What Am I doing Wrong???

yfzduner450

yfzduner450

New member
I am just getting into trapping coyotes and have already had 1 for sure pullout and another that is a possible pull out. I'm wondering if I've got something wrong with my setup. I'm using #2 Bridger offset jaw traps, with an additional 24" of chain and a swivel between the chains and i'm staking them down with rebar. The trap is still there but the animal pulled it's foot out. The landowner called and said she heard a coyote get trapped but came out in the morning and the coyote was gone. Thank you in advance for any and all help. The landowner has been losing chickens and I need to get these coyotes caught.
 
How is your pan tension? Make sure it's not to light, so he has to put some weight on his foot to set it off. Which will ensure a higher catch on the foot.

With offset jaws, if your catching him by his toes, they can often pull out.

You might also try adding another swivel either at the point where the chain attaches to the trap, or where the chain attaches to the anchor.

Shock Springs work well for coyote also.
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How much of a catch circle? If not much, then most likely toe catch as stated above. If a lot of disturbance, then how strong are the springs? If not as strong as they could be, maybe too much chain and coyote able to hit end of chain running and pull out foot.
 
Originally Posted By: ColoradoAlanHow much of a catch circle? If not much, then most likely toe catch as stated above. If a lot of disturbance, then how strong are the springs? If not as strong as they could be, maybe too much chain and coyote able to hit end of chain running and pull out foot.

You do know the levers hold the trap shut and not the springs, Right? I guess the spring holds the levers up, but if the springs are good and fast enough to catch his his foot, their more than good enough to hold the levers up.


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The guys above probably got it dead on.
But if you do have a pretty good torn up circle it might be your chain is too long.
I like a shorter chain while using stakes,,,usually a foot or so just long enough to keep them from pumping out the stake.
With too long a chain a yote and lunge a long way before hitting the end and sometimes pop out. Especially with offset jaws.
But like I said the guys above probably got it.
TS
 
the springs apply presure to the levers enableing them to hold the trap closed power outs can happe especialy on rear foot catches if it is a toe catch the combination will result that way. offset jaws beleive it or not in my experience hold more toe caught animals then regular jaws coyotes are les apt to lose toes as well as on offset no tlugged the lever close tigher and have a better hold...... if you can cross stake if you cant use a drag r cross stake use 32 inches of chain it will genraly work as they cant apply the upward pressure to pump a stake.
 
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I have too ask are you sure you had a dog, or by chance a deer ? I have a lot of deer set of my traps. they are just curious little shits, that will go set to set just sniffing of your lure. Before you start beating yourself up on what to do, check and make sure no deer tracks around your fired set.. Good luck this season..
 
Thank you guys for all the help, I ended up going to reset the sprung traps on Thankgiving morning. I had 3 traps sprung. 1 was not moved at all, 1 was moved about 12 inches and the other was down off the hill and wrapped around a tree. I ordered some shock springs as I don't have any on the chains. I reset all the traps and we'll have to see what happens. Another question, would coyote urine scare off coyotes instead of lure them in. She hasn't see any coyotes in her backyard since the I put out the traps. She did say she saw them in her neighbors yard though.
 
Try mixing it up with a couple different smells. Or block the backside of the set so the coyotes come in front to give it a sniff. If there are alot of coyotes in the area they might not care much about coyote urine, especially if several are showing up in the area every night. When 3 coyotes pee in an area every night, they might come in and not pay it any mind any more.

Get creative!
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I'm far from a pro, but I think you have educated the coyotes, or atleast one. If you educate one he will start to dig up your traps every time. And if they know something is fishy they may stay away all together.

I would try a different type of set. Switch it up if they are wise to what you are doing. If you are making dirt holes now, try a flat set or scent post.
 
I would definitely switch up sets and lures now since it sounds like those coyotes have been educated to what you used the first time.
Many times simple is better in these situations...a good scent post set is what the Dr. ordered.
as always $.02
TS
 
If your comfortable with a dirt hole set, or any other type of set, and you think a yote is digging up your trap or other wise has wised up to your methods.....

Make the same set, and block off the back, but place an additional trap a foot or two in front of the set, and make it look natural and while he's busy digging up your trap or investigating your set because he thinks he has you figured......SNAP!
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Use his "education" against him.
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If they are all dug up, I would say you might have some pretty rusty or smelly traps. Blind set all of your trails with a small bone or scat for a stepping guide. I would leave the old set up and working. Make sure to set the trails heavy so you have enough traps to pick up the trash and still have traps open for your coyotes. No scent or lure needed. (I prefer coyote scat) You could also make a few sets a ways back from the original set, 10 to 20 yards. Make them flat sets with some fresh gland lure on your backing. (I prefer bobcat. It really [beeep] a coyote off.) I definitely agree about changing up lures.
 
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