Introducing myself (though you may know me)

[blackhammer]

Opinions vary or should in a forum.

[Steve Gappa]

I agree with the thought that this isn't about cheap or who should be hired for the job-

it was an introduction and an asking for advice on summer coyotes. I too have enjoyed your posts elsewhere and welcome you to CRU. you might wish to participate in the chat scheduled for next week on coyotes

the key to summer work is be on location- and by on I mean ON.

while it might take you some time to trap 40 coyotes this time of year, if collaring coyotes is only part of the study, then if it takes you a month or two it doesn't really matter for the life of the study, which I assume to be at lest 2 if not 3.

I've not done a lot of summer collaring work, but did collar coyotes during the summer months for 2 summers. While I do think there are lures that perform better at certain times, all I used were my regular lures and sets- mainly bigger dirthole type sets. The biggest factor to learn (or unlearn) is that fall coyote territory, is not always summer coyote territory.

as said, be careful with the heat, and even in tightening choke poles too tight- I lost one by doing that.

a tip on catch poles- take a piece of broom handle or dowel, and insert it through the noose, as you approach the coyote, so that it sticks out 4-5 inches through loop- the coyote will about always grab the stick, and the noose can be slipped on easily. Before I knew that trick , had them grab the loop more times than once- some it seemed almost impossible to get the loop on.

[thrstyunderwater]

Sorry this rocked the boat, look forward to posting here.

[trappnman]

no apologies needed on your part- sorry you got ambushed.

[hotandry]

Thirsty,

I have a small getaway place in Central Nevada and can tell you the coyotes will be scattered all over the place. Versus concentrated down low in the valleys as in the winter.

There may be pockets around some ranches and irrigated pastures in the valleys. But a lot of them migrate back up on top of the world along with the deer, elk, and sheep.

The easiest way would be to talk to the few ranchers in the valleys and ask if they are seeing lots of coyotes. If so you might set heavy around those pastures. Most have public land surrounding the ranches. If you get into a pocket you may be able to pick off quite a few in a small area.

If not, you might need to go up high. 8,000 ft plus. And spread your sets out. Set on the water.

Will be more pleasant up high, temperature wise.

Nobody around to mess with you in vast areas. I mean nobody. You break down up there it will be a long walk out.

Good luck,

John

[robertw]

He should already have his 40 coyotes caught.

[mostinterestingmanintheworld]

You listen to John, he knows what he's talking about. You need some help, give me a call I might wander down. What town are you basing out of? Tonopah, Round Mtn., Austin?

[thrstyunderwater]

May 14, 2011 13:35:35 GMT -6 @robertw said:

He should already have his 40 coyotes caught.

And all 5 years of research done
And kids
And a mortgage
And a real job

Anything else I should have already done?

[thrstyunderwater]

May 14, 2011 13:41:10 GMT -6 mostinterestingmanintheworld said:

You listen to John, he knows what he's talking about. You need some help, give me a call I might wander down. What town are you basing out of? Tonopah, Round Mtn., Austin?

Austin and Belmont, know the area?

[spring]

atta boy!!!

[robertw]

So have you started catching the 40 coyotes yet? You started this post back in April, so....anything wrong with assuming you should already have 40 head caught?

[thrstyunderwater]

May 18, 2011 19:10:46 GMT -6 @robertw said:

So have you started catching the 40 coyotes yet? You started this post back in April, so....anything wrong with assuming you should already have 40 head caught?

I'm a graduate student and my semester just finished. I took 11 hours, which is alot when it's graduate hours. I've also been:

Writing a proposal for my research
Writing grant proposals
Filling out scholarship applications
Writing manuscripts for publication
Doing odd jobs for my advisor
Hiring technicians
Gearing up
Figuring out where I'm going to live since my study sites are 9 hours away from where I live.
Getting gear to Nevada
Setting up camp
Prepping 10 dozen traps
Trying to meet locals
Trying to learn an area the size of 100x120 or so miles.
Reading scientific papers to include in my introduction for proposal and manuscript

Basically I'm getting a research project started from the ground up. Have you ever done that Robert?

My radiocollars for coyotes also won't be here till the 27th, they're coming from New Zealand.

[robertw]

On my own, no, have helped with several.

[mostinterestingmanintheworld]

That is one area that I haven't spent that much time in. I'd do like Sullivan said and trap around the water and fields. I haven't screwed around with coyotes much inthe summer.

You ought to get a hold of Bill Ilchik, he trapped down there for a study like yours 30 years ago when they were proposing the MX missile. A nice couple from the Smithsonian were doing the study. You might want to read it, I don't know whether they ever found anything out or not.

[guest]

Thirsty:

Don't let 'em get to you. Go catch your coyotes.

There are two primary ranches in the Monitor valley, the Pine Creek Ranch and the Barley Creek ranch. Here is a picture from near there. Both ranches are set on the bench (Barley on the west side and Pine Creek on the east) and are basically pasture grass surrounded by an ocean of sagebrush.



This photo is taken just north of the Pine Creek Ranch looking toward the Barley Creek Ranch. The big ridge in the distance is all wilderness area up in the aspens and is called Table Top.

If you visit the ranch houses one afternoon and talk nice, my guess is that you could get permission to trap in and around both ranches (all other things being equal, like where the cows are at, etc.). Just DON'T tell the rancher you're turning the coyotes loose after you trap them!

Like Hotndry said, water is the key. There is water in the mouth of almost every canyon and I would check there. Look at Water Canyon, Ike's Canyon, White rock canyon, Mill Canyon, and Meadow Canyon. There are large washes coming out of each canyon and the coyotes will be denning in and around the washes. Get yourself an open reed call or a siren and go out before daylight to howl and locate coyotes. They don't travel too far in the summer so once you get them howling at you, it should get you pretty close to the target. Most of the time, the coyotes will den pretty close to those pastures and hay fields because you always see the pups out there mousing and because there is water there.

Good luck. Tell me when you get up there and maybe I can sneak up for a day. But like Joel (or Genronimo, or Warrior King, or Alpha male or whatever he goes by on a given day, said, Bill Ilchik would be your greatest source of information and knows libraries more about that country than I do.

Oh, and east of the Pine Creek Ranch, be sure to check out Diana's Punchbowl . . . . sort of a natural hot springs/swimming hole/part time nudist colony. Its custom for folks to soak there after a hard day's work, but if a vehicle is at the Punchbowl, local custom is to honk as you approach so you don't surprise anyone. Last time I was there, I forgot to honk and drove up on Geronimo and a "friend" working on their tan lines.

[thrstyunderwater]

I've been to dianne's punchbowl, where is that creek folks are swimming in?

[mostinterestingmanintheworld]

Turn the cats loose, that's some of the best country in the state.

[thrstyunderwater]

May 19, 2011 22:31:31 GMT -6 mostinterestingmanintheworld said:

Turn the cats loose, that's some of the best country in the state.

I hope to never harm the hair on a cats head, honset.

[trappincoyotes39]

only problem with cats is they don't take heat well at all, so you might have a few casualties but all in the name of research. The closer you can get on those travel ways to and from the water source to the lay up locations of those family groups of coyotes the less cats you "should" catch.

I have talked to a few grad students who have done their deal on our MT Lions and you are undertaking alot for sure, so don't let robert get to you, I would love to see a copy of your study when done and the data is all sifted through!


Robert you never did let us know what you needed the radio collras for either?....................