where a remake trap, will rust a LOT in a few days, or you would know exactly what I am talking about.

and majority- I tohuhth te gola was to trap them all?

I got my best year of 107 coyotes with speed dip..but oh the misses.

same with RUSTING....

you are right Bob, stefs lures are no good. Im looking for good lures next year...

I dont think traps can rust underground.

They need oxygen.

there ya go....

[seldom]

I'm not taking sides here (lol) but I'd like to relate to an observation I made late in the season this year.

We had a heck of a snow storm and I had three traps buried along a winter wheat field/corn stubble break-line. I spent considerable time searching for them because my markers were snowed under. I went and bought a metal detector and within minutes of using it, found my traps BUT I found something else! I found lots of pieces of old barbed wire fence and lots of small pieces of farm machinery scattered along the break-line. In addition, to a handful of 06 and 30-30 casings, I couldn't believe all the "stuff" I found just under the surface!

That location had produced 2 coyote, 1 red and 1 grey.

Just an observation, nothing more, nothing less.

[ohiyotee]

I dont think traps can rust underground.

They need oxygen.

I dont think traps can rust underground.

They need oxygen.

there ya go....

Are you guys kidding me , if there was no oxygen under ground there wood not be a living thing on earth. Plants cannot live with out oxigen in the root zone.

[ohiyotee]

hey Bob we posted at the same time , great minds think alike