summertime coyotes

[jax]

This is my first summer attempt ,I cant get em like i can in winter,whats the tricks for this time of year?

[trappnman]

biggest trick is you have to be on top of them-

they don't travel much this time of year,. and with corn as high as it is, they spend a lot of time in the corn around here (plenty of waterways, ponds, etc "inside" the corn)

So don't expect them to come to you- you need to go to them.

I've got a few traps out now- and doing what I expected. There was little or no fresh sign, was sign from a week ago- to be honest, if fall trapping I wouldn't have set it up-

2 checks and nothing- haven't seen a fresh piece of sign in the 3 days I've been there- you can't catch them if they don't come around

but when sign is present and current, I don't have any problem catching them- again limited experience in the 45 summertime coyote range over the years- but then, I seldom try for them

I do like using fresh natural bait- in my case gophers

perhaps those that do trap more in summer would offer a few tips.......

[fishdaddy]

i seen two today running up the creek

[trappnman]

The Scenario:

Farmer called- hes seeing coyotes on his hay bales, wants me to "get them". When I arrived, the only sign I could see anywhere near or on the bales was some muddy coyote footprints, which would have been from 10 days to 2 weeks ago

there was no scat on or near the bone pile, or anywhere near or on the bales, excluding those old tracks. None. Around bales, bonepile, gravel- is dust. no rain last 10 days, 90 degree temps.

Down by the pond, there were, again old, coyote tracks, but nothing to get excited about. Found one pile of scat walking the road, barely recognizable as such.

Normally, when I get a complaint, its either calves, sheep or yes, walking the bales but in every other case- its current and abundant sign, and most times I have that coyote patterned by the farmer before I get there.

The Situation:

Might have had coyotes walking the bales, but it was briefly, and some time ago.

Reality:

Hes got no coyote problem, but since he's paying me to be there, I'll be there- right now its convienient as I'm trapping gophers nearby, and maybe even on this farm in a day or two.

Have not seen 1 coyote track at any of the 4 sets, in 3 days-

its wait and see now, for any straggler that comes along- since I have nothing specific to target, hard to catch him.......

If there is a den in that pond dike, no external signs ie tracks, trails, play areas, etc- so either denning in corn, or denning on another farm, in either case, out of my reach.

Did take some video for my own amusement, you can see my thought processes in setting up.

[coyotewhisperer]

1080 you kill me

[trappincoyotes39]

More than 4 drops

[bogio]

Steve,

Just curious. Do the coyotes toenails actually damage the bale wrap leading to spoilage or he'd just rather be rid of them?

1080,

Corn hybrids have moved beyond the "knee high by the forth" standard. Most of our corn here is head high or better and has been tassled for over a week.

Have absolutely no experience with summertime coyotes but right now we are extremely dry. Mudhole ponds and small streams are about petered out. I would think that in that situation you would be looking for a water source but from what I've seen on the news, Steve might not have that problem.

[ChrisM]

A few random thoughts because Im bored..... lol

I think the whole "in the summer they dont travel much..ya gotta go to them " theory is overstated and/or misunderstood. Its been my experience that they travel quite a bit and like 1080 mentioned...at times they can travel quite a ways. What they don't do is random traveling or wandering like in the fall/winter. You cant simply set the best travel-ways and wait for the "to come to you." They're whole focus is raising the pups. They will travel directly to and from the food source..which can be close or far, water..which is usually pretty close and they will routinely check the edges of their territory...with much more activity on any border that has another family group adjacent to it.

"Going to them" does not mean you have to be setting on top of the den or in the infamous "core area." But you do need to find the locations they are using to accomplish the above task. Setting up that perfect crossing or saddle over yonder wont do a thing for you if its outside their home range, and maybe not even if its within their range.

Based on what I can see in the videos it looks like you have it set up pretty well Steve. And what I would give to have that much sign on a summer complaint! .

As for the dens... If I can locate the den or even the general location, and get within a 1/2 mile or so, there's no need to set any traps cause they're gonna die the first morning the wind is right.

If you are going to work these summer complaints for hire, especially these type deal where there's no need for an ongoing maintnance program...the best advice I can offer you is to work on you calling ability. You can save yourself alot of trips, miles, work and expense. Slip in there, yip yip, pop, flop.. slick as ya please and go collect your pay

Radio collar studies I've seen showed that territorial adults rarely (as in almost never) leave their home range during the summer....even to kill sheep. This can take a while to sort out if you have two different groups of coyotes killing on the same band of sheep.

1080...Sadly, we cant all live where corn dont grow. But to your question... in 25 yrs, I have never found a den in a corn field. Once the pups are big enough to travel then they love them (and sunflowers) and will spend the entire summer in a field. If there happens to be a waterway thru it even better. Id hate to guess how many coyotes I've shot in the face peeking out of a corn field. Same with CRP. We have whole sections of it. Miles ands miles. Great habitat.. lots of game, usually water etc.. but never a den. I've always thought this was perhaps due to a visibility issue. On the corn, Ive thought perhaps it was do to the timing of planting...right in the peak denning/whelping season. maybe just too much activity to suit momma?.

Mild vs.loud lures... Not really sure how XLDC compares as I've never used it but OG's LDC is one of my favorite and most productive summer lures.

[trappnman]

I've seen coyote dens several times in corn fields- in fact, over the past 2 years I've posted pictures of such. And no, not the edges, always quite a ways out . I used to think the den hole was badger, because I didn't walk out to see them- but one day was out with the collaring program, and one of our females was raising pups in a den in the middle of a large corn field. I had driven by that spot several times, had seen the den, just assumed it was badger, since then have walked out to a few and yup, coyote dens. Always a "surprize" to me, because I see them in corn thats just coming up, and the look so barren and exposed- but I then think- they DO have 360 range of vison.

corn normally this time of year, is waist high or a little higher but all the dens I've seen in corn, were much earlier, either bare field (just planted) or just coming up. This year...skys the limit, and lots and lots of corn is high enough to make corn mazes (ever hear of them? Real popular around here) Could be a very early harvest this year. Oats are golden and will be harvested soon

I don't know about other areas, but here, coyotes definitely make use of the corn. Most fields here have waterways in them, ponds are scattered here and there, and the corn is a perfect medium for both unseen/unrestricted travel, shelter, foosd in little rodents now, and once the corn is in milk stage, they will be eating it like sheep on one of 1080s ranches. Their scat will be almost pure corn for that period.

last year, saw a red fox den with all the pups, in a corn field with corn 6-8" high-

Bogio- yes, they punch throw the plastic covering with their toenails- not so much walking on top, but when getting on or more often coming off, they kindof "walk" down the side of the bales, leaving holes from their toenails.

I have loud lured sets out, and mellower sets out. Until I see fresh tracks "anywhere" I'm not going to worry if the sets are lured correctly- in any case after a week of 90+ temps, I think any loudness issue is moot. But appreciate the advice, and if I did more of such work, I'd probably add some different lures to the arsenal.

as far as the den- served me no purpose, except idle curiosity, if it was there or not. Why? I'm only trapping on the one farm- perhaps 300 acres, half corn and half hay, with the only rough stuff being the pond area. So if the den was or wasn't there, my setup would be the same.

my personal thought, seeing the lack of sign on the main and only field road on the farm, adjacent to the pond, was the den was not there, and the farmers thinking, was just that based on no physical observations, nor physical sign. My thought was the den could only be in the dike, and if there bonus and why walk up right on top of it, and if not there nothing would change vis a vis location/sets.

yes, I'm pretty much bounty trapping. Now, its IS a matter of curiosity, to see how long it takes, for a coyote(s) to come through. As long as I'm in the area gopher trapping, I kind of like checking a few yote sets every day- and there is that 30% chance of rain every day this week, would like to see what that does or does not do.

5 checks- 1 coon released, 1 skunk not released. have not touched sets, except for the remakes.

[trappincoyotes39]

Most coyotes I know want a view when setting on a "true" den and I find it interesting that your finding true dens in corn. I mean they like the vantage point to look from it is almost as constant as a wter source. If one thinks about it on a real windey day and the noise of corn one could sneak right up on a den. Thier vanatage point would be really hampered.

I agree they love corn,sunflowers as those pups get mobil, offers concielment, drop in temps and prey base. As mentioned come to the edge of those cover types and take a good look with saftey.

Think fo the den as the center of the wagon wheel and look for the "spokes" trails comming from and going back to it. One would do this to really speed up the time of catch.

Also as Chris mentioned calling at times would make you look like superman to those farmers as it can be quick and deadly in a short period of time. While many would be scouting trap locations, those that know where good denning locations are can go in setup and call and smoke the den and be done in a few hrs time. Don't overlook calling as an ADC removal tool as it is one that should be incorperated for maximum efficantcy.

Too many thing the steel trap in itself is the "ONLY" answer well it is not and many times not the quickest or most productive when on a time crunch. For your benefit or the ranchers/farmers benefit.

[trappnman]

I agree with Chris's comments.

And I have no doubt that calling WOULD be the way to go-

jax- you started this- where are you now?

[braveheart]

I got a call yesterday of coyote and a badger job.I will see what will happen in the 100 degree weather.

[Wright Brothers]

Critters feel comfortable laying up in corn fields because people do not go in there.
I've reached out and touched, litterally, a few white tail deer while still hunting corn in the right conditions. Snow and constant, consistant wind. I have never noticed a den IN the corn, but that means nothing.

Curious so will ask. How did you know the sheep killer was coming from 5 miles away?

Edit, sorry I can't spell.

[bogio]

OG's LDC is by far my #1 coyote producer. It loses it's loudness but not it's mojo. Twice I have experienced the seperation of the bottom of the bottle from the main body on glass 4 ouncers while in storage. Only lure this has ever happened with on me. Probably a fluke.

In hot weather like we are experiencing, how is lure effectiveness affected especially with milder lures? I would think it would bake the goody out of it in short order.

[trappincoyotes39]

depends on who is making it and what kind of preservative is used and also storage of lures in the heat as well.

[trappnman]

in my opinion, any lure will break down (in the sense less smell is given out) in intense sun and heat. Its just the nature of odors- they disipate.

had a small coon 2 days ago, and this this am



XLDC, Pikubua and gopher

looked so small in trap (farmer killed it before I got there) I assumed it was a big pup- not so- it was a whelping female. All the nipples were big, swollen and chewed on- but no milk so the pups are weaned

no other tracks around, it appears she came out of the cut hay.

a question- how often to pups travel with the females?

[Scott W.]

Tman,
How often are you changing out your gophers to keep them "fresh"? From my experience they don't last more than two days if dead in a Quickset, slimey and full of maggots. Can't imagine them doing any better in a dirt hole, or does it matter?

[trappnman]

ah yes, green gophers..................know that feeling. one year, had it 5 days in 90+ and rain everyday so couldn't get out....not a pleasant day

been out lately? we were until last sat- and had hay up in a couple of places we should have set up yesterday- but good grief- 103 today & dew points in the 70s... will wait it out until weekend when a "cold" front is coming in and temps will be in low 80s. After all the rain they were digging pretty good but am sure they have slowed down.


I didn't change them out, was going more for the rodent smell

[Scott W.]

We're dying for rain here. Just missed what you guys got. I adjusted all my Quicksets so they are very light pressured and my percentages went way up. I'll try to get some pics and start a new thread showing what I did. I've got about 70 traps out right now. Quite a few are at the end of the cycle, but my farmers are getting their cutting schedules staggered enough that I'm staying pretty busy.

[trappnman]

yes, we are in that staggered period now- the guy that just cut, was cutting 3rd crop already

I'd be interested in your adjustment- with thoe baby gophers anything would help