Alright, so the rifle season is in full swing and I have access to a ton of carcasses. What's the best situation? Clearing in the trees, thick willows, can a tree row work? I have a few spots close to home that have just tree rows around fields that are about 10 yards wide. Would that work or not quite wide enough?

The size of the area is not as important to me than the funneling points around it as it does not need to be a lot of funneling it only needs to be a narrow trail in the weeds that narrows down and hides my snare loops.

I like to put out a big bait and let them hit on the bait for a bit and establish the trails for me, it might take a week or 2 but once they are comfortable hammering at the bait they will come in easier and your not wasting time checking every few days to see if they are working it.


Putting out a large bait or maintaining a active bait pile until the snow is on the ground it golden as you just look around and see what way they are working the bait pile. You set too soon it will spook the others quicker and the pile will not be active if you pressure them too much. IMO

Look for a BIG bait if you can get them or several road killed deer if it's legal there. Go big! LOL

Another consideration in setting timber ares is that baits in the open, within the timbered area, will out produced baits in thick cover. Coyotes/wolves want to see, both approaching and while they're on it, if there’s danger from other predators, thus the best sites are in the open and ringed by heavy cover to hang snares in. All you basically need, for the ideal station, is an opening large enough for “large birds of prey” to land directly into, thus no walking in on trails with snares, and coyotes/wolves have the protective cover going to and at the bait.

Agree on the open areas and BIG baits. Ravens and magpies attract other predators. Something else I found in my situation (on wolves) is they will actually start patterning me, so plan your sets in locations you can check from a distance. Once it snows and there's boot tracks into/around the bait site they avoid crossing my tracks and will slip in using the thickest cover. I will "salt" a travel route or smaller area with some scraps (heads, femur bones, etc) that can't be carried off by smaller critters. The idea is they will find them and return. Anecdotally I can say it seems to shorten their travel circuits somewhat. I would think this would apply to coyotes as well. Interested to see what others have to say.

ttt

Can't stress enough BCTOMCATS advice about giving raptors a place to land. Never place the big baits in the cover and snare coming in from the outside.