Im about to embark on a 14 day predator management job. I leave in a few days. Getting gear ready now. I havent trapped this particular property in 2 years. If heavy rains will hold off or at least be minimal this should be a working trip that's also fun.

Its about 4 hours from home and I will be lodging on the property. Great facilities with walk-in cooler/skinning shelter, etc. I will primarily target coyotes and cats. Fox are few in that area. I will DP some coons at deer feeders. Will also set the easy-to-get-to otter and beaver locations to help landowner get a little more bang for his buck, but I aint toting any gear far from the SxS...lol.

The best cats, all otters, beavers, and big, perfect coons will be skint. Yep, gonna send some to be tanned this year...a 1st for me. I dont imagine there will be any skinnable coyotes, although nice black and red taxidermy specimens have been caught here b4.

If interested, stay tuned as I'll post pics aling the way.....here we go....

Getting gear ready to load up soon...

..and just went thru a bunch of lures and picked out the ones for this trip. I change up the lures in my bag about every other day when setting and checking...just to mix things up.

Also, got a bunch of bait ready.....fresh ground deer meat, aged ground beaver tail, aged ground deer meat spiked with skunk, Kaatz Red Label, deer meat with smoked meat fragrance, Rusty Johnson's Lucky spiked with skunk, aged bobcat meat with Marsyada's Coyote Lure Supreme added as a bait solution (expensive, but outstanding coyote bait), and a couple others.....and marshmellows for the DPs.



More to follow....

Good luck swampwolf! If you get a chance, can you take some before and after pictures of your sets? Also, with this kind of job what is your mindset on bait/lure? Pick one gland lure, one bait, etc and use just those for each day you’re setting while rotating each day?

I get shotgun!

Rock and roll Swamp!!! Got my popcorn and ready for some entertainment other than which trap is best. It’s the trap in the hand of the trapper who knows how to use it. As we are about to see. Gettem!!!

Will do on the set pics.

On the lure: I usually carry 4 or 5 different lures, 2 different baits, and 1 type urine in my bag....because that's the pockets on my bag..lol. More will be stored on the SxS. I may set all day with different combinations of those lures, baits, and urine. May change 2 or 3 lures out, a different jar of bait, and another type urine for the next day's sets and remakes.

This is just the way I like to do it. Just my habit. It's not neccessary, but I have a lot of lure and bait variety that I keep stocked up on annually.

This particular property Ill be trapping is 3500 acres in one large block. Miles of private roads and large food plots. Lots of great set locations. Ive never liked using only a couple lures, 1 bait, for every set on a single property. If the coyotes "catch on to ya", it's gonna be a lot of poor check days on the coyote line as they can/will bounce to other parts of their home range if they get spooky. All they have to do is cross the property line and not come back during the time Im there. There are probably a couple of family groups of coyotes that spend a lot of time on this property. A large creek swamp divides it north and south. The property is likely part of the home range of a couple more groups I'm sure. So, screw up and it will show...quickly...in the catch totals.

I set heavy on jobs like this because Im after any predator that may eat a fawn or a turkey egg, so my theory is if Im gonna have a bunch of sets in a smaller area then there needs to be a lot of variety in attractants. I set for coyotes and cats as the targets with the Bridger 2s. I may miss some coon, possums, and occasionally a fox at some of these sets..but not too many. Usually pick them up in a night or two anyway.

Has this habit of mine saved my butt from embarrassment on some predator jobs in the past? Yes...it has. At least I couldn't blame it on the critters catching on to one or two odd odors....so that issue is eliminated.

Sorry for my long wording. Ive got some time to kill as Im getting this gear ready..




Puttin name tags in new Ztraps. Coons at the deer feeders...lookout!!

I posted this pic on another thread, but figured I'd add it here. This landowner sent me this pic yesterday as we were making final arrangements on arrival times, lodging, etc.

Look what Im getting into.....

Dead varmints walking. If they only knew what is coming.

Fingers crossed that it all goes well..lol

The best laid plans..........

Set there. Right there!

Good luck!!! Looking forward to following along.

Good luck! I love seeing sign like that pic.

I'm sure you'll do well. I look forward to following your adventure.

Such a cool thread, I’ll be waiting for updates sir!

The best laid plans of mice and men...


Can’t wait

Good luck

Will be following your progress

I'll get the popcorn pop'n!

Set days are a bit warm and possibly wet....next several days look pretty good. Good SxS trapping weather.


Moon phase: Starting out dark, but increasing brightness towards end of line. Dark nights = better predator movement.

I have never seen a trail like that except on a local WMA!! Heck, I’ve never seen more than two sets of anything on a road or break I trap. You are heading to predator sign heaven!! Can’t wait for the follow along! Good luck and be safe.

Nice Swampie, looks like it'll be a great trip. Thanks for taking the time to invite us along. Looking forward to more stories and pics.

Final prep....

Put cable stakes on. 15" pogos 2" washers.



Snugged the pan tension until pans just hold their own weight. I dont like floppy pans.



Most gear is loaded. Some food for about a week is bought. Will catch a mess of speckled perch (crappie for those of you above the gnat line) an evening or two for supper. Wife pre-made meals of chilli and sphaghetti. Those will be frozen and eaten for supper.