To start off with, I don’t claim to be a professional coyote trapper but was asked to share some info and experiences I have had on the trapline.
I have trapped coyotes for 20+ years in northern Ohio and absolutely love the challenge they present. My son started tagging along with me when he was 2 years old and is now setting his own traps at the age of 6. He has been a very good student and has had very good success over the past 2 years. Last year, I allowed him to set snares around the house and he ended up catching a red fox (which is at the taxidermist) a coon, and a couple possums. This year, I allowed him to run his own line on the properties I am trapping yotes. He is 100% independent setting snares. When using leg holds, I set the trap for him and he does the rest. He ended up catching 22 coon, 7 possums, 2 mink, 1 red fox, and 1 coyote. I am super proud of him to say the least.
On to coyote trapping:
Location, Location, Location is the #1 key to catching yotes. You can have the prettiest looking set in the world but unless it is in a good location you won’t consistently catch fur. I love setting travel routes and my go to travel routes are farm lanes and weed filled water ways. I would say 75% of my yotes are caught within 15 feet of a lane or waterway.
Key #2: scent control
I am very big on scent control. I always wear gloves when handling my traps. After my set is made, I use a different pair of gloves when handling bait/lures. After completing a set, I stay away from the area checking the set from a distance using binocs. I caught a yote this year 2 weeks after putting in the set and not walking up to it until dispatching the animal.
Bait/lure: Mark June’s Widow Maker is my number 1 bait and windwalker and fox frenzy which are also Mark June products are my top two lures. I also like hell fire lure by Dunlap.
Key #3 Sight Appeal
I always give my sets good eye appeal. Coyotes are curious and are willing to investigate anything that catches their eye. I like to use charred pieces of wood, clumps of grass, and mounds (hay, bean chaff, corn stalks) to catch their eye.
Types of Sets:
I use a variety of flat sets, hay/chaff sets, dirt hole sets, and pipe dream sets. Of those, I have the least amount of success with dirt holes. If you have questions, I can go into detail about how I make each.
Hopefully this provides a little insight on coyote trapping. I am happy to answer any questions or clarify anything from my post.
I have trapped coyotes for 20+ years in northern Ohio and absolutely love the challenge they present. My son started tagging along with me when he was 2 years old and is now setting his own traps at the age of 6. He has been a very good student and has had very good success over the past 2 years. Last year, I allowed him to set snares around the house and he ended up catching a red fox (which is at the taxidermist) a coon, and a couple possums. This year, I allowed him to run his own line on the properties I am trapping yotes. He is 100% independent setting snares. When using leg holds, I set the trap for him and he does the rest. He ended up catching 22 coon, 7 possums, 2 mink, 1 red fox, and 1 coyote. I am super proud of him to say the least.
On to coyote trapping:
Location, Location, Location is the #1 key to catching yotes. You can have the prettiest looking set in the world but unless it is in a good location you won’t consistently catch fur. I love setting travel routes and my go to travel routes are farm lanes and weed filled water ways. I would say 75% of my yotes are caught within 15 feet of a lane or waterway.
Key #2: scent control
I am very big on scent control. I always wear gloves when handling my traps. After my set is made, I use a different pair of gloves when handling bait/lures. After completing a set, I stay away from the area checking the set from a distance using binocs. I caught a yote this year 2 weeks after putting in the set and not walking up to it until dispatching the animal.
Bait/lure: Mark June’s Widow Maker is my number 1 bait and windwalker and fox frenzy which are also Mark June products are my top two lures. I also like hell fire lure by Dunlap.
Key #3 Sight Appeal
I always give my sets good eye appeal. Coyotes are curious and are willing to investigate anything that catches their eye. I like to use charred pieces of wood, clumps of grass, and mounds (hay, bean chaff, corn stalks) to catch their eye.
Types of Sets:
I use a variety of flat sets, hay/chaff sets, dirt hole sets, and pipe dream sets. Of those, I have the least amount of success with dirt holes. If you have questions, I can go into detail about how I make each.
Hopefully this provides a little insight on coyote trapping. I am happy to answer any questions or clarify anything from my post.
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. I look forward to more.
