Done for the Year

[trappnman]

Pulled the last traps last weekend. Stayed a little longer at the end than I had planned, but when its time its time. I could set out some- but out of dry dirt, out of peat, weather can go real bad any day....its time. Earlier thought might run water for a bit, but as of no have no desire to do so with prices as low as they are.

When the traps are pulled its always nice to think back over the season. What could be done different, what will remain the same.

One main thing that is finally settled, is the at least planned line management. When I expanded and changed the system some years back, it was in flux every year insofar as routes, locations, times. This year I think we maximized the routes, and locations and even the time spent and when. We ran it this year as 3 loops- setting up the majority as quick as we could, then adding a few locations as we went. Line 1 was 140 miles, Line 2 133 miles and line 3 was 124 miles. I pilled half of Line 3 and ran a section of it for 4 more days- and that subline was 80 miles.

I had a couple places where a few more farms were needed to fill in, and that occurred this year where I had multiple new farms on established routes that paid off.

All and all- very satisfied with our year.

Some observations:

I've never had a year like this weatherwise. In mid October, the ground was saturated, and then more rain and more rain...then temps in the low 20s. We were using peat to set up almost from day 1. I bought and had dried 8 bales of peat, which I thought was more than enough- but I was skimping at the end. In fact, needed more so bought 2 bags of a 99% peat mixture that we oven dried on cookie sheets over 2 nights. I know I missed coyotes because of it- how many who knows, cause many of them are caught next trap or next days- but some.

Went through 120+ gals of dry dirt as well.

The season started wet, and then it was a constant of rain, cold, snow, melt, rain, etc all season. Wore mud boots more days than not. 4 times had snow from 1-2" come in, melt and repeat.

Far more nights below freezing, and windy than normal.

I NEVER put anything down first as a moisture barrier, but did this year. We used a baggie laid down first in the trap bed, then some dry dirt, wiggle trap into that then cover everything and broadcast with peat. I had sets in for multiple rains than when pulled were bone dry. Pulling traps 2 times after a hard freeze..all were ready to go and not frozen or compromised and that was after hard rains and melting snow.

While I know peat costs me coyotes, i also believe that its the best of a bunch of bad concerning antifreezing traps. I've tried glycol, glycerine, RV antifreeze and none of them are real reliable at real cold temps- but even when they work you got that dreaded wet spot and color change. Same with calcium products. And while with waxed dirt you don't get the wet spot- you still have the problem of peat and dry dirt- its soft, and "slippery". That to me is the bad thing about peat- I can compensate for the smell and feel- but the softness at the set is the problem. Everything is hard, hard, hard and then a bunch of soft?

Man, if a guy could use site dirt all season...nothing better in every way.

I do think that if one had access to coal shale, that would be the ticket. I've only used it a few times in WY, and brought home a few gals- but I like it insofar as how dense it is- no softness over the trap. But alas, I have no access so peat it is.

This year was also the year of very few burrs. We did not have a coyote that had more than 2-3 unmatted burrs, and those even were rare. Only fleas I saw all year were on a couple of fox- none on the coyotes. Ticks, but nothing abnormal. None with lice, and none with mange. Overall, a decent class of coyotes for the most part.

Skunks way down- 7 all year. Possums up, but not the worst I've seen- maybe 20, a few more.

Coon numbers way down. Used to take 100+ out of coyote sets- caught 8 all year- Badgers down as well- only took a couple.

So- 2018 in the books-my 32th year of coyote trapping. 104 coyotes, 12 fox.

[jim]

Care to expand on compensating for the smell? Jim

[trappnman]

Sure-

I think the reason that many have problems with peat, is because they think less is best when I think just the opposite- more is better.

I takes me an ice cream bucket of peat, which is 5 qts I think, to make a set right using peat.

After trap is bedded in pure peat, I then spread peat around the entire extended pattern so that its thick enough to be noticed so like 1/2" or so of peat over everything- including on the backing and some behind.

I then give it a mottled effect- I put an inch or so of site dirt (if I can) in the sifter, then an inch or so of dry dirt, then the same of peat> this then is shaken over everything, which gives it a real nice mottled look, and doesn't make the peat so stark. This mottled effect leaves the peat more exposed than covered.

What this does ( and the same idea is invaluable with dryland coon sets insofar as digging, flipping traps goes) is makes the coyote smell and feel the peat before he gets to the trap- so any curiosity or revulsion is eliminated before the trap, thus strongly reducing digging, etc at the trap.

Will some avoid it completely? Sure...but that happens no matter how traps are covered or set is made.

When I used peat like most recommend, I hated it and in fact didn't use it for years- but since I went to this method, that has been reduced or eliminated to a substainable level

[jim]

I didn't get the digging they just didn't work the set. Saw another guy complaining about peat said he would never use it again.

Jim

[trappnman]

if they aren't working the set consistently then there is nothing at the set they want. As far as the other guy- then he shouldn't use it. As far as the other guy, I've seen many other guys say they can't catch coyotes in remakes, or using urine, or dirtholes, or flat sets......

If the only peat is over the trap- its going to be avoided.

Same as if any covering over trap is different from the surrounding dirt, etc at the set. doesn't matter if its a different color, different texture or whatever- a large % will avoid it.

And lots of urine is to my mind key as well-

[claybird]

I never liked peat until I used it exactly like you explained. I’ll never use anything else late season trapping again. The peat worked fantastic for me last winter. My peat was bone dry and actually repealed water. I caught fox after fox using as you described.

[bblwi]

Have not done much canine trapping the last years, but sure do thank you for your posts and explaining what you learned, what you changed, what works for you and what does not. I am amazed at the huge variance in the color and fur of the coyotes you catch and I appreciate the photos that give me a lot of insight on locations. I have never had as much success as you seem to have setting up in the longer grass that I see in your photos.

Bryce

[northof50]

So those last two bags 99% peat.? So was there white perlite in the mix or was it a white fertilize pellets ?

[trappnman]

white perlite

[trappnman]

Bryce's post had a coupe of interesting things to me in it.

First, the comment on the coyote colors. I've felt that our color has somewhat stabilized over the years- yes, a few blondes and darker ones, but over all, pretty consistent. Bellies are more white than years ago, and the backs aren't that darker brown, but more a mixed light and dark. Interesting the perspective on this.

On tall grass. I HATER setting tall grass, and won't do it unless no other choice. I do however use weed patches as backing....in reality, thats about the only backing available more times than not. A perfect set up is a patch of weeds/beans in a picked bean field- you have the openness around, and a focal point and backing. And I hater setting in picked corn- just seems way underproductive. I do however use corn field edges, as backings.

[bblwi]

Interesting that you are noting less variance in the yotes color, fur type etc. That could well be that the immigration in to your area has slowed as the local population now fills the area and thus a bit more uniformity in breeding stock. Good to hear you are getting whiter bellies as that adds quite a bit of value to our more eastern yotes.
Did not notice that your sets were right on the edge of the tall grass. Interesting use of what is available. The other thing Steve is that that backing is there and natural and not moved in etc. Those yotes have been travelling past those edges all year which probably lessens some spookiness.

Bryce

[trappnman]

Lee commented again this year, on how overall getting whiter bellies. I think you are right, in that we have a enough of a stable population, that unlike the "beginning", gives my area a more restrictive genetic quality. We don't have a "good" coyote here, but my top he graded as semi heavies. I sold coyotes from $5 to $50 with my average- every coyote I caught but a handful (and good ones) I sold to people wanting a tanned one, and I ended up with a $27 average with 100% sold. Throw in the private sales at prices I sold for, and it would be a little over $29 average.

I sold fox for an $11 average, coon nose count $6. Other prices I was quoted rats going around $2.25, beaver $8-10, otter $25-30 average, coon....$6-7 is about it for nose count, mink $ females. $8 males on average. Grey fox $6-7.

[northof50]

One of the time Dominion Sudac old coyote graders from decades back could tell what town the coyote came from and he was good at it, this was before bar coding came along.
What we are seeing in southern Manitoba is a eastern grade is moving in. 25 % running now. If it is in the Grade 3 xl then you know you are out of the western section.
You just have to flip a hide to see the flow of the hair to see the two differences.
Those white bellies depending on width is the puff effect of the collar trim needed now.