Question for the coyote guys

[Worm]

This is my first year trapping. Now that the cold is here I plan to set coyote snares on a bait I just started.

How often do you guys check your snares? My real job makes weekend checks the easiest but I feel like once a week might not be enough?

Does checking too often scare them off with human scent?

Thanks!

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[H380]

Depending where you are and the bird situation ,once a week is definitely too long..I quit last season 2 weeks early because the eagles were getting my coyotes and that was with every other day checks ..got 4 of my last 8 ... and I was using carcasses to feed birds 2 miles away, it worked in warmer weather but when it got cold and the carcasses froze ,the eagles went back to eating the warm freshly caught dogs ..green belly is an issue if the weather is too warm but it's not gonna happen these days . One other thing is chew outs ,a poorly caught dog that isn't dead won't likely be there in a week's time .

I set 2 sites yesterday and was met at my first by an eagle that was big enough to wear a saddle ...my check in 2 days will determine if I keep going ..if ant dogs are destroyed I will pull my stuff and hang it up .Which is too bad , there are a remarkable number of coyotes

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[trigger7mm]

I check mine every three days, unless it’s warm out, and then I’ll check every other day. As long as you keep your boots, gloves, etc. clean, and don’t wander around too much at your bait sites, then human scent isn’t a huge issue. You can check your snare without actually going right up to them. Do it from a distance. I also like to use a long range attractant scent at my bait sites when it gets really cold, and your bait is frozen rock hard. Skunk Fire is my favourite. Good luck!

[204ruger]

Not sure about Alberta but in Saskatchewan we have to check every three days or less. No more than three days without tending to your sets here in the southern zone. When I first set snares at a bait I’ll check every two days then I’ll go to three as time goes on and activity slows down.

Any longer than 2-three days it seems like if you have a catch in a snare and other coyotes see their buddy dead they get worse to what your doing and start to avoid the area. As well like others said you get more damage from birds.

When there snow avoid having to go right up to your set to check if you don’t have to. Limit your human activity in their playground.

[st99]

I work monday to friday, I check my stuff on the weekend only, so once a week for each spot. I lost a few animals to birds the first few years, but none since I smarten up and started to have my snares further from the bait site (100+ yds) and in very thick brush or trees. To the best of my memory, I never lost a coyote to warm temperature, but did loose 1 wolf.

[Worm]

Great info here guys. Appreciate it. Guess we will see how it goes. If I'm catching lots might have to fit in some mid week checks. Would have to be after dark which I'm sure makes it an adventure if you have one that is till live lol. Keeps things interesting.

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[Daslogster]

Every 3-4 days, when cold 1 a week. Also keeping snares as far away from bait as possible, 75yds+. When it gets warm in the spring, birds get bad

[H380]

I envy you guys that don't have eagle troubles . I keep.snares a.fair distance from the bait cause I don't want to catch eagles but I've had caught dogs as far away as 400 yds that still get nailed. The eagle I saw yesterday was the biggest I've ever seen ,just hoping he doesn't like coyote ...as soon as I catch some I will get fresh carcasses out a couple.miles away in hopes they will keep him full and happy ..

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[Marty S]

What’s worse. 200 ravens or two eagles?

In the transition zone, there is nowhere to hide. You can learn your local birds but when the northerns come down the fun and games is over. Even 40-60 ravens can make a mess.

[antlercarver]

Ravens can eat a road killed deer in about 2 days when it is not frozen, by 3rd day there is only skeleton left.

[H380]

Originally Posted by Marty S

What’s worse. 200 ravens or two eagles?



In the transition zone, there is nowhere to hide. You can learn your local birds but when the northerns come down the fun and games is over. Even 40-60 ravens can make a mess.

Kinda like what kills better at 10 yds ...a 12 gauge or a 375 H&H...dead on both accounts
.we have fewer ravens here than eagles .I know from trail cam.pics that an eagle can eat half a coyote in roughly an hr ...takes probably 30 seconds for him to make a fur unsaleable..

I will snare for a.month or so and when the birds start to get thick I will pull the cable

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[Marty S]

My favourite is when the eagles fly down to Nevada and Wyoming and eats guys bobcats instead of my coyotes!!!

🫥

[TrapperMike]

Saw a pair of turkey vultures the other day. Thought they would have gone south by now.

[H380]

Originally Posted by Marty S

My favourite is when the eagles fly down to Nevada and Wyoming and eats guys bobcats instead of my coyotes!!!



🫥

We need a like button on this forum ..

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[H380]

Knew it was gonna happen ,kinda surprised I got this far before it did ..still steaming when I bumped the eagles off him .

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[Worm]

Too bad about the eagles. I'm an hour NW of Edmonton and have seen a couple eagles but ravens are more likely to be my issue. Between now and new years I finally have time to get after these dogs.

Another beginner question. How fast do you find green belly sets in? I've caught 2 so far thisbuear. One had it the second didn't. The one that did had a very full belly and must have just come off a big feed, was thinking that might have made it worse?

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[220 Swift]

Baked Eagle for xmas ha ha.

[H380]

Originally Posted by 220 Swift

Baked Eagle for xmas ha ha.

Oh but wouldn't that be nice ..lol..don't need it bad enough to spend time in the big house tho .

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[Battle Rat]

Some years the eagles bugger off early and hardly see one in the winter.
This year it doesn't look like they have hardly moved.

[kingrat]

Originally Posted by 220 Swift

Baked Eagle for xmas ha ha.

Mmmm baked eagle. They did say there is a shortage of turkeys. I wonder???? Dark or white meat???

[H380]

Originally Posted by kingrat

Mmmm baked eagle. They did say there is a shortage of turkeys. I wonder???? Dark or white meat???

Be glad to send you in the right direction to harvest some if you like ,I don't think they are even on a draw like turkey ..

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[Big Grey Wolf]

Eagle meat may be okay, but few eagle feathers will sure get one a nice expensive visit from a CO.

[trigger7mm]

Originally Posted by Worm

Too bad about the eagles. I'm an hour NW of Edmonton and have seen a couple eagles but ravens are more likely to be my issue. Between now and new years I finally have time to get after these dogs.

Another beginner question. How fast do you find green belly sets in? I've caught 2 so far thisbuear. One had it the second didn't. The one that did had a very full belly and must have just come off a big feed, was thinking that might have made it worse?

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If it’s cold like it is now, green belly shouldn’t be an issue. I’ve only had it happen when it’s warmer out, and the coyote has been dead in the snare for more than a couple of days.

[tomcat]

Originally Posted by trigger7mm

If it’s cold like it is now, green belly shouldn’t be an issue. I’ve only had it happen when it’s warmer out, and the coyote has been dead in the snare for more than a couple of days.

The effect of green belly is often over stressed by many. Although green belly can be serious it is common on a lot of fur animals. It is not a serious defect until it turns really dark brown or black, then you will start to see some slippage of fur. I often have coyotes hanging for 2-3 days (even 5) in the shop at 40 - 60 degree F temperature with no problem. If you’re worried about it, wiping the area with vinegar or 3% hydrogen peroxide solution will kill the bacteria causing the rot.

[H380]

I'm afraid these ones are residents . I know of 3 nest sites and it's not uncommon to see 6-8 anytime of year on a drive thru the country..we.never had Ravens until 10 years ago and now they are common .

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[Worm]

Do you guys put your bait piles in the open or the bush? How.much does it matter.

I have mine in some relatively thick bush thinking coyotes would like the cover, but seeing their behavior around the bait I'm thinking that was a false assumption. They seem very cautious to enter the bush and circle in the open areas.

I am having some moderate success at least.

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[H380]

Guess it depends on your area ,here in the wide open prairies ,these coyotes tend to be a little clostrophobic when it comes to tight spaces . I bait in a semi open place where there is just enough brush to establish trails to set on ..keep snares back from bait ,30 yds or so to avoid bird problems and keep it fresh to keep them happy ..


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[204ruger]

Move your snares out from the bait, they are getting wise to what’s going on. Or take down all your snares and move to a new bait for a week or so let them get comfortable again and then come back slowly.

[st99]

all my sites are in very thick black spruce muskeg, I cleared the baiting area to access with my sled along with allowing birds to get in and call all day long, it's been working great for 5 yrs now, my snares are 100 to 200 yds away from the bait in thick spruce, there's tons of rabbit in the area, so it's definitely an area they use year round

[Worm]

Thanks for the help guys! I'll keep tweaking my approach and change the bait site and snare locations a bit. At least the learning curve is fun.

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