Recognizing perimeters and core territory?

[toddh]

Ok so reading some more info on coyotes they often refer to the core and perimeters of a coyotes home range.

In your opinion is it "Better" to trap the core area or perimeters and why? Also how does one recognize if you are actually in a core area or on a perimeter?

[trappnman]

Was rereading the study I posted on the "interesting read" thread, and was reading it from a different perspective, and the results in that study were interesting concerning just the point of core vs edge of territory.

if one hasn't read it, its good reading.

one conclusion:

Our results suggest that coyotes were either not exhibiting
an avoidance of novel objects relative to familiar environments,
as has been documented in previous studies, or did
not view traps as novel objects. We observed greater vulnerability to capture in areas more intensively used by coyotes.
Additionally, coyote traps are usually set with lures that do
not evoke a neophobic response but rather elicit investigative
behavior from coyotes, thus coyotes likely do not view traps
as novel objects. As opposed to a novel object, there is no
difference in the response of coyotes to novel or familiar
odors when presented in familiar and unfamiliar environment

to sum it up, the study concluded that exposure to traps, was as important as anything (density of traps core vs periphery)

[toddh]

So how does one know if you are in a "Core" area or on the "Peripheral" edge of a coyote packs territory?

[ksboy2]

todd.... look for coyote tracks and scat... if you see it... set traps there... its a good location no matter what it looks like because coyotes are there... haha

[trappnman]

is that something you take as a given? Because I disagree 100%- simply seeing tracks, doesn't make it a good location.

[ksboy2]

oh well.. its ok for people to agree right?

and yes.... if i see multiple piles of scat old or fresh... and tracks i will set if I am already considering that as a location anyhow...

[trappnman]

we can agree or disagree-

and I disagreed with your original post as stated. While many times tracks and scat are good locations, i've found many times that all they tell me is coyotes have been through the area.

but i agree with multiple piles of old and fresh scat

[ksboy2]

also.. i think it varies on where you're trapping... i have sets that go untouched for 3 or 4 days just because the coyotes have not "come through" that spot... these spots catch animals year after year...

[trappnman]

yes, I agree it does make a difference where you are trapping (where the traps are set)

trouble with "coming through" areas is that they don't come through daily many times or more apt are coming through perhaps but not taking that route

I've learned my lesson on thinking lots of tracks even daily corresponds to how many caught there.

mindset of the coyote, I'm convinced, makes all the difference in how or if he works the set

[ksboy2]

yep... there we agree...

always amazed me how you could intercept a coyote with a stinky dirthole on his way to the carcass of a 1200 lb dead cow.. haha

[toddh]

I've killed my share of song dogs over the past years but still struggle with being able to pick "THE SPOT" that screams coyotes. I set on sign (tracks,scat,kick backs) and know that tracks leading to & from is a better location than tracks in one direction. I also know a farm with a "Dead Pile" is a coyote magnet but in my area the farms have a dead truck service that picks p their sick & dead animals so o "Dead Piles" to attract them.

I see pictures by many trappers of trapped coyotes and try to figure out why the trap was placed at that spot as I see spots I would have set that I thought to be a better location?

My original question about defining core and peripheral areas was to try and understand how to figure out a family groups area. I don't want to be setting farms to close together trying to catch the same family group on multiple farms and if trapping the core is better than the edges?

[Possum]

I try to ID my trap sites first from a "macro" perspective meaning I look at the surrounding territory and ask myself, "if I were a coyote, where would I come from, where am I going, what's my travel route and where would that travel route either pinch down or have sufficient interest to make me linger. An example is a pair of woodlands connected by a farm lane through crop fields intersected by a large drainage ditch. I'd set the road sides near the ditch. Exactly where to set the traps would be on a more "micro" level depending on prevailing wind direction, wind predicted for the next few days, high spots, amount of weeds or trees on the ditch bank and others.
I'll set the spot regardless, but tracks or scat may encourage me to set one or more additional traps or help direct my "spot on the spot" location.

[trappnman]

from the research, properly set traps will have about the same catch ratio, if trap density is the same. in both core and fringe areas of their range.

keep in mind, from what I gathered, these traps were set randomly in both areas- that is, not choosing specific locations vis a vis stall out areas/travel ways/etc.

for definitions sake, my interpretation of terms is the following:

stall out: meaning layup spot

stand back: often used interchangeably for stall out, but meaning the point where a coyote draws the line at stimuli

territory: that which is defended during pup season

range: the entire area a coyote uses

core area: within its range, the places a coyote spends the most time

periphery: areas within a range that are visited on a less regular basis

what you state as your question, is the heart of the matter, and I wish I could tell you the answer. much of my personal knowledge of overlapping ranges, comes from assumptions, much of that based on geography and habitat.

the simple answer- is where are the dens

so I'm trying to do it from the other end- where are the draws that would attract multiple groups. research tells us the larger the draw (3 cows vs 30 cows) the more use it gets from multiple groups.

so the question to answer- is what IS the major draw in the area you want to trap? During fur season, I assume that food draws, are going to be what I'm looking for- brushy creeks, set asides, where they are having calves, dead piles, any place where there is abundant food. something they want to come to.

ideally this setup would be in the midst of good habitat area where I at least, assume there ARE going to be multiple groups, then sign on the ground will show me at least use patterns- and go from there.

I too struggle with the sin of trying to catch the same coyotes in multiple spots- something I am working on to correct.

[ksboy2]

a tree row that is about 1/8 mi. long.... all dead cows dumped there.... usually two cows at any given time... 13 so far.... slowed down but will pick back up in another week when the "next" group finds it

[trappnman]

wouldn't you think 13 would be multiple groups?

[ksboy2]

yes... first group was in early november

caught six in two checks..... then nothing for about a week...

then started picking up more.... last one was last week... gnarly ole female... we had snow 2 weeks agon and only one set of tracks in the tree row.... likely the femaie...

should heat up again soon... problem is i am catching coyotes within 3 miles of this spot so essentially i am picking off other core groups before they can get to the carcasses

[Possum]

You certainly are picking them up in other locations, but you are getting them. If you only relied on the dead-pile shelterbelt you wouldn't be getting them as quickly as you do when saturating the neighborhood.

Even without the dead animals laying around, I often return to early season hotspots and set them up again a 4, 6 or 8 weeks later. i believe "new animals" move into the vacant territory as family groups bust up going into winter. The same reason the spot was early season good, likely exists to make it late season good.

[trappnman]

With the same amount of traps, I think they would be caught quicker at the shelter belt

[ksboy2]

you are forgetting one minor detail... i have more traps in my shed than I can possibly keep functioning while working a full time teaching job and attending ball games for my two kids in HS.... My idea is to try to intercept them with more sets in an area.... So, I keep the pile set... and the intercept points set too as I am going to drive by them anyway.. only takes a second to shine the light on these extra sets... pick up plenty of non target money makers too.... skunks and badgers of which i certainly do not mind catching as they supplement my fuel bill quite well...Don't forget, I am a hobby trapper.. I have cage traps and footholds... even some 220 boxes.... I enjoy trapping everything in my area so when the opportunity to trap an animal comes forth... I do it... sign... phone calls.... see animals moving on the line... Its my system and I enjoy my hobby...

[Possum]

How long did it take you to learn about trapping skunks to and from school? I bet there's a story or two! Did I ever tell about the day I got kicked out of church?