I would like to thank all of you here for your knowledge. I've spent countless hours in the archives and trapping only sections reading. I recently got into trapping as coyotes were going after my goats and chickens. Early this morning about 5:05 a.m I got my first coyote! My dog and I heard the yelp and growl when the yote was first snapped. I rushed downstairs and woke my son and went out and dispatched the yote. Looking at the game cameras later this morning I saw that there were 4-5 coyotes running with this one, had I not been so hasty to get out there, I could have caught multiple as I have quite a few sets out. Pretty awesome that I have my first yote on video, unfortunately it doesn't show him working the set, the video starts just after the catch. There are also about 3 videos of his buddies walking around after the catch.

The set that got him was a flat set on sign through a narrow pinch point between sage bushes, I put a small poke hole with my anchor driver at the very base of a sage bush (covered by branches), added some Dunlap's Massacre mouse meat lure, some coyote gland, and a squirt of winterized urine on the bush above. This set was a bridger #2 which I night latched myself, used polyfill under the pan, 2 swivels and a wolf fang anchor (which I was worried about as we have very sandy soil, but it is still very solid even after the catch).

My trapper friend skinning tool hasn't arrived yet so it was all done by hand using body weight, I made mistakes above each eye lid and low on one leg, but other than that I think it came out great. I will be fleshing it this evening.

After playing around with different setups I realized that I like the MB550 and K.O Extreme Jr traps more that the Bridger #2 dogged, but the dogless is nice. I also have learned that screen pan covers do NOTHING in very sandy soil, I have started cutting the thumb and fingers off of nitrile gloves, and make a slit for the dog to make my own pan covers which works great and cheaper than buying latex pan covers (better than the poly fill that was in the set that caught the yote).

The bag I use for my trapping gear is great, it holds large jars of bait all around the outside, is very roomy with tool pockets lining the interior. Here's a link if any one is curious https://www.menards.com/main/tools-....htm?tid=-2931183561964303605&ipos=1

What started as protecting my herd and flock has become a insanely addicting hobby.

Congratulations dedshaut, I too have just gotten my first coyote this year and like you I had poured through the archives. There is indeed a heck of a lot of knowledge here that will help guys like us.

Good luck and best wishes on this journey.

Congrats. Your now addicted.

Very cool!

Congrats on your first...sorry about the addiction. Unfortunately there’s no one on here to help with the addiction part. But the good news is now you won’t be able to become addicted to drugs...no money! It’s now all spent on traps and supplies.

Congratulations! That would have been hard to not go check it out if you heard him get caught. But great job those others will be back I bet.

First time fleshing. Cut through a couple times but I'm happy with it for my first time.

Congrats! No going back now, welcome to the addicted club.

Congratulations - you'll never forget the first one!!

Thumbs up!

Congrats!!! There is nothing like your first one. I still remember mine.

clintp1971, we are about 98% sure that we will be moving to TN in the next 6 months. How's the trapping up there?

Nice job and good first one. I’ll post a pic tomorrow and show a trick on the front legs. Not that they are bad just a neat trick

Also I noticed you said cut through. If you pushed through that’s fine while learning. If you cut through your probably using the sharp side of your knife. If so push with the dull side the whole way.

I pushed through, I picked up the knife too high and came down too hard. I'd love any pointers you are willing to share especially with the front legs. Thanks!

Well done, it all looks great for first time.
X2 on how helpful this forum has been for me too

Dedshaut, I sent you a private message

Thanks Clint. Good info.

Congrats on your 1st song dog. It sounds like you got him cuffed a lot quicker than I did on my 1st one.

Thanks, here's the video, you can barely see him on the top right, but his buddies are all running around.