Bouncing Coyotes

[Aaron.F]

I am not sure that is the correct term, but I believe it is what describes the situation that I believe is going on. I am currently trapping four properties right now that when I rolled into I saw a decent amount of sign. I set about 8 sets on each property they are each about 120 acres in size. I am sure I am trapping the same coyotes on 2 of the propereties because they are fairly close to each other. However the issue I have is I will catch 1 or 2 coyotes on each parcel and then it pretty much goes dead. I am pretty much assuming I am scaring off the family members as don't have a real good feel on where to trap dispersing coyotes if they even do that. I have caught the coyotes on the property in the first 2-4 days and then maybe a set will get worked here or there but no real action. I check the sets everyday early in the morning with a four wheeler so I am having to get pretty close to check, not sure this is helping the situation. I am looking for any advice any of you guys might have. Based on what I have seen I should just hit the cream in 6-7 days and move on, however the cream is pretty thin.

[RdFx]

Pull if you want set brand new areas and after a couple weeks , go back and reset your first areas....just a thought!

[trappnman]

this is something that troubles many of us at times, and there is no one solution fits all. RdFx mentions one answer- move out of the area and then return.

you can also try moving away from the original location (on same property)and making your sets- taking them out of the burnt zone

and if they are avoiding sets, and you want to mess with them, its a perfect time to try flat sets, etc-

try a few hole sets with a natural bait, no urine, lure, etc

give them a reason to mill around more- throw out some carcasses

but I do think that setting in the areas that would be more indicative of stalling out, rather than traveling through, would take more, quicker-

[Aaron.F]

Nov 5, 2013 17:17:08 GMT -6 RdFx said:

Pull if you want set brand new areas and after a couple weeks , go back and reset your first areas....just a thought!

That is pretty much my plan at this point.

As far as setting were coyotes are stalling out or the spot. I consider myself lucky when I figure out if there are coyotes on a property and how they move through. I have absolutely no idea how to determine where the spot is. I see tracks I set traps, scat I set more traps and sometimes it work, most times it doesn't.

[trappnman]

Imagine that!

I suggest you get the latest issue of "Trappers Post"

aaron- you can tell the difference with certain circumstances- ie singular tracks going down a lane vs random tracks in a field vs multi directional tracks vs stall out areas where tracks, scat are over an area, that are multi directional, varying decomposion of scat, kickbacks etc.

traveling, hunting coyotes are traveling, hunting. I believe that while you can certainly catch coyotes in such locations, and I certainly do- that the more a set is in a traveling/hunting area that the % of coyotes that are AWARE and work your set, drops dramatically vs setting those same traps in areas that ALLOW them to become aware of your sets, and to, work those sets with minimum neophobic behaviors.
thats the answer to your question- IMO, of course.

[trappincoyotes39]

Hey Aaron 150 acres to a coyote is a very small section of their life to try and take more than a handful, unless that is the key spot for more than just a few tied down coyotes. Whiel you have permission on 1/4 section of found the best place to set for multiple coyotes might be 1/2 mile away or 3 miles away. Without knowing your area I would be guessing at best. Try and set the BEST locations and not just where someone has seen a pair of coyotes. aps and google earth can really help a guy pinpoint the best locations and if your out to catch a few coyotes great if you want to maximize the catch then think a larger picture then break it down to the very best locations for multiple family groups to visit.

Think about what makes or forces those multiple groups to come to an area and what is the standout in that area. Start large and then zoom in so to speak.

[bluegrassman]

whats in the latest issue of trappers post?

[garbage collector]

Trapperman very well explained.

[Aaron.F]

Nov 6, 2013 18:07:17 GMT -6 trappincoyotes39 said:

Hey Aaron 150 acres to a coyote is a very small section of their life to try and take more than a handful, unless that is the key spot for more than just a few tied down coyotes. Whiel you have permission on 1/4 section of found the best place to set for multiple coyotes might be 1/2 mile away or 3 miles away. Without knowing your area I would be guessing at best. Try and set the BEST locations and not just where someone has seen a pair of coyotes. aps and google earth can really help a guy pinpoint the best locations and if your out to catch a few coyotes great if you want to maximize the catch then think a larger picture then break it down to the very best locations for multiple family groups to visit.

Think about what makes or forces those multiple groups to come to an area and what is the standout in that area. Start large and then zoom in so to speak.

I have spent a bunch to time going over aerial maps via Google and County GIS maps trying to determine which are the areas that might have the best populations and concentrate the coyotes. I have some difficulty with this, as the area I trap is mostly small farms with the large farms being the 120-150 acre farms I am on. The area is very broken up with wood lots and farm fields with virtually no livestock of any kind. I am not sure what would concentrate coyotes in my area. The area that I trap has a very large prey base with a lot of deer gut piles as we have a lot of hunter killed deer.

The only place I have ever had any real success is a gravel pit near me that I took 10 or 11 coyotes out of one year. The other places I trap is generally get just a couple at most. I am just a part time guy that runs my traps a couple of hours before work. I am not trying to catch a ton but I would love to catch a bunch. I appreciate all the comments.

[garbage collector]

This will help your search, look for the posted signs that say no trespassing. The owners refuse anyone, no deer hunting, no trapping. Right theres the stall out areas. At least thats what I've come up with in my locale. Once deer season opens, majority of yote traps are pulled. It takes awhile for them to leave they're stalling out area's. Last yr month and a half before i cut a track. Not many here, reds are still the game.

[trappnman]

aaron- if you would add your location to your profile, it would help understand your type of area.

in the type of farms in which you speak, with no livestock, then it is hard to pinpoint those areas in which they, lets not say congregate, but spend more time in, then in pass through locations.

so now ask yourself- are they just passing through? as TC says...that makes it hard. but isn't there something- a marsh, a set aside, etc

[trappincoyotes39]

Aaron what did the gravel pit area offer that some others do not ? part of the puzzle. Size is relative meaning I have trapped areas of 5,000 acres and more and in many cases it is easy and fast to throw out ground that is at best marginal for coyotes. In even these large areas I have set on a location that offered maximum visitation by the local population in the area. As time of year changes so can the areas. And the reason they come to these areas changes as well. Yet many are seasonal changes if things remain relatively the same.

Amazing how I could take denning coyotes out of areas each and every spring year after year and all of those dens within 1/4 mile or less of the previous. It offered what they needed .

[Aaron.F]

Nov 6, 2013 20:56:44 GMT -6 trappnman said:

aaron- if you would add your location to your profile, it would help understand your type of area.

I am in Southern Michigan, not sure why it isn't showing up, as I have it in my profile.