Snow Trapping Help

[Aaron.F]

I am needing some help trapping in the snow. I am not talking about deep snow, about 2-6 inches. Here is my standard procedure for trapping in the snow and its not working. I am clearing off a large area, about 8' diameter and putting my set in the middle. I am basically using two sets right now, a step down dirt hole/trench set and a chaff set. Usually these are set within 20 feet of each other. I have tried post sets before with zero success..

The dirt hole set is a step down because I can't hardly keep the deer off a standard big hole set. I am using peat moss to bed and cover my traps and broadcasting it an area 3-4' wide. I basically can not get any coyotes to commit. We have gotten a couple of snows, if it is wet snow I will let it set a day and remove the snow the next day because it has basically melted and froze. If the snow is light and fluffy and it is staying cold I will not change a thing, I let is set. I can get coyotes to come near the hole sets but they will hardly commit.

I am also using the chaff set with some type of lure holder in the chaff, (T-bone, fur covered post, etc). The size chaff set varies from 1-2' in width and about 6-12" tall. The coyotes are coming to these sets pretty good, but not stepping on the pan. What do you guys use for guiding at this type set. In dirt I would use small dirt clods or small upright twigs with some success, but with the snow this is worthless.

As far as luring goes I am throwing a prepared bait down the hole and also a lure. For the chaff set I am using a call type lure or gland lure on the post buried in the chaff and urine in a spot on the chaff. I am a part time coyote trapper so I normally only have a bout 2-3 farms set at a time. I am definitely still learning, but I have caught some coyotes, just not near as many as I would like. Any wise sagely advice that you guys can give me is greatly appreciated.

[trappnman]

I'll have to tell you, there is nothing I like about snow for canine trapping.

Its a common debate- do coyotes act differently in snow, beyond the obvious that deep snow curtails travel and territories.

On one hand, I believe coyotes DO do the same things on bare ground as on snow, regarding how the approach & work sets, how the react to certain stimuli, etc. But on the other hand, God damn can snow coyotes be hard to trap!

I had an experience once that I'd like to share again. I was checking water traps on a 24 with about a foot of snow on the ground. I walked the same path back along the creek every day, on the edge of a cornfield and a tree belt at the creek. Ever day it seemed, fresh coyote traps walked down the trail on top of my tracks. The trail passed by a big tree, and this was before we got snaring, and I thought how easy to snare, I'd just put a stick here (on other side of trail) and bobs your uncle. I put the stick in just for fun. The next day, the coyote trail followed my path, til the tree/stick point, went around it and came back to trail on other side. Rest of time, they ALWAYS walked this new trail, forever avoiding the stick/tree route.

so thing of that- placing one stick- changed their routine

so heavens knows what all your sign and visual activity on the snow does to their innate behaviors of caution, etc

When I do snow trap- and I'm not talking traps out and then it snows but when one goes out to set in snow- I look for bare spots if possible: bale stacks, tree lines, knobs, etc. If no such are available where I want to set, I do like you do, clear a wide area down to as bare ground as I can get it- choosing a backing that allows me to clear an area around the backing, so the set is in the center, not the edge. skunky lures and loud baits.

snow can be cruel in so many ways, including showing you things you might not want to see- and again, I know they do similar on bare ground- but my snow trapping efforts are far less successful than my bare ground trapping.

One reason, and I think for me it has a lot to do with it- is I always snow trapped, on same ground I fall trapped, so I've eliminate the dumb ones, and educated the rest-

yet, come back in spring (collaring years) and I'd hook traps back up in old sets, and have good success

I'm also convinced that to many tracks coming and going from sets don't help- if you can try to approach sets closely only with a fresh snow, or conversely a melting snow- your tracks aren't quite so stark under those conditions.

I know Seldom here loves snow trapping, and part of his success, if I understand right, is blind trial sets

[freepop]

I hope you find out... so you can teach me.

[braveheart]

I just trap clear wind blown side hills for coyote with a big draw station.

[Possum]

Most of what you are doing seems okay other than I don't much worry about the deer. We have lots of deer and they like to step on fresh traps. After a few days, the whole herd seems to avoid them. I've either snapped the most curious ones or the herd mentality kicks in and they all avoid the set. Like T-man, my success dwindles rapidly when snow trapping. Usually by the time significant snow is on the ground here, I've caught plenty and my blood-lust has abated. Also the fur is often rubbed and it always pisses me to catch a rubbed one that might have survived and been a good one in October or November. I just run a few traps, like maybe the best spots on 2 or 3 farms - mostly in spots I'm sure I will be able to access. If it only takes 45 minutes to check them, it get's me out for a while, if nothing less. Occasionally, it all comes together to remind me it's all for the fun of it.

[Aaron.F]

Here are a couple of photos of my typical sets in the snow.

Dirthole, 4-5 inch, dirt pattern is 3-4' wide, 4' long




Chaff set, 8-10' high, dirt pattern is about 4-5' wide, 4-5' long.



Overall location chaff set is close, dirt hole is to the left of the tree with the leaves along the wood line in distance.

[musher]

If I made a set like that here, now, I'd have a raven in the trap before i got back to the sled.

[trappnman]

I hate to comment on pictures of sets, so hard to see all the naunces of them but I do have one thought concerning the dirthole- and that is, based on the picture, it seems to me there is nothing to guide or to force him to work the set from the front- too easy to work it from the side and/or back. I would also make a more of a mottled mess around the bare earth pattern, so it doesn't just "start".

[Stef]

From what I could see... Sets like above will catch foxes no problem.
Coyotes... my experiences tell me that they'll hit the sets when a fresh snow will cover them or they will hit the sets when sets will be untouched for a long period of time if no snow cover them soon.

For coyotes in deep snow... its easy if snow is good and you don't get more snow everyday (wet snow no good)... large bait station, farmer carcasses dump etc... + snowmobile... turn around bait station close to the bush and set trails with blind sets, 2 large traps per chain/grapple (trail set)... no lure or urine... just blind sets and if they are there and the snow won't become hard... 2-3 nights and you're done!!!

[Stef]

I should added that I set my foothold traps in deep snow in the plastic sled I pull with my snowmobile... Yes I said deep snow.

[Aaron.F]

Jan 3, 2013 8:45:26 GMT -6 trappnman said:

I hate to comment on pictures of sets, so hard to see all the naunces of them but I do have one thought concerning the dirthole- and that is, based on the picture, it seems to me there is nothing to guide or to force him to work the set from the front- too easy to work it from the side and/or back. I would also make a more of a mottled mess around the bare earth pattern, so it doesn't just "start".

Not that it will stop a coyote from working the back of my dirthole, but it is much brushier on the backside of the dirthole and the hole is fairly deep and at a pretty good angle. Additionally, for informational purposes, the prevailing wind is from the 9-10 o'clock on both of the set photos and direction of coyote travel is East-West, assuming dirthole and chaff set are facing south. Thanks

Below is a photo showing the general area. Gravel pit to the east has been abandoned, I caught about 10 coyotes last year in and around the pit. They travel all around the pit.

[Stef]

Some pics I found on my photobucket - deep snow results

[Stef]

Tangled in 4 traps...LoL

[seldom]

Wise AND sage advice? I'm good for crusty but wise and sage could be a stretch of your opinion especially after I've addressed your question.

I'm also not going to critque your sets because they're your sets not mine! If as you mentioned that you have enough of a coyote popuation that your sets are having frequent visits and they're not "committing", what you're not understanding is that they ARE committing! In my opinion they are committing to your sets but as the human mind works, we have an inherency to think we're in control and the coyote is "suppose to do what we want it to do where"! Nope, you are not listening and "seeing" what the coyote are showing and telling you, especially now with snow cover. The game is the same but snow raises the bar a few levels is all.

By the way, Stef wrote some great advice but he made one very specific comment that is ABSOLUTELY dead-on to your scenerio that is some of the wisest & sagest advice!

Whether or not you think my reply was "wise & sage" it's all cool beans to me, just don't tell Freepop for crying-out-loud!!!! ;D ;D

[freepop]

I've been waiting for you to chime in

[seldom]

Jan 3, 2013 18:10:11 GMT -6 freepop said:

I've been waiting for you to chime in

;D I just about didn't since I've just about got myself completely weaned-off all boards!

[Aaron.F]

Jan 3, 2013 10:57:30 GMT -6 Stef said:

From what I could see... Sets like above will catch foxes no problem.
Coyotes... my experiences tell me that they'll hit the sets when a fresh snow will cover them or they will hit the sets when sets will be untouched for a long period of time if no snow cover them soon.

I would say this is accurate with what I have experienced. It's kind of the same as with some coyotes that don't want to work a remake, but when it snows on the area they are all over it.

[Possum]

As T-man said, a bit more blocking might help, but sets like yours would work for me. One thing you might try is to scale it down a bit. Use the peat only as a cover material, rake the snow back about the same size you have, but just down to expose the dirt, grass or crop residue underneath, then use a skiff of snow to blend the peat to the natural cover underneath. If nothing else, it will cut down on the amount of peat you use.
As far as Stef's photos go, I'd never set a coyote trap in such a location. If I had a place that looked like that around here it would be a Christmas tree farm or odd brush patch and I'd set the edges of it, not inside the trees or brush.

[freepop]

[/quote]
;D I just about didn't since I've just about got myself completely weaned-off all boards! [/quote]

I think I still have you phone number

If not, I know Joe R. will have it.

BTW, I have some mink track pics on MS if you're so inclined.

[Stef]

As far as Stef's photos go, I'd never set a coyote trap in such a location. If I had a place that looked like that around here it would be a Christmas tree farm or odd brush patch and I'd set the edges of it, not inside the trees or brush.

Coyotes weren't trapped where you see them in the photos.
They went there with the drags but they were caught close to some food where I could go with my snowmobile a make sets.