Well this is my first year coyote trapping and I’ve dove right into it lol! I’m trapping on our 2k acre hunting property. I have 20 jaw traps and six snares out (will have 30 more soon). I run them every morning. I’ve caught two coyotes and a bobcat last week so I’m pretty happy with everything except pull outs. I had two just this morning and judging from the tracks and chew marks on the traps both where good size coyotes.

So I think I have two issues and y’all let me know if this sounds right. I have pan tension wayyyy to light so the trap is going off before he has planted his paw good on the pan. Secondly this property is all flooded River bottom and I’m doing my sets on raised roads mainly. No dry dirt to be had anywhere so I use cut up pine straw. On both pullouts there was a double hand full of pine straw in the jaws (not good). I’m sure this is 95% of the issue. So my fix for this will be to set all pans at 3 pounds and go down to the river and find some dry sand mix to use and get away from the pine straw. Does this sound right so far? These are Duke Pro 550 os double springs. Very strong traps as they are only a year old.

Yes....pine straw is slick...almost waxy. If I was you, I'd stop on the "hill" and fill a 5 gallon bucket or two with good loamy soil...not sand. Use some of the river bottom dirt at the set to sift a light covering over the new dirt bedding to blend the pattern with the river bottom soil.

Your catch will go up if you'll stop using the straw covering.

That’s what I’m thinking. I’m pretty sure I’ve had 4 pullouts in the last week. Today there was no doubt. The trap was chewed and plenty of big tracks. I should have known better. I though with the 550 it wouldn’t matter but it does.

Change up your lures/baits and the set type and you might get another chance at the ones with sore feet....at another location.

You can always try peat moss. I would plan on making some waxed sand this summer.

Probably dont need that waxed dirt in TX.

I think I’m going to try peat moss with a dusting of sandy soil I mixed and dried today. I think that’s going to be the ticket.

Agreed, peat moss is practically free and a 5 gal bucket full weighs about the same as the empty bucket and will cover a good number of traps. I’ve become a big fan just would try not to put too much under the trap since it makes it hard to bed really firmly.

I just bought a whole compressed half bail from Walmart for $11. I’ll have peat moss for the rest of the year. I looked at it and it’s going to be perfect! Exactly what I need.

I would sift and dry it before using it. What we have around here is packaged in plastic bags and holds moisture from condensation. It also has small sticks and chunks of wood that may prevent you traps from closing completely. Sifting and drying before using will save you some headaches later.

Thanks for the heads up. I just went out and sifted a 5gal bucket full. Good news it was bone dry so it’s ready to go in the morning. Have about 20 traps to re-bed. I truly believe that pine straw has cost me 4 coyote catches this week but live and learn.