Scent-free Is it necessary?
#6998978
09/24/20 12:35 PM
09/24/20 12:35 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 759 U.P. Michigan
Spade
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 759
U.P. Michigan
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I'm from the old school of trapping canines, and that is being scent free as possible, down to wearing fresh gloves, never wear the same boots, while setting traps that I drive in, and even wearing a bandana , so I don't breath on the trap set. Yesterday, I put a pine squirrel down a hole in a sand hill, that I dug with my gloved hand, gloves that I wear everyday to work in, wearing the same work boots, even kneeling to dig the hole as far as I could reach. Then put up a trail cam just to see. That same night. Results: 1 yote dug the heck out of the hole to get the squirrel, 3 fox checked the hole out, 1 bear even stuck his snout in the hole. I'm not proposing to be a slob while setting traps, but is being scent-free being pushed to much?
I've brought this subject up mainly from my reading of books and articles from Daily, Thorpe, Lennon, Dobbins and others years ago, just kinda sprung into the brain.
This bait was placed in the middle of a National Forrest, where there is very little human contact.
Last edited by Spade; 09/24/20 08:10 PM.
24 years Army Medical Corps
I only want to be known as:
A great husband, a good trapper, and a great steward of the land.
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Re: Scent-free Is it necessary?
[Re: Spade]
#6999008
09/24/20 12:57 PM
09/24/20 12:57 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794 100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
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I don't use gloves of any kind setting coyote/wolf snares or traps. As long as you are relatively clean you will leave very little scent from your hands. Most of the scent will be from your body. Just get in, set and get out as quickly as possible and you will have little problem. Coyotes are generally quite familiar with human scent and will know that you were there; you just don't want to leave a bunch at the set.
Last edited by bctomcat; 09/24/20 12:58 PM.
The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.
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Re: Scent-free Is it necessary?
[Re: The hammer]
#6999151
09/24/20 04:19 PM
09/24/20 04:19 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,255 Port Republic South Jersey
Newt
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,255
Port Republic South Jersey
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Pretty much no matter what you do the animal knows you were there at some point in time. So being comfortable and confident in what you are doing is most important just my opinion on it. I agree. I wear Dans hip boots to protect my legs from briers and getting wet. I wear gloves when its cold. But take them off to set my snares. Foot holds get set and bedded with out gloves. Getting in and out fast in more inportant. Dont to leave a big scent pool.
South Jersey Trapping and Snaring School January 19-20-21 2024 NEWT -----------------OVER---------------- www.snareone.com
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Re: Scent-free Is it necessary?
[Re: RV6]
#6999232
09/24/20 06:41 PM
09/24/20 06:41 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,719 Maine
Mac
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,719
Maine
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Ed Schneider of Kansas Trapline Products catches more coyotes than most of us dream to. In one of his videos he uses his baseball cap to blend in the dirt at his set just to prove a point.
In all seriousness though look at any reports of what a search k9 is capable of and then think about a coyotes nose being better than that. They'll always know you were there. Yes, and lets not forget where he traps. Mac
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Re: Scent-free Is it necessary?
[Re: Spade]
#6999235
09/24/20 06:44 PM
09/24/20 06:44 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,065 NY
rendezvous
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,065
NY
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Back in the late 70s' we had a guy in our County Trappers Association took a brand new trap, untreated, set with bare hands for red fox. He wanted to prove it to everybody that it can be done, actually he did well. I still did and do my sets with all the scent-control precautions. but I never did or heard of the the bandana thing though...
Last edited by rendezvous; 09/24/20 06:44 PM.
Let's go Brandon!
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Re: Scent-free Is it necessary?
[Re: WadeRyan]
#6999300
09/24/20 08:02 PM
09/24/20 08:02 PM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 6,004 alabama
steeltraps
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 6,004
alabama
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The old timers would have done just as well setting with bare hands and not wallowing in poop. I agree. But concider the learning curve? They didn't have books,DVD, or YouTube. They had to learn from their OWN mistakes. So scent was over done. They had to do it all by trial and era. No 1 told the trappers of the 1880 = Hey , just try Formula 1 or logwood dye LOL!!
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Re: Scent-free Is it necessary?
[Re: Spade]
#6999317
09/24/20 08:26 PM
09/24/20 08:26 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,678 Wisconsin
Green Bay
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,678
Wisconsin
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Most of the areas I trap have a lot of human presence around. All the animals are used to seeing (and smelling people), hearing farm equipment, 4 wheelers, trucks etc. I don't think they sense as much danger as animals that are living in areas with few people.
I don't get too hung up on it but I also don't set traps with gasoline on my hands either.
Brian
Author of The Lure Hunter: A Guide to Finding Fishing Lures
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Re: Scent-free Is it necessary?
[Re: steeltraps]
#6999331
09/24/20 08:35 PM
09/24/20 08:35 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,619 Nebraska
WadeRyan
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,619
Nebraska
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The old timers would have done just as well setting with bare hands and not wallowing in poop. I agree. But concider the learning curve? They didn't have books,DVD, or YouTube. They had to learn from their OWN mistakes. So scent was over done. They had to do it all by trial and era. No 1 told the trappers of the 1880 = Hey , just try Formula 1 or logwood dye LOL!! For sure I agree. I think even with all of the information out there there’s still a learning curve. There’s still people that won’t set a trap without wax, dye, different gloves, different boots, etc. Information is more readily available but even some of it talked about now seems overdone. There’s guys with coyote trapping DVD’s that haven’t caught over a hundred, ever. If a new trapper were to watch some of these DVD’s, YouTube etc. they’d still think they had to play in poop. I admit I was more cautious when I started trapping. Now I’m focused on one thing. More traps in the ground and the least amount of time to get it done. I don’t trap in the vast wilderness. Coyotes encounter human scent daily here there’s at least a farm house on most square miles. I’m also not trying to kill the last coyote. So for me scent means little to nothing.
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Re: Scent-free Is it necessary?
[Re: Spade]
#6999332
09/24/20 08:42 PM
09/24/20 08:42 PM
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Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,454 South Texas Brush Country
TEJAS
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,454
South Texas Brush Country
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The less scent I leave at the set the faster it will dissipate to a point where it will be undetectable or so faint it is not considered an immediate threat. For me, that equates to faster response times and more first night catches.
A few years back I did a little experiment. On my first 30 coyotes of the season I pulled around 30% on first night catches. Rubber boots, gloves, and a kneepad were used to reduce scent.
The next season my location, lures, baits, & sets all remained a constant with the only variable being that I started using a tarp. My first night catches jumped to 50%, catching 15 of my first 30 coyotes on the first night. That increase was enough to make me sit up a take notice.
I believe using a tarp can knock the smell down enough where the scent is so faint it is not seen as a present danger like a stronger smell would be.
When I have an old timer tell me to use a tarp and he’s caught well over 1000 coyotes in year, I pay attention.
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Re: Scent-free Is it necessary?
[Re: Spade]
#6999414
09/24/20 09:35 PM
09/24/20 09:35 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 759 U.P. Michigan
Spade
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 759
U.P. Michigan
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Excellent responses from everyone. New experiment today. Made another mock dirthole about 20 feet away, this time rub my ungloved hands, all over the squirrel, hole about 18 inches deep, lite dirt covering. About 2 feet away, I took a leak, to see what happens. Tomorrow the same type mock set, but I borrowed some of the wife's perfume, just to see the response from any critter.
24 years Army Medical Corps
I only want to be known as:
A great husband, a good trapper, and a great steward of the land.
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Re: Scent-free Is it necessary?
[Re: Spade]
#6999576
09/25/20 02:42 AM
09/25/20 02:42 AM
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Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,672 Ohio
Willy Firewood
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,672
Ohio
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Back long ago I used to use a tarp to kneel on when making a set A few first night catches. Then my knees cried out so I started using knee pads and dropped the tarp. About the same first night catches. I really don’t like adding a step or a piece of gear, but I am considering using both? Does anyone do this? Results?
FRAC LIVES MATTER
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