Out of the box thinking, what works, what doesn't?

[trappnman]

Those trappers who trap for the "challenge" of catching a critter still haven't mastered the craft

a truer statment might be a trapper that envisons every animal as a "challenge" hasn't mastered the craft.

but those that can catch the ones that "challenge"- are true masters.

try a beaver that 3-4 other podunks pinched in weak, small traps in a small creek.

or how about a wised up coyote?

[bobwendt]

of course not. and thank you for saying so! ;D ;

[k9]

Steve I too am not an expert ADC guy, but I do whack a sheep killer now and then for hire. Most sheep men call and want you to come do it for free, I turn them down unless I regularly fur trap on thier ground. If not willing to pay, must not be a problem!

I found some to come very easy, and some to come very hard. If they are killing regular, they are easy in most cases, unless so much livestock that your options become limited as to where to put your gear. Did a hog operation on the Missouri border once where I had to get on the nieghbors farms, just to keep equipment running as this guy had hogs and sheep everywhere.

The hardest ones for me were the "occasional" killers. Kill once every few weeks or month, and then don't come back for several more weeks. Some of those far away places I would overset the area and have the farmer check them for me, rather than drive down there everyday. Farmers would wonder why no catches, and I would assure them I am not concerned unless they are losing sheep and I am not catching, then I would be concerned.

One was killing 80 pound market lambs, and I caught him right behind the farmers house. In fact, the farmer shot him from his back door with a 22.

Rare to get calls now. I won't crank up the truck for free, and usually if I do get a call I am coming in after some "freebee" guy already gave it a try and gave up.

[trappnman]

whats nice, is the situations are isolated. that is- sheep farms are rare, field calving operations the same. So its usually 1 location.

On ADC coyotes, even for those I fur trap, itsa $125 setup, the same for each coyote.

I don't WANT to trap them..so if I do, I grumble less......

[mustelameister]

Again--no canine trapper here, but I used to field quite a few nuisance calls on coyote killing lambs in the area when coyote first started moving into the area in large numbers back in the late 80s. Somehow, it appeared as though I managed to trap the right coyote in each situation, 'cause the killings ceased.

Since then, most the sheep farmers here have gone to Pyrenees dogs, and they seem to do a good job on the small operations.

That and we've got quite a few active coyote hunting clubs, which kill for the fun of it. Doesn't seem to have made a dent in the 'yote population though.

My out of the box set for this year: dirt hole sets along the river bank hooked up to drowner systems. I consistently see coyote tracks along the riverbank, and ever since scoring a 'yote on a #11 DJ two years ago, at the end of the cable in six feet of water, I've tinkered with the idea of specifically setting up for them. Drowner sets so I can maintain my 2 or 3-day check on the separate lines.

Don't know how I'm going to avoid the 'possum and 'coon though.

But, I'll throw a few in on the river line and see what happens.

[trappnman]

MM- I get 1-2 yotes a year in coon water sets at drowners.

The main thing that keeps me from setting up specifically for coyotes with dirtholes and slides, is that once water season opens, we usually have at least freezing weather.

and I don't want to have to mess with the hassle of keeping them open. I don't want to carry dry dirt (or even waxed dirt) - plus as you said- the chances of possums or coon and the resulting remakes, just made it not worth my while.

if you make the sets near the waters edge, the flucuating temps makes things tough.

but the yotes are there- if it wasn't for the 24 hour check, I'd be snaring a lot of waterways.

[thebeav2]

Mike I have a good friend up In Oconto Cty that does just what your going to try and for the very same reason. He Say's It works. He has drowned quite a few coyotes fisher and cats.
I'm just not convinced that all critters will take the plunge but It would probably be worth a try.

[mustelameister]

Well, that gives me new inspiration, Gary. But, there are the problems with the sets along the riverbank, and as Steve pointed out, how do you keep them open in freezing weather?

I've had plenty of time to mentally tinker with this, and consider it a challenge this coming season. At least begin to experiment.

Only 21 weeks 'till water sets open. I'd better get busy! ;D

[dj88ryr]

Out of the box thinking is all well and good......unless the answer is still in the box....

[trappnman]

mm- I have n kdoubt that stramside setsa, with the trap i nthe water, would work jst as well for coyotes. Certain locations, sandbars near crossings, etc. Coyotes will readily take a lot of water. I've seen several times where they have a good trail that crossses 10-20 feet of knee high water without a hesitation..

but even is set up for yotes with canine lures, urine, etcx- incidentals wil lstill be the problem- and on a 3 day check, is counterproductive.

back when I just trapped mainly water and the banks (I'd trap land for 2 weeks then turned ot water) and checked daily, I caught a fair amount of both fox and yotes for the number of sets I made.

So I've toyed with your idea- and it always comes back to 3 day checks and keeping sets active.

If they are a slide, I've never not had one down and out, if that helps- but remember, the coyote would have been starting from water, not land.

[Jeffrey]

After hearing all you yote experts, I have an interesting question, how far do you think you can pull a yote in with lure to catch him? In my opinion, which I'll admit I have a lot to learn, a yote won't very much from their travels to get caught.

[trappnman]

Jeffery- thats the question we all ask and no one knows for sure.

So many variables, but I usually look at the question- on a flat surface, average wind, moisture, etc- how far WILL a lure draw a coyote.

This coyote was caught the night of the snow, and his tracks came out of a woods about the same distance in the foreground as the wood line is behind him. His tracks came straight as an arrow from the woods, cutting across a picked corn field, to this set.

Tracks show no hesitation, just a direct line.

Was he brought there by the lure? I'd like to think so...

[mostinterestingmanintheworld]

I'll bet he came before the snow and you missed him. He came back and you caught him.

Joel

[trappnman]

you could be right. Thats what you never are sure of-

[mostinterestingmanintheworld]

I've noticed that coyotes get in trouble with sets that have a light skiff of snow over them.

Joel

[bobwendt]

he probably came to those 3 things sticking up in that grass patch. why you set there I imagine. looking for a rabbit or mouse with no escape route.

[Zagman]

thought the same thing, but Bob typed it first.....fresh snow, breaks out of the woods, those things would stick out like a sore thumb........

Still, if it WAS the lure, based on the distance, the wind would have had to come into play......me thinks.

Zagman

[dogpaw]

I bet that coyote was at that set more than once before the snow. He seemed to make a bee line right for it once the ground was snow covered.

[bobwendt]

nah, he made a beeline to the 3 things, probably got amouse there 50 times before. circles the weeds first to get to listen and smell, and smells the set. 1-2-3. 98%

[trappnman]

not setting with the wind, still allows wind use to occur when using multiple sets. THATS why 2 sets are used in the positions they are.

settting sets on location without taking the wind into factor per se for exact trap placement, doesn't mean that I don't understand wind on scents.

Two separate ideas, aren't they?

yes Bob, I see all the circling tracks.

this set was made the afternoon of the night before.