coyote doubles

[bogio]

Several of the coyotes I have caught this year show evidence of having been assaulted by their brethren after being caught. I always set a minimum of 2 traps and feel I should pick up more doubles. What circumstance lends itself to more doubles? Set presentation or orientation? Are some locations more suited to putting the secound coyote into the right frame of mind? Am I wrong in assuming that the trapped animal got his buttend chewed up after being captured?

[trappnman]

Are some locations more suited to putting the secound coyote into the right frame of mind?

I've been convinced of such past two years-

got a lot of doubles this year compared to most years- another variable besides location changes, was due to circumstances, often had to set 2 traps close, 20-30 feet apart- and it seemed those locations gave me more doubles, and multiple doubles-

big part location, but in past always liked some distance between sets.

[trappnman]

I know some of that is self chewing on the fur- fresh snow, one sets of tracks- big patch chewed out of flank- hair on the ground and ALWAYS it seems like its THE coyote of the month except for the bare spot............

nervous i'd guess- dogs chew like that when nervous, why not yotes?

I do think other coyotes cause it as well-

[bogio]

What stands out as a defining feature of these locations? Also, does this years experiences change your thinking on trap spacing? Are you going to seek out locations that better lend themselves to setting more closely together in the future? What was your reasoning behind wider spacing? My trap sets vary from just a few feet apart to 50 yards or more. Also, to your thinking, what constitutes a double? Just animals caught closely together or are two coyotes caught on opposite corners of a 40 also a double. By my thinking, they are.

Supposedly have snow coming tonight. Hopefully it will shed some light on the question of whether damage is self inflicted or not.

[trappnman]

What stands out as a defining feature of these locations?

I'll drive someone bonkers by saying this- but they all are areas where coyotes feel comfortable. All are also, baited up.

Also, does this years experiences change your thinking on trap spacing?

without a doubt. I've been one to space traps out, as I never had much success in the past with traps set tight to each other. and most of my doubles, came from traps spaced at least 40-50 feet away from each other.

This year as an anomaly insofar as weather. Driest period from august to November. that meant that, due to crops and land condition (everything plowed, lots of stuff usually plowed in spring was done this fall), I could in many cases barely find room to set a trap, let alone 2 but we would squeeze 2 in- many just far enough apart they couldn't interact.

so can't say 100% if it was trap spacing or other variables, but will say for sure, my fear of setting traps very close together, is gone.

Are you going to seek out locations that better lend themselves to setting more closely together in the future?

yes

What was your reasoning behind wider spacing?

to cover more area, with same number of traps.

Also, to your thinking, what constitutes a double? Just animals caught closely together or are two coyotes caught on opposite corners of a 40 also a double. By my thinking, they are.

to me a double is pure and simple- 2 caught coyotes that are 100% aware of each other at the same stop, is to us a double.

not to say its not more fun with 2 side by side, because for some odd reason it is-

[ColdSteel]

Tman you have gave me something to think about here although I don't have a veyr strong population of coyotes I get very very few doubles no more than 1 to 2 a year maybe I am setting to close always seemed to work ok on fox.I set up on alot of paths through cutovers and in most cases my traps are no more than 20 feet apart.Also I guess its the wind but in most cases when I set 2 or 3 traps it always seem to be one trap that does the work and I have never understood that