I was at our land today and noticed an active coyote den. I was surprised. Whenever I've seen 'em before, they don't look active. This 1 sure did though. There was all kinds of fresh tracks in the sand around it. I'm not sure it was smart to get that close to it. But anyway, anyone ever try trapping near an active coyote den?

Yes. The ones I found almost all had 2 or more entrances/exits . Don't know if they would try and come out while I set a traps at the hole entrances but I put my trap basket over the hole just in case then set a foothold burried and covered . Use short chain traps so they can't hide back in the hole.

I don't know about your trapping regulations but here you cannot disturb the den in any way so here I put my trap out in front of the hole and if around I use good size sticks on sides to force them to my trap.

Well here In WI you won't be able to trap It since the season Is closed. And other then ADC trapping why would you want to trap them at this time of year.

But keep that den In mind because It's going to be a very good location when trapping season rolls around. They may not be using It but they will visit that location during the season.

Closed coyote season. That's the worst thing I have ever heard of, but unfortunately I have heard of it before this. I'll say this once. All the ADC guys in the world along with all the fur trappers could never exterminate the coyote. Work them all year and get them when you can. It's better for the deer population, and plus I live in sheep country in NM so we work them all year.

WE can hunt coyotes year round we just can't trap them.

If you got that close to the den, their gone. They should move the den not to far maybe a 1/4 mile or so

The DNR techs are going to be hanging trail cams at den sites this spring. Kind of neat that those radio collared coyotes tell them exactly where the den Is. They are also going to dig some dens and ear tag some pups. The pups are to small to be fitted with collars.

3 of the 12 coyotes that I caught have been killed. 2 were road kills and one was shot. And one other ones collar hasn't been transmitting for some time.
I will try and post some of the Info when It becomes available.

That study is interesting Beav. Thanks for the updates.

super cub- I have heard that before. I've always wondered if it's true.

Huntall- That's interesting. This den only had 1 hole.


This den is on our family's private deer hunting grounds, so I may go after them sooner than later.
I should try a trail cam.
That or a .223 (perched on the hill) with my call maybe.

I'll find a couple dens a year checking cattle and every time the pups get moved to another den. And that's being horseback so I'm not even leaving me scent on the ground.

Well I guess we will see when those boys start hanging cameras at those den sites.

It'd be neat to see what the dens look like inside and how deep and long and big they are. Maybe WDNR's study will figure that out.

Once that mated female finds you were there, there's a better chance than not she will bounce. She's likely to have more than two or three dens cleaned out. You're seeing that effect right now - den cleaning. Pups should be coming in a week or two.

They don't always use dens year round, do they?

Very uncommon for them to use dens after their litter is big enough. Maybe in severe weather but that's it.

And the dens I have trapped are on animals farms and they get used almost every year and that might be the reason for multiple entrances/exits.

Negative. Once them pups are big enough to be out and like teenagers, they'll start collecting cobwebs.

to answer the question: yes I have,,, several times. make a mock set with a (silent) game cam and see how they react. Add it to your catalog of knowledge of them. Think you might be surprise at how they react.

Even though they don't use the den after the pups are weaned. They still will Investigate It from time to time during the rest of the season. Iv'e caught a fair amount of coyotes Late In the year that just happened to check out that old den site.

When the pups are first born they will only have one hole and it will be big enough for the female to get in, as the pups get a little bigger she will wean them, they generally move to a new den and it will in most cases have a couple holes, these holes will be smaller so an adult can't get in to the pups. At least out West around mid June to first of July they will move them into a rock pile, brush pile or some place they can get protection