So, I have an area that has an 8' culvert running under the highway, There were so many coyote tracks running through it I nicknamed it the "off ramp". There is a panel gate on each end that the coyotes (and cats, though not as often) duck under (8' gate as well, 10 to 12" off the ground). I originally tried to set this with snares where the coyotes ducked under, on the first check they went under in a different spot. So I added brush to the bottom of the gate to narrow the opening. After that the dogs completely shied away and wouldn't use the culvert anymore, I pulled both my snares after that and removed all the brush as I had foot holds set up the draw on each side of the culvert. The big question I have is how would you set this? I have had a number of ideas that I am thinking of trying next year. Ideas like.
1) Wire a board across the bottom during the summer and leaving a gap for a snare set, giving them months to get used to it.
2) Leave the gates alone and gang set foot holds on both sides of the culvert instead.

Any ideas from you fine folks would be greatly appreciated.

TKS,
B

I would go with #2 as I don't think you want to give them any reason to stop using the culvert.

catch em close by... theyre funneling to that area anyhow

Thank you both for your input, this is making the decision much easier.

Are you trying to keep the captured animal inside the culvert as a way of 'hiding the catch ? '

If you have a bunch of canines funnelling into one area make a couple jackpots within a quarter mile each side of the funnel.Should be able to clean them up in short order.

Is this a dry creek bed? If so try and find where they are leaving It. Or just make some flat sets or dirt hole sets above the culvert or below It. I would stay 50 to 60 yards away from the culvert If that Is possible. Those critters probably get a little more cautious as they approach the culvert It's self.

LT GREY,
No, with the way that the highway is shaped I don't need to keep them in the culvert to hide the catch. A person would need to walk almost to the bottom of the draw ( 60 feet, from the creek bed to the highway).

Beav,
It is an intermittent runoff stream. They are traveling down the fence line in most cases and passing under the highway through the culvert. There are a few that come from farther out and dip into the bottom to cross through. I would say from the tracks that I observed that they enter and exit the drainage with in 20 feet of the culvert. I did try a dirt hole on a flat-ish piece of ground part way up the bank in between two trails. However, I had already brushed in the snares I was trying and the dogs had stopped using the culvert, so I don't know if my set was junk or if I had made them so nervous that they weren't willing to check things out in that area.

Thanks everyone for helping out this newbie, Ill take every ounce of advice you all are willing to share.

Chances are,if you caught one under the gate,that would spook them off again.I would be looking hard at doing blind sets on those trails,if possible.If you could use a drag or slider cable to keep them from making a circle on the trail,that would be a plus.If the trail is on an incline,dig a natural looking step in it,the size of your trap and set there.Best to do before season but can work if you pick the right spot and don't make it look too man-made.They will put their foot on that flat spot,consistently with little guiding needed.If they are already using the trails,you don't need baited or lured sets.