random pics

[trappnman]

here is that location I've often spoke about- the sand road- further down, the road goes to left to brothers farm



here is where I set now

I wish these were mine! 105 Montana coyotes I put up a while back- what a pleasure to work with 


a very nice badger!


how I use bones-

[cameron1976]

Nice pics Steve. Thanks for sharing!

[northof50]

Bones had to look twice.
Thanks for sharing

[toddh]

Have you found when using bones that you are more apt to connect when your set is closer to the bone or not?

[trappnman]

I don't like them AT the set- esp not lured, etc. I just want it to be a visual point, and usually use them about as shown- Iprefer skulls, but use ribbons as well- one such can be seen on one of the double pics

[trappnman]

thought there might be a comment or two on pic #1 vs pic #2

[Deleted]

Aug 12, 2016 6:26:43 GMT -6 trappnman said:

thought there might be a comment or two on pic #1 vs pic #2

Those two photos are probably the "real deal" insofar as pictures being better then a 1000 words!  Travelway vs high ground AND two points of interest AND a change of coyote's mindset.  Experience that you have today would automaticly make your eye go directly to the high ground and the points of interest.

[trappnman]

yes, exactly right. A classic example

[flathead40]

Tman, in the second pic, is that a building site or pasture? Is the mound to the left of the coyote a manure pile?

[aaroncurtis]

How far apart are the two photos? You mentioned that "this is where I set now". Do you no longer set the sandy road location?

[trappnman]

Its pasture. the mound to the left, is just a pushed up mound of dirt and weeds. the bare spot is just a scraped area, for what ever reason (fill perhaps?) beyond the old wagon, runs a long valley- on the other 2 sides are pastures, bales sometimes stored close, this year not.

the 2nd photo is about as far away from the coyote on the road, as the road you can see at far end- this set was about 1/2 way. the 2nd pic is behind my back, at other end of road where it turns a 90.

no, I no longer set the road

[flathead40]

So obviously the coyotes are traveling the road. You now set #2 not the road. Do you believe the coyotes switch gears when they get to the area of pic 2? They on the road, traveling, may catch a couple. They hit 2nd area, slow down, hunt putter around? Catch more? (stall out area?)

[trappnman]

exactly-

on the road, they were in a high alert, exposed situation. that road gets used more than you would think in farm to farm use, and it is IMO a road where a coyote has all his senses tuned up- eyes, nose, ears, and his goal is to move across as quickly as possible.

and whats important to remember, again what I've been taught, and observed is that, again in my opinion, the coyotes high alert nature in that place, didn't allow him for the most part, to even BE AWARE of your set- he is just that focused.

now contrast that with the 2nd pic- I've got pics of coyotes just to the left of the scraped (spot why that is there this year don't know, but its right by the gate, so perhaps just leveling off- its always bare (since cows stand there during summer) I'll see if I can find it later

but look at the area, and think how the coyotes mindset would be, at each location.

[musher]

Aug 16, 2016 6:25:12 GMT -6 trappnman said:

exactly-



and whats important to remember, again what I've been taught, and observed is that, again in my opinion, the coyotes high alert nature in that place, didn't allow him for the most part, to even BE AWARE of your set- he is just that focused.

I never even considered that with regards to where I place wolf/fox sets. But it makes a lot of sense.

[trappnman]

it does.

and that's the basic concept of "the spot"

the second level, which is where I am at now insofar as improving the line- is finding the spots that are not only used by one family group, but multiple ones

[flathead40]

So what do you look for then? How do you tell multiple from single family. Tracks/scat would tell the story I guuess in places you can see it, but is there some other way? Another question, what are your thoughts on "lay up" areas?

[trappnman]

the answer is simple- the application is hard, and time consuming.

you need to find dens.

and I say this as someone that gives advice, but doesn't follow it very well.

I kind of cheat, by being on most of my farms throughout the spring/summer/early fall, so have some observational knowledge of what might perhaps be different family groups. But my lack of denning knowledge- meaning getting out there throughout the pup season, locating by calling, then more on the ground work- is lacking.

so finding the denning areas, pinpoints the family groups. on a good night when they are singing, one can identify at least the general location of familys.

now the concern is- IS THERE A BIG ENOUGH ATTRACTION PRESENT TO ATTRACT MULTIPLE GROUPS?

and here I cheat a little once again- going in reverse- find the big attractions first, then a good rule of thumb (that seems to work for me) is around that big attraction- how many distinct areas, could support and have a raised family are there?

in other words- a huge attraction sitting 10+ miles from any habitat- is probably going to be a poor location (my on the ground observations bare that out) while an attraction that has multiple habitat areas around the farm, but separated- good chance that you will have multiple groups.

remember the 50 cow study- showing that HUGE attractions in good territory, attract far more family groups that a couple of cows.

in most of my trapping territory, I don't have HUGE attractions- but multiple small ones. As such, I'm not going to get the continued draw of multiple familys- so the goal is to catch as many of the locals as I can, as quick as I can.

and that's where mindset comes in

[flathead40]

I have for some time now been trying to figure out this piece. Location I know is my main obstacle. Like having a puzzle but not able to put it all together. I've read this thread numerous times now, I think it's starting to make sense. I can see a dim light at least. (I think) In the picture with the bone, I can't see why there? Looks like it's out in the middle of the hay field? What am I missing?

[trappnman]

you are looking at 2 things, and putting them together. That's my fault for not making it clear- the bones are not part of the (let me coin it) "mindset location" or as its become known as the spot location.

in fact, the bones are the opposite, something I use when I can't get to where I want to be. In the pic with the skull- you can't really see it in that pic, but behind the coyote and hill (which looks much bigger in the pic than it is)is a really nice little dry marsh type area, that connects to a larger ruff area. I can't get down there- and the rare times I can, its too wet to set-

so this location, not perhaps just exactly here but around, was a 1-2 coyote a year location for 15 or more years- starting using bones maybe 10 years ago here- and its a 5,6,7 location. The bone is placed away from the set- in an area I believe them to "be ok in" but no real reason to be there- visible from the marsh area- and something they encounter all the time, but in a new place- always away from the trap- the bone isn't the end attraction, just the first.

but if it was spot on location, I wouldn't need the bone.

one question I ask when picking a new location-does a coyote have any reason to be HERE?

if not, I give them one.