So, I had a brand new set in that appears to have had a pullout by a coyote. Haven't had that happen before (Other than one toe catch that left a toenail and part of a toe behind.), and I am wondering what if anything I did wrong?

So here was the situation-
-Trap- #3 Bridger Dogless OS, brand new, literally first time I had ever used it. Had been thouroughly cleaned, but I don't usually wax or dye.
-Anchor- 24" Rebar stake into some seriously tough clay, with a 12" chain with 4 swivel points in it. I like to keep em tight to the stake since we are on a 24 hour check, so I dont like to give them any room to generate momentum.
-Set- basically a flat set, used a chunk of corn cob as a lure holder with urine at the base, and a punched hole next to it for an additional lure. (I am a big fan of having a couple smells at a set) Backing was tall weeds.

I put the set in at 3PM on Sunday, and when I got there at 5:30AM Monday morning all I was left with was relatively light catch circle (Weeds were not knocked down, trap bed dug up a little, but not totally destroyed like usual), some coyote scat, and an empty trap.

I am almost positive it was a coyote since I set next to a center pivot field at a fence corner/road intersection that was absolutely covered in scat and coyote tracks. I literally have never seen this much sign in one place outside of the coyote pen at the zoo! Plus it is inside a high fence with no cattle, so I am pretty sure it wasn't a calf,deer, or pronghorn.

One more detail-
When I got there, the loose edge of the pan was just barely caught between the jaws.

So.... Did I do something wrong? This is the first time I've ever used a Bridger, or any other dogless trap. Maybe I am doing something wrong with the set.
Or is this just one more of those things that coyotes do to frustrate us?

Could of been a coon that was toe caught and pulled out. Then a coyote came by later sniffed around and left his mark has happens to me before. Only reason why knew that's what went down was cause it was all caught on trail cam. The pans get wedges there on the most dogless bridgers with ez I shave mine down about a 1/8in. No need it doesn't hurt anything. Only happens trap is fired without anything in the jaws or just a pull and the trap lands upside down letting the pan fall to the jaw gap.

Didn't even think about that. I haven't caught any raccoons in that area, but I know they are around since they just finished chopping corn right next door.

Maybe a deer. If it had been a canine there should have been more of a catch circle. With good pan tension you shouldn't get anything but high pad catches on every thing else

the 3 bridger OS that I own have what I think is a really wide OS, a little more than i like.

I have had things happen like that that I can only speculate about what happened since I don't run cameras at sets. One time I thought I had a coyote pull out like you described and come to find out my local CO called me to let me know that trap caught someone's dog. I wasn't in trouble as I was totally legal but he just wanted to let me know.

I've never lost any critter that has stepped into them. Poor catches are about trap adjustment issued or failure to stableize the trap in the bed

Definitely not a deer, just because it was inside a high fence, and there were no deer prints anywhere around.
I'm thinking it may just be one of those things.
Oh well, I made sure it was bedded really good this go around, and put in a few more sets nearby.

Some coon dont make much of a catch circle.

Did you add a lot of grass, corn leaves or leaf litter to blend it in? Sometimes that is the cause.

Things happen on a trapline and we should learn from them best we can without stressing too much. We can't be all knowing although we aim to be.
We have a fun time at the Predator Trapping Academy each year as a dozen solid trappers are standing at a set that "lost" something and we debrief the entire deal as best we can. I moderate the discussion which gets passionate sometimes and then BINGO we find the clue we need that may answer what we're trying to solve. Many times uncommon critters like badgers or porcupines or who knows what shows up and because we don't see these critters routinely... our eyes and minds aren't quite trained to see these possibilities with clarity.

Time and experience and NOT knowing you KNOW right up front is the fun, beneficial tactic to use.
Coyotes do get away every now and again - even from the best and brightest!

Mark

No vegetative matter at all, just soil to blend in with the area around, not even rocks, which doesn't happen much out here in NM!

Yeah, thats exactly why I love chasing coyotes, or anything else for that matter! There is no better way to learn about the animals, and the land.

I am going to have to make it to Predator Trapping Academy at some point! It sounds like a good time, and a great opportunity to soak up a ton of info and experience!

Thanks Mark!

Bring a notebook and an iPhone for pics and the hunger for hard work and success based on good tactics and we'll see ya when you can make it. The success of it has astonished me but I work the Academy like a trap line.... 110% with heart and soul.

Sounds like a good time, put me on the interested list!

How were you holding your mouth when you made the set. That's as likely a reason for a pullout as anything I can think of. If it only happened once, move on. The next one will be caught halfway up to his shoulder.

Milligan ounce told me " you will loose some coyotes no matter what trap you use" . There are so many factors we don't realize! The coyote may have not even been caught by the paw. Without looking over your shoulder and seeing whats there its all speculation. If it happens more than ounce then somethings up.

Ain't that the truth!

"When I got there, the loose edge of the pan was just barely caught between the jaws."

Doesn't that sound like one of two things. Could a raccoon have been fishing in the dirt and grabbed the pan, got caught poorly which would be easy in a number three? Could the trap have gotten out of adjustment?
You don't have to be a "coyote trapper by trade" to have figured out that somethings are not easy to figure out. At one time back when I was a boy I would hover over a site like described above like I was working a CSI case. Now I take a quick look, draw a conclusion if I can, and move on. Don't waste time worrying. It takes the fun out of trapping and uses a lot of energy.
Just go trapping. If someone tells you they have never lost a coyote here and there, put your hand on your wallet and back away.
Mac