Went to check the line this morning. One of my #3 Bridgers was set off and an area 10-12’ in diameter around the trap was mud. Whatever it was was gone. No fur. Nothing left behind. It is a dirt hole set. The trap chain is the factory length about 10” or so anchored to a 15” wolf fang anchor.

I don’t think it was a fox. And definitely not a domestic dog. I think by the area near up I had a coyote and it got loose.

Thoughts?

Deer?

No tracks?

No muddy line going away?

I don't see how a coyote on a 10" chain could make a 10-12' circle but maybe it is possible.

Never heard of a deer staying in a steel trap long enough to leave much sign at all.

Got me interested now, hope you figure it out

The diameter was what seemed about 10ish’ across. The radius from the trap anchor was about four or five feet.

Had a deer do this just the other day in a bridger 3 4 coiled offset. Popped the jaws and got away saving me releasing it. About a 10 foot catch circle in the snow.

Could have been a back foot catch on a coyote. They make a heck of a large circle when caught that way……

You say nothing left-trap and stake gone too?
If there is mud there should be some tracks somewhere.

The trap is there along with the anchor. It’s not bare mud but leaves all turned up and trampled into a mess. No tracks that I was able to see. Could have been a deer but I thought I’d have seen them and I didn’t. It was just a circle of muddy leaves. The day prior I caught a possum on the same set and let it go. That was actually a cool experience as it played dead the entire time as soon as I got close to it. Then after about 10 minutes it woke up and walked away.

I remade the set this morning.

Might be tough if all muddy but sometimes a trap will hold a few hairs of the animal that escaped which can help identify it.

Sometimes you can get down on your knees and smell what was in the set.

Most canines would scrape or heap stuff up to toward the trap. Does not sound like that was the case for you. Do you have any otter near you. A rear foot catch on a bigger male otter could make a 10 foot catch circle and they may spend more time spinning and rolling instead of pawing. You could have had a big bobcat by the rear foot as well.

Bryce

That would be my guess. Pretty rare to hold a deer for long enough to make a big mess and not still be there when you get there.

Walking catfish.

I've caught small bear a time or two seems like they stretch out and roll around till they pull out

Did that b4.

Sasquatch ??

Only thing that I can think of which wouldn't leave an obvious track would be a bear if you didn't know what to look for.

I really didn’t look for tracks. I just remade the set and left as quickly as possible as I was in a crunch to get to work. Definitely not a bear. None where I trap it’s a small suburban farmette and bears just aren’t in this area.

I guess it was likely a deer. Who knows.

This is my first guess. The second is a deer.

I'm most certain it was a deer. I actually have a trail cam pic of a buck, nice 8 point actually, sniffing around a dirt hole set. 2 frames latter he's launching into the air. Set the trap off! and popped out of it!
Its likely that other deer could have muddied up the the area around the trap just snooping out of curiosity.