It happened and just need to learn from it. This past season I almost lost a trap and 2 stakes that was to hold the trap in place. it was sandy soil and I got there when the coyote was still working the stakes and I took a shot at it but miss with it move around so much and then it got the stakes pull but it had both front feet in the trap. Lucky for me. I had step on the stakes and what I did to stop it from come after me was drag my otter sled between him and me and then I finally got to shoot it.It drop. lesson learn to use longer stakes on sandy soil and do not only use cross stakes that are about 18" long. I ask about how long to use stakes on sandy soil and I was told about 36" . Well I will use 48" that way I know i will have a better chance of hold them till I drop them. it is on a river sand bar I had the traps set.

Thanks guys. I feel a lot better now for at least knowing I’m not the only one and knowing he’ll hopefully live.

lost 1 coyote that jacked a single stake and a #2 Northwoods. That was the last time I ever single staked a trap. Now it is earth anchors or at least double staked.

About 5 years ago, I was using a disposable anchor with 1/8" cable and unknowingly damaged the cable on a rock when driving it. A coyote was caught and lost, along with my trap. That spring, my cousin was checking fence before turning cows into a pasture about a mile from where I'd lost the coyote and he found my trap. In December of that same year, I re-caught the same coyote by his left front foot this time, about 2 miles from where I'd caught him the year before. I'm the only coyote trapper for miles around so I knew it was the same coyote. I couldn't believe how big he was. I wish now that I would have weighed him. I'll guarantee you that he smoked 40 pounds. Losing that foot hadn't slowed him down one bit. He was fat and healthy. I've always wondered if he made a living taking food away from other coyotes. No doubt he was the alpha male and I wonder if his standing in the coyote community guaranteed him food without a fight?

One of the best bits of advise I was ever given is, anchor every trap to hold the largest animal that may step on the pan...