Hi everyone. Im sorry if this has been gone over before, ive looked through the archives and read a lot of great information but still not finding much specifically geared towards "on ice" Coyote trapping.

So here's the scenario...

I have a 5 acre pond surrounded by cattails behind my home. I have bait on the pond that the coyotes are getting comfortable coming too. Usually at this point I snare them, that's effective I know. The thing is there always seem to be a lot of random coyotes that use their own trail and wander out on the ice. Im still going to snare but im wondering what some good options would be to try and foothold a couple that arent sticking to the trails that the snares are on. Im hoping I learn some interesting trapping methods to share in this process!

One advantage ill have is I will still be snaring the high percentage trails so I wont have "all my eggs in one basket". 2nd, my house is about 300-500 yards from this pond so I will be able to have a constant watch on all my sets and can also see how the tracks are responding to them through the spotting scope in the picture window at all times.

I snared/shot 26 coyotes off this pond 2 years ago over the winter and want to continue aggressively keeping after them. Id love to hear any tips/tricks you could recommend to try in my scenario.

Oh and this is West Central Minnesota. Thanks all!

SWIFFY

You can chop out a trap bed in the ice, just cant go too deep and hit water then your bed ia ruined, and use wax dirt to bed the trap.

The only set I know of that works on ice is the hay set. The toughest part is getting the trap stable but can be done with a flat sitting trap. Snow to bed in would be perfect. I wouldn't trust stakes but drags work well.

Id really like to try this... have hay sets been proven effective for coyotes?? It seems they are very good on fox but I haven't really seen much as far as their effectiveness on yotes? Thanks



I kinda figured this. The ice is going to be 2' feet thick by now so id be luck if I could even find water. Its been 0 to -20 for a month!

How low would you go? Pan level with the top of the ice or keep it slightly lower and cover with sifted dirt/snow.

There is a guy on the wilderness forum (HFK) who catches coyotes regularly in hay sets. I think he actually uses canary grass or something similar from on his line, but calls it a hay set and is the same principle.

Can you backtrail where they come on the ice and set a leghold on land in dry dirt ? Maybe even line the trap bed with crumpled wax paper before adding the dry dirt. If you go with bedding in ice you could try power bedding the trap.

Give little Perkins a pat on the head for me!

I use straw most of the time because the deer get into the hay. It takes a while for the coyotes to hit the set compared to fox but they do work them.

I would stick to hanging cable.

For anchoring you could always drill through the ice and tie off to the middle of a piece of rebar. Slide it down the hole vertically then pull up to set it sideways against the bottom of the ice and it won't go anywhere until you bust it out.

Id try to still keep the pan about a half inch below the surface. Of course, of snow starts piling up you may have to go play on the snow instead.

Really any kind of flat set will work. If you can find old muskrat huts or feedbeds or anything that gives some elevation, makes for great spots as they stick out and canines will mark them

The area I trap have many small creeks , rivers that are slow moving and freeze up every winter. These are very busy travel routes for all critters. I use snares a lot during the winter and still struggle finding places in these spots for snares. Unless beaver are cutting channels through the cattails or grass. Those are great spots for snares. But some of these water ways the canines will travel a very long distance without leaving the ice. Very hard to narrow them down. I haven't tried foothold there yet.

Little weedy ditches and creeks in winter here are highways for coyotes, fox and cats. I move a little brush here and there to pinch things down slightly and hang snares. You can drive bullet stakes into ice and through to the bottom easily. Drill a hole with a cordless and 1" bit if ice is really thick then pound in the earth anchor to the bottom. Holds well.
Sometimes I set my old coon pocket sets with footholds along the ice too. You should see how they dig at old pockets trying to get to the old fish and lure smells still in those holes. The sides of steep creek banks you can still find dry and crumbly dirt. Check under bridges too. Thst stuff makes a great shelf at the pocket just fill a couple buckets of it to make sets. Flatten it out in front of the pocket. Then use your waxed dirt on top to actually bed the trap in.
I got a lot of coyotes and cats at old coon pockets over the years this way.

jabNE that is some good info. The high banks would help. But a lot of my area the banks are bog and grass, not really much for banks.

Thanks for all the replies fellas. Im going to set traps ands snares on Tuesday and will keep you posted on whats happening. Im going to go with the hay set for sure. I also may try some kind of mound type set with a lot of chicken manure i have from our coop.

I know waxed dirt is a must but I dont have any and dont know how to make it. If Im going to winter trap, I can see that this is going to be a must! I have a few other off the wall ideas I may try just for the sake of being different!

Please keep sending any comments or advice you might have, im open to all suggestions!

Thank you,

Swiffy

Nice... It makes me think of the "Winterset Trap Bed"... has anyone tried those?

Ive thought about making something similar out of wood that's round, then it could be made to fit in a 6", 8", or 10" auger hole. NO CHOPPING or bedding... just auger your perfect bed in seconds and drop the wood in the circle and cover.... in theory it could work very good and literally takes seconds to set on ice.... maybe i'll have to do a prototype and try it

Thanks!

Hey Owen! Man I can find you anywhere can’t I!

No dry dirt, or not that not under 2’ of snow. It would be easier but the whole point is I want to learn how to get them ON the ice!

Perk say thanks! 🙂

You can really block frozen creeks down with some brush and weeds just lay them on the ice. Leave a little squeeze area on side or both sides and set both openings.

Swiffy contact MTP they usually have some on hand and can have in a day.

Swiffy, I'm like the Beach Boys, "I get around" but......I only hang around with the best of the best as it brings me to a higher level.

Nice looking English Setter