Although I posted my own thread on the subject, please allow me to post my contribution to this thread.

My very first catch ever. A 28lbs female caught using a hay set.

Season tally: 1 coyote

Congratulations TheBig1

Thanks Hern

Congrats TheBig1. That's a nice catch.
First of many catches to come
Because now your hooked

Congrats , can u share the set up, trap lure etc. I have set many hay sets with no luck at all.

I really appreciate the recognition and compliments - thank you all!

This season like all others was another learning experience for me...yes I've been trapping for yrs but I'm not a great trapper - I make mistakes and am always trying to learn. Coyotes in my area confuse me! Obviously I'm blessed to have ground with good RF numbers but there's also a coyote population...in certain areas - and those coyotes have me wondering if my RF populations are sustainable? I caught 2 coyotes off the same farm with 7 RF - none of those RF were molested while in the trap. During the coarse of a season I lose 1 or 2 RF while caught to coyotes - this season I lost none. Not sure if this is related but during a typical season I catch doubles regularly - this season I only had 2 doubles and both were made the 1rst wk of January. Most of my ground is Ag but always has thick brushy areas and woods a part of it or boarding it. I believe the heavy cover benefits the RF for hunting but also from the coyotes. Bottom line is much of the coyote population factor in my area is a mystery to me...and I'm trying to learn.

One highlight of my season also came that 1rst wk of January when I caught a female in one of 2 sets - At first while checking this location with binos from the road (200 yds away) I could clearly see 2 RF...I unloaded the wheeler and rode out to the location but when I got there there was only 1 RF in a trap...the other set was untouched. I dispatched the fox (vixen) and was doing the re-make when I noticed the male in the nearby woods barking - I finished the re-make and left - an hour and a half later I drove by to check and there he was waiting for me in that re-make.

Regarding mistakes I made this season; over-thinking was definitely one! I'm a slow learner so once again I used the plastic screen pan covers - what a mess - lots of diggers. From there I went down hill and started using the poly-fill under the pan which resulted in more scratching and digging...I'm sure some of the lures I was using stimulated some of that digging also. To add to the mayhem I was making changes to my trap positioning on DH's - all of this was resulting in a lot of misses...scratching and prints on the trap patterns. Somehow I got way off track from my typical step-down DH. My solution was to stop and made a few practice DH sets at home where I quickly realized my mistakes. I replaced the pan covers and poly-fill with dry sifted peat inside the jaws (no pan covers or poly-fill under the pans) - bedded and covered the trap with waxed dirt and for the most part...problems solved. I typically use the peat and waxed dirt combo - still trying to figure out why I changed to the covers and poly-fill?? Needless to say I'll be making some practice sets pre-season this fall!

By mid- December I was on my best ground and on my best locations which saved my season due to the ground freezing and making for tough conditions putting in new sets. For almost 3 wks my catches were all coming from re-makes and I loved it. Quick and easy! The peat inside the jaws w/o and pan cover or poly-fill and the traps encapsulated in waxed dirt worked like a charm. I did spray glycol in the bed prior to putting in the wax dirt.

So what about you guys??? I'd like to read about highlights and or challenges you guys experienced this season.

great job guy's.i'm about caught up on fur and have some problem fox and yotes to get yet along with some beaver hopefully.been a trying season so far.let them beaver pics start guy's.

Well here is one of the more memorable moments from this season's line. Talk about over thinking- What in the world was going on here???




For the purposes of this thread- when I set a K-9 trap I am targeting K-9s- ALL OF THEM!

We want to see a "red" in the snow.

Pictures have become an issue for me. To those of you that spend the time to put them up- thank you, they are enjoyed... I cant even spin them anymore.

Good JOB Fox Man.

nobody trapping beaver????set a couple yesterday and am amazed at the population.hopefully have a pic tonight.

exciting first year for me. learned such an incredible amount here from you pros. heres my 2 yotes from the year both females.

love that pic with the track leading to the set

nice wPt

pcr2, was the Fisher in season or out of season?
Drag?

Nice fox and coyotes! Beagle I like that array of domestics and wilds. That is true versatility. Catching critters in snow is the best. It shows everything lined up right - lure, trap placement and bedding, backing, and the resulting pictures are iconic, what trapping is supposed to be like. As opposed to the muddy wet mess I found this morning. Keep 'em coming.

out and coyote grapple.run a lot of them.3 for 6 on beaver last night.