Loop 3

[trappnman]

Going ok I guess- keeping my nose above water insofar as where I want to be- thought this loop would be a little better, but its been so freaking windy, and 24/7 harvest, I guess it is what it is. A little over 3 weeks into it, and still only 1 possum. and that was 2nd day of season. getting a few skunks- suppose to be very cold next week, so that will stop them a bit. Finally got a fox- wish I'd get a few more, getting rare again after a 5-6 year spurt I numbers.

some pics from this loop-

[musher]

Boy, you must have a lot of coyotes there! Just kidding!

I really enjoy seeing the rolling hills. And you can SEE. Distance in view is rare in my part of the world unless you are on a lake or in a clear cut.

How does weather affect this loop thing? Do you have a specific plan to minimize an early freeze and snow? And, the trick question, how do you know how long to trap a loop?

Enjoy the photos as always. Thanks.

[trappnman]

weather is always a factor-the biggest problem is access, lots of "scary" dirt roads between fields with plowed ground on the side. I try to have an alternative way in if I need it-

minor snows are no more a problem than rain, and most years I have a day or few with and inch or two of snow- but if we would get a big blizzard, I'd be screwed and I'd have to head to water earlier. Freeze isn't to much of a concern- I use plenty of peat in such conditions.

as to how long to stay- now that I've got my loops pretty much set, I've been staying a day or two longer on the better loops- but really have found out, that once a week goes by, I'm more than glad to hit a new loop.

one hedge against the weather, is I leave for last, those closest to home, and those areas I've been trapping for 25 years- most of that is also gopher farms, so I'm more familiar with how things might occur weather wise

[bluegrassman]

so do you pull all traps last check day on one loop and then spend one whole day just setting traps?

[trappnman]

yes, that's what we do- very occasionally, we might leave in a couple that adjoins the next loop but that's rare

[bluegrassman]

so you set traps on say sunday then check traps through saturday while you pull then set another loop up on the next sunday? so 6 actual check days?

[ColdSteel]

Great pictures Tman open fields look alot like my lin ebut we got very flat land need to get my wife to post some for me my catch was doing pretty good fell off some but I am blaming it on the mooon and the wind

[trappnman]

so lots of crops- how about cows. etc?


the weather "might" be horrible here come Monday- big storm to hit south of us- right now, best predictions are 1-3 but chance of 6-8. We were planning on pulling Monday, then our biggest line, really a combo 4-5 loop line to start setting up tues.

smart thinking would be to pull sunday, and then play it out as it occurs...but....but if we only get 1-3...it would be worth waiting and pulling in the snow.

I've watched every local weathr until I can repeat it almost verbatim, been checking NWS and accruweather, plus wasted time watching that piece of worthless crap the weather channel- do they even give weather anymore. in any case, won't decide until sunday morning.

weather after Monday looks like a cold dry spell- wish I had lines changed over now...but if wishes were horses...

[natedawg]

How many coyotes are you up to now?

Is this your last loop, or how many do you have left?

[trappnman]

I'm going to do what I did last year, and that is run both loops as 1, setting the most productive areas first, making it a skeleton line, and then filling in the holes as the lines goes on, so for last week would be running that 100 trap line-

or that was the plan- musher asked about a big snow...guess i'll find out-

very little I hate doing more than setting up a line with snow-

[trappnman]

yesterday-








sunday night into Monday- 1-8" of snow- now how the heck do you plan for that? unless things change and storm moves a bit south...pulling tomorrow- playing it smart. I WOULD like to have them in for one last check on this loop if we only were going to get an inch or two...but pulling in 8" of wet snow?

[Nick C]

T-man, don't you think the catch will be worth it? The cold fronts of all cold fronts is blowing in man!

Its looking like Sunday night has the potential for a record mink catch if a guy has a fresh line set up! (Wish I could)

Even though it would be miserable checking monday and pulling traps, I think a lot would be full.

Good luck!

[trappincoyotes39]

Tman Noaa which I find to be the most accurate forecast seeings how many TV stations use their info and tweak it a little, has you in for 5-9" of snow by Tuesday morning.

I would let the go until Monday morning the catch might be worth it,

[trappnman]

bene longer here than perhaps I should have, pulling today, regroup tomorrow, and then 2 more weeks.

here is what slays me about coyotes.

this loop, have been running for 5 years. have 25 locations, last 5 locations were "the" locations. got 10-12 there in 6 checks first 3 years, got 14 in 6 checks (on those last 5 stops). A good loop.

this year- first 20 stops are producing on historical average, but those last 5 stops have given me 2 coyotes in 8 checks- so just the slow down on those 5 stops, gives me almost a 1.5 a day less average.

what caused it?

habitat, farms, all physical things are 100% the same as first 4 years

it comes down to 1 of 2 things- either the constant high winds over last week+ just keeping everyone home (doubtful but maybe) or in that last part of the loop, there just aren't the coyotes. but it sure is frustrating.

[trappnman]

only one today- picked up another at that pond, 3 there a new location for this year.



looks like we might miss the bulk of the storm- most north enough- we have just a skiff of snow, with a chance of a wraparound 1-2 tonight and that's doubtful- then it looks like a long spell of dry, with highs in mid 20s, lows in teens then this weekend highs in teens, single digits- once sets are in, should be a nice loop

I need to rewax a bunch of traps, so today will just be puttering around, get caught up on fur

[trappincoyotes39]

Hey Tman that looks like many of the Missouri coyotes redder than red and fur value? About none, I think a guy needs a taxidermy market for them and call them cinnamon phased coyotes

[bobbrennan1]

No no no those are just extra large red fox!

[trappnman]

I think they are pretty- I get 1 or 2 a year- unfortunately we all know the value- but they all seem to have nice full white bellies- you would think that would count for something

[trappincoyotes39]

Tman it does here about 4.00 -6.00 worth of white belly

[trappnman]

yup, that's about it, my guy feels sorry for me...its usually a $10 bill

I do sell 1 or 2 a year to locals wanting a coyote- and I charge my average-

we really missed the bullet on the storm- its bare ground here in town, I'd imagine a dusting on the hills- chance we might get an inch tonight- but I feel very relieved we didn't get the snow we could have gotten. 40 miles north they and 4-5", a big band of 12-15+ north of TCs into central WI and UP-

Rochester got none- next 3 days want to get out 90 traps- and its SE, SW and due S loop so bare or mostly bare ground set up. looks like 10-14 days of 20 degree below average weather, and single digit lows which would be 20+ lower than average as well-

this is when I admit skinning in field takes a little more willpower