Things I have learned about snaring coyotes

[nube]

use a lot of bait. I try and get a truckload at a time in one bait staion. It's the birds that attract more coyotes than smell.

They don't like a lot of foot prints around.

Last year I caught 78 coyotes and most of them were off 3 baits.
This year I am running 4 baits and 3 of them the same spots as last year. I am already at 40+ coyotes after about 6-7 checks but..... 85% of them are all young pups. I am catching more in these spots than last year which surprises me but they must have had huge litters and no adults around to kill the pups or something. Hopefully these small ones are worth a few $$ at least.

I used to use skunk essence for a lure to attract coyotes and this year I haven't but the other day I caught a skunk and I had 6 coyotes strung up when I got there if I remember right. That tells me that skunk smell is still the king for attractant. I think a few drops on the trees around a bait will help a guy out a lot especially in cold weather or when using bait that does not smell much or have much bird activity.

Anyone else have anything to add? It might help out a few of the new guys getting into coyote snaring

[HunterDave]

Good thread, Nube! This is my first year snaring coyotes so pretty much every day I learn something new.....lol.

I haven't used any lure at my bait sites but if I ever make it into the city I'll pick up some skunk essence and give it a burst.

Going into the season I had expected to pick up a lot of juvenile transient coyotes, just like catching a lot of small muskrats in the Fall. Strangely enough, out of the 17 coyotes that I've caught so far, only one was a pup and the rest were adults. Also, I'm catching 3 males to every female. I don't know if it means anything but I just find it interesting.

I'll give it some thought and hopefully I can contribute something worthwhile to this thread. Out to the shack I must go.

[Tfng]

I put my bait in 45 gallon barrels and let it freeze. I have cut my barrels almost in half top to bottom leaving a 6 inch piece on the bottom of the barrel. Drill a couple holes to tie the barrel shut. This way I just cut the rope and I can remove the barrel leaving one large chunk of bait that they can't haul off easily. If I have carcasses I wire them to a tree.

I have not been using skunk essence this year. I did pick up a roadkill skunk last year because I wasn't getting much action on my baits. What I learned was that if you chop a skunk into pieces with an axe and hit the gland be prepared for a gut wrenching stink! I couldn't believe a coyote pulled that out of a pile of beef scraps and ate it!

Use only dead sticks for guiding and chin lifts or the rabbits will be messing with your sets! When I started I used whatever was handy and it turns out the rabbits can't resist fresh poplar tops.

[crazyfish]

Does the skunk scent work in areas where there are very few / almost no skunks ?

[Tfng]

Originally Posted by crazyfish

Does the skunk scent work in areas where there are very few / almost no skunks ?

I don't consider skunks in my area to be plentiful. I think it helped.

[nube]

Originally Posted by crazyfish

Does the skunk scent work in areas where there are very few / almost no skunks ?

Works for Marten and there are no skunks in most marten areas

[tomcat]

Originally Posted by crazyfish

Does the skunk scent work in areas where there are very few / almost no skunks ?

IMO yes as it peaks their curiosity, if not overwhelmingly strong.

[bill9044]

I have learned that yotes can be smart I have one that pulls my snare down with is teeth. I seen the tracks and the snare was pulled around the bush. He has done this twice this week.
Also they can climb Paige wire fence weird.

So what I have learned is to change tactics. Change snare locations along the trails. I also make pinch points with old dead branches by wireing it on a tree over a trail. And then setting the trail a week or 2 later.

[bill9044]

I have learned that yotes can be smart I have one that pulls my snare down with is teeth. I seen the tracks and the snare was pulled around the bush. He has done this twice this week.
Also they can climb Paige wire fence weird.

So what I have learned is to change tactics. Change snare locations along the trails. I also make pinch points with old dead branches by wireing it on a tree over a trail. And then setting the trail a week or 2 later.