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Explain trap line dogs to me #7024136
10/22/20 01:26 PM
10/22/20 01:26 PM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,240
The Hill Country of Texas
Leftlane Online content OP
"HOSS"
Leftlane  Online Content OP
"HOSS"

Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,240
The Hill Country of Texas
Every time I read a post about a trap line dog I probably read it a 2nd time trying to figure out the benefit of having one. To me, it would seem to be a great way for him (or her) to be making scent posts while I was pounding in a hole and giving a coyote and excuse to work something besides my set.

What am I missing? What advantages would a dog on the line give you?


“What’s good for me may not be good for the weak minded.”
Captain Gus McCrae- Texas Rangers


Re: Explain trap line dogs to me [Re: Leftlane] #7024142
10/22/20 01:29 PM
10/22/20 01:29 PM
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 4,925
Aliceville, Kansas 43
Yukon John Offline
trapper
Yukon John  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 4,925
Aliceville, Kansas 43
I agree that they could be a big advantage, but (like everything else) some seem to think it is a waste. Idk, but I'm interested in other thoughts as well.


Act like a blank, get treated like a blank. Insert your own blank!
Re: Explain trap line dogs to me [Re: Leftlane] #7024148
10/22/20 01:33 PM
10/22/20 01:33 PM
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 256
Montana
J
Jackdale Offline
trapper
Jackdale  Offline
trapper
J

Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 256
Montana
Mark set locations for lure shy animals, follow drags, find missing traps, tree lions/bear, decoy and work coyotes in between checking sets. That's just scraping the surface of things they're handy for. They can be a pain in the butt, but benefits far outweigh costs for me.

Re: Explain trap line dogs to me [Re: Leftlane] #7024151
10/22/20 01:40 PM
10/22/20 01:40 PM
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,384
WI
B
BvrRetriever Offline
trapper
BvrRetriever  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,384
WI
They can be used for finding beaver bank dens. I've heard of other guys using them to find animals when using drags. I'm not a K9 trapper, but I've heard of guys using them to locate K9 set locations. I guess they watch what draws the dog's interest and then make the set there.

Every time I've had a dog with me on the line, it becomes more of a hassle than it's worth. I've brought young pups with me on remote walk in beaver jobs to get them used to being in the woods. However, it doesn't take them long to get used to that and then they're typically off in the next county and you're spending the rest of the day tracking them down. I've had pups break through the thin ice around feed piles...good opportunity for them to learn how to get out on their own cuz if they go through, this fat guy will too!

Re: Explain trap line dogs to me [Re: Leftlane] #7024152
10/22/20 01:42 PM
10/22/20 01:42 PM
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,691
Nevadafornia
L
Lazarus Online content
trapper
Lazarus  Online Content
trapper
L

Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,691
Nevadafornia
Leftlane:

I have a dog and I'd consider myself at a disadvantage without him. On most days. But I suspect that's because of where and how I trap.

As to your concern that he'd be off making his own scent posts, I guess it happens. But I notice when my dog gets out of the truck he's looking for the scent station he suspects is already there. He looks and sniffs and usually will lock in on a spot, give it a good long whiff, and then lift his leg. That's where one of the traps typically goes.

I use a lot of drags in my country so he's pretty valuable for finding animals on drags, especially cats (which as you know can hide real well). On coyotes, I trap some pretty open country and in some situations (for lots of different reasons) need to use a drag. Generally I can track a coyote fairly easily, but my four legged friend can track it on a dead run, saving me time and often energy because he will locate the coyote so I can take a direct route, as opposed to what is often the circular route the coyote takes.

Finally, I check most of my traps in the dark, before or after work. The dog knows where the traps are so often I can just open the door of the truck (he insists on riding shotgun), let him out, and listen. If he barks, I've obviously caught something. If there is no catch, he'll come back to the truck pretty quick and we move on down the line.

I'm not trying to convince you to get a dog. If you've trapped this long without one, then it may not do you much good.

Re: Explain trap line dogs to me [Re: Leftlane] #7024179
10/22/20 02:05 PM
10/22/20 02:05 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 19,930
SEPA
L
Lugnut Offline
trapper
Lugnut  Offline
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L

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 19,930
SEPA
My "trapline" dogs are with me for companionship and nothing else. They earn their food in the grouse woods, pheasant fields and duck blinds.

I've often heard the old saw about a dog showing you where to make scent posts. Well, I run all male dogs and if i made a set everywhere they marked I'd be out of traps before i left the first farm. LOL

I already know where to make the productive scent posts from scouting and following tracks in the snow. I don't need my dogs showing me a few dozen other possible locations.

I can see where they'd be useful in locating critters that ran off with your drags. But i don't run drags.

So, to me, a good trapline dog is just an obedient companion to keep me company on the line.





Eh...wot?

Re: Explain trap line dogs to me [Re: Leftlane] #7024216
10/22/20 02:49 PM
10/22/20 02:49 PM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,240
The Hill Country of Texas
Leftlane Online content OP
"HOSS"
Leftlane  Online Content OP
"HOSS"

Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,240
The Hill Country of Texas
I wondered Lugnut. Laz- I imagine you are right once a guy got used to having a dog w/ him he would learn to use it to his advantage. I have used dogs and even saddled horses when I couldn't find an cat on a drag. Both times I looked all over and found them very close to where they started. I might over look them but the dog didn't LOL. Made me feel silly


“What’s good for me may not be good for the weak minded.”
Captain Gus McCrae- Texas Rangers


Re: Explain trap line dogs to me [Re: Leftlane] #7024217
10/22/20 02:49 PM
10/22/20 02:49 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 344
Pennsylvania
C
coalbank Offline
trapper
coalbank  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 344
Pennsylvania
My pup will mark where I ask him to. He will also dig where I ask him to. He hasn't been on the line yet as he is only 10 months old. Have been working with him to run the line with me. A few friends that used dogs on the line have had great results. Zagman and Stink come to mind as fellas that figured out why the dog is a benefit on the k9 line.

Re: Explain trap line dogs to me [Re: Leftlane] #7024261
10/22/20 03:56 PM
10/22/20 03:56 PM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10,787
Asheville, NC
C
charles Offline
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charles  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10,787
Asheville, NC
I have learned a lot from watching a dog.

Re: Explain trap line dogs to me [Re: Leftlane] #7024275
10/22/20 04:16 PM
10/22/20 04:16 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,140
Texas Hill Country
C
Cedar Hacker Offline
trapper
Cedar Hacker  Offline
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C

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,140
Texas Hill Country
My dog finds a place to make a set and since I have gotten old and forgetful he sometimes leads me back to the pickup. Oh, and then he leads me back to the sets.

[Linked Image]


Sit on your horse on top of a ridge, look out across the country and tell me there is no God.

Re: Explain trap line dogs to me [Re: Leftlane] #7024293
10/22/20 04:42 PM
10/22/20 04:42 PM
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 5,471
West Central MN
20scout Offline
trapper
20scout  Offline
trapper

Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 5,471
West Central MN
Someone has to taste test my baits to see if their any good or not, I most certainly aren't going to try them! Companionship is a biggie for me. He may be running around while I'm making a set but I figure that'll just peak the interest on any canine that comes around. Maybe it'll work the area a bit harder, I don't know but he's
nice to have around. As far as marking spots he hasn't seemed to figure that one out as he'll only mark it if he feels dominant. Apparently he doesn't feel that way around coyotes as he waits till we get home to do that. Hates woodchucks and raccoons but is afraid of house cats. He's young but coming around.

Last edited by 20scout; 10/22/20 05:10 PM.

Common sense is a not a vegetable that does well in everyone's garden.
Re: Explain trap line dogs to me [Re: Leftlane] #7024357
10/22/20 06:01 PM
10/22/20 06:01 PM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 390
Idaho
Marten Ted Offline
trapper
Marten Ted  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 390
Idaho
My dog is great at telling me where to make sets, is better at finding sign then me, and has found a few critters on drags that would've taken me 10x as long to find. Plus just good to have some company I think.

Re: Explain trap line dogs to me [Re: Leftlane] #7024362
10/22/20 06:10 PM
10/22/20 06:10 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,213
central Missouri
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Bigfoot Offline
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Bigfoot  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,213
central Missouri
if i make a dirthole im going to make a scentpost near by and if it is where one is already , all the better . because the first thing a coyote is going to do after encountering a dirthole is pee on somthhing

Re: Explain trap line dogs to me [Re: Leftlane] #7024429
10/22/20 07:12 PM
10/22/20 07:12 PM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 25,692
nm
A
adam m Offline
trapper
adam m  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 25,692
nm
My hound goes with me on the line for many reasons 1) exercise 2) hunt cats and lions 3) help. That's just to name a few.
I've been on snow covered cliffs with a backtoe caught bobcat the hound helped distract the cat while I figured how to dispatch safely. Only 1 direction was safe enough with all circumstances given and I was downhill. If i lost my footing it was 200' down. Joy went toe to toe with the cat

Re: Explain trap line dogs to me [Re: Leftlane] #7024461
10/22/20 07:48 PM
10/22/20 07:48 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,770
N.W. Iowa
T
Tactical.20 Offline
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Tactical.20  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,770
N.W. Iowa
Adult coyotes tend to get upset when someone trespasses, they react to it, ogorman said it can add ten percent to your catch.
When my dog barks at them they are focused on that instead of taking off.
A dog can help recover animals on a drag, mine chased one into a tangle of willows after popping stake out on snare as i pulled up, id hate to go without one

Re: Explain trap line dogs to me [Re: Leftlane] #7024487
10/22/20 08:05 PM
10/22/20 08:05 PM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 17,456
Wheaton Ks
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lee steinmeyer Offline
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lee steinmeyer  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 17,456
Wheaton Ks
Wouldn't go without my dog, for the reasons above. Better company than people too! grin


YOU CAN IGNORE REALITY, BUT YOU CANNOT IGNORE THE CONSEQUENCES OF IGNORING REALITY.

http://www.lptraplinesupply.com
Re: Explain trap line dogs to me [Re: Leftlane] #7024567
10/22/20 09:18 PM
10/22/20 09:18 PM
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,560
Va
B
bandy Offline
trapper
bandy  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,560
Va
It's not just having a dog It's having the right dog and you have to be a dog person not all people are dog people.


No matter where you go there you are.
Re: Explain trap line dogs to me [Re: lee steinmeyer] #7024570
10/22/20 09:20 PM
10/22/20 09:20 PM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 25,692
nm
A
adam m Offline
trapper
adam m  Offline
trapper
A

Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 25,692
nm
Originally Posted by lee steinmeyer
Wouldn't go without my dog, for the reasons above. Better company than people too! grin

Plus the dog won't steal

Re: Explain trap line dogs to me [Re: lee steinmeyer] #7024664
10/22/20 10:23 PM
10/22/20 10:23 PM
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 5,471
West Central MN
20scout Offline
trapper
20scout  Offline
trapper

Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 5,471
West Central MN
I've always said the more I deal with people, the more I like my dog!
Originally Posted by lee steinmeyer
Wouldn't go without my dog, for the reasons above. Better company than people too! grin


Common sense is a not a vegetable that does well in everyone's garden.
Re: Explain trap line dogs to me [Re: Leftlane] #7024784
10/22/20 11:37 PM
10/22/20 11:37 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,108
mo.
N
nate Offline
trapper
nate  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,108
mo.
I think it let's the coyote think about the dog and less about me.

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