When an animal gets pinched, its initial reaction is to pull out like crazy. I believe coyotes are good at this. What are some ways to prevent pullouts? Some of my thoughts are a faster trap (strong springs) in dry sifted dirt(not heavy) somewhat of some pan tension, step down sets if possible, no slippery material on trap jaws like wax or icy grass/leaves, possibly bigger traps. Am I on the right track?

All my canine traps are offset and are 4 coiled and I have not had any pull out with this set up.

check your mailbox

Good bedding and add to the pan tension for a start a lot of folks think a light trigger will get them more and it often gets you less of what you want and more of what you don’t want really.

^^^^^^^^ good advice right there ^^^^^^^^^

You want that coyote to put his full weight on a well bedded trap with a very crisp trigger !

Thank you. That makes perfect sense.

None?

Interesting.

Wvpossum asks-
What are some ways to prevent pullouts?

Start off with leveling pan to assure a good pad catch, which will solve some problems...

I love it when ppl claim this.....it says alot about experience

I've had traps In the dirt for at least 60 years. And I'm hear to tell you I've had more pull outs then I can count. I must be doing something wrong.

"No slippery material on trap jaws like wax"
Wax is not letting them pull out easier IMO, but it is making your traps a little faster and protecting them

Is it pullouts or misses? Is there a catch circle?

Does that mean more than you can count on your fingers and toes?? Think that has anything to do with your only using 2 coil traps??

Wv, you are on the right track. You should be able to stop a good caught coyote 100%. Toe caught coyotes are a different story especially with offset jaws. You will eventually have a toe caught coyote escape from an offset. If you are checking your traps every morning you shouldn't need offsets. Just make sure your jaws edges are not sharp. Sharp edges are a big no no.
If pull outs are a problem with a pad catch than your springs are too weak or you have a lever lock up problem or both. Remember you dont need to go 4 coil you can use 3 springs to get the right amount of speed, power and lock up for your situation.
I'm sure I'll get a chance to add to this. Lol

Could be deer setting the traps off always look for tracks in the trap area. With the MJs 4 coils and wide offset cast jaws I have held lunging yotes by just 2 pads. Many things can cause a miss my biggest issue here is snow and ice on top of the trap causing it to fire early when pressure is applied.

I had some trail cameras on some of my traps this season and definetly realize now how many deer trip a trap. That said, I remember a couple occasions at least where the trap chain was stretched tight out of the bed. I can't 100% tell you I missed coyotes, but possibly believe I had a few misses. So if a person could dial in a set up where they go from catching 4 out 5 coyotes a season to 5 out 5, wouldn't they want to?

So RP you've never had a pull out .

To the list in the first post add,
properly tuned traps.
I've read of certain traps not needing tuned but not seen them.

Far as pan tension I've been up and down that hill.
Heavy at the work bench can turn into too much in fall winter conditions for me.
I like just a little.

You are asking the right questions and getting good replies.

Beav, with a good quality properly sized and tuned trap, and the right spring strength for my conditions and being a pad catch or higher, i can say no i have not had a pull out from a coyote. Can't say the same about toe catches, have held a lot but have lost some also.

But RP do you actually know That It was a pull out due to It being a toe catch. If your not there to witness It you don't really know now do you.

I'm just stirring the pot. When I did the coyotes study I used #2 single sprung Duke #2s.I never had a PULL OUT but I did have a few snapped traps just laying In the trap bed.. But since there was no catch circle I wouldn't consider them to be pull outs.

That's a valid point to a degree. I would answer that by stating that of the hundreds of coyotes i have caught i have never had a coyote that was caught well ever escape when i drove up to them or took pics or anything else. But i have had some coyotes get away when pulling up to them and seeing they were toe caught and not getting them shot soon enough.
So I'm calling it an experienced educated guess for lack of better terminology.
Just so you know I'm stirring the pot also incase that wasn't already obvious. Lol

Also, you said you have not had a pull out with the 2 coiled dukes. I would say you were using a good trap that was properly tuned and the spring strength was sufficient for for your conditions.
When you say you've had many pull outs I'm assuming your talking back in the day you were using a trap that was not right, ( as stated above ) for the conditions you were trapping in?