I normally deploy Gumbo strictly on recon missions.

This time I brought him along to run the line just for fun.


This Catahoula is as game as it gets. His prey drive meter is stuck on 10. He does not play.

If he is cut loose on a coyote he will not stay on the edge of the circle and act tough or bay.

Here is what the Gumbo wants to get at.

They can dig, but they can't hide.

You are just having too much fun James.

Understood. This is all new to me so I'm learning. I don't have the luxury of nice sand roads for them to give themselves away. Here it's A lot of rock and or frozen ground. Snow is my best bet to find the tracks. It mostly melted last week but yesterday we got 4" fresh snow. At obvious pinch points before the snow along the river there were deer tracks and coyote tracks almost like clockwork. I didn't want the deer snapping off the traps so I set slightly off to the side at something obvious like a log to get their attention. Little bit of urine and gland lure. Camera's on them. All I'm getting is pics of the deer. The coyotes that made the tracks have moved on or haven't come back yet. No pics. Up in the cliffs I found a few trails on benches. Below the cliff, the mule deer and the coyotes seem to be running together on the same trails. Lot's of rabbit, rat, mice and even porcupine tracks in the brush.. My guess is The coyotes are hunting. I got them on camera but so far no luck. They step right over the trap or to the side. Missed them by inches. It doesn't appear that they avoided them. They just got lucky and didn't step in the right spot. Blind Flat sets in wax dirt where the trail winds through between 2 rocks. I thought they might be frozen. I checked them last night. The Wax dirt is doing it's job. They worked perfectly. I didn't have time last night but I intend to double up the traps on those trails. I also put out 2 beaver carcasses w/ the prevailing wind blowing into the woods at 2 gate openings. It's a woven wire fence so coyotes for the most part have to go through that opening. I backed the carcasses up to the fence so the coyotes have to come from the front. I have 3 K9 Jr's and a camera in front of both. Only Magpies so far. However it's a north wind this week so the wind is not in my favor. Fingers crossed. It's been fun and educational.

1Simplemann, are there some good stretches of bare dirt along the trails in your area?

Do you have both cattle and game trails?

You Betcha’ Mr. Jameson!

It is as fun and educational as you make it!

My Catahoula takes that enthusiasm to another level.

Both of these sets were remake catches.




Adult Male - Flat Set




Juvenile Male - Flat Set

Right now no bare dirt. 4" of fresh Snow. More on the way and more COLD. Below 0 temps for a week. Farmer usually doesn't put his cows in this area much till calving. Even then they are not where I'm trapping. He mostly just farms this property. Mostly game trails on the areas that he doesn't farm. Saturday I'm gonna head out and see what the snow tells me. I know I'm close. REAL close. Last night I had one on camera that I would bet $100 he's standing on it. I'm almost positive that one is bedded in wax dirt. They are educated for sure. Neighbor ranch puts pressure on them. It's trapped and has night vision predator callers on it.

You can probably guess what kind of sets they show them next door.

Holes & flashy looks are probably the main course.

Show them something different and you will get a lot more play.

Think Really subtle looks. Be generous with bait and urine, but use lure VERY sparingly.


I see a spinning coyote or three in your future.

Good Luck !

Do any of you coyote trappers ever get the old sidelong glance ?



I see this quite often.

He says "Dangit, outsmarted"

Bombastic side eye

Yep had that look a time or to.

The look your dog gives you when you caught him doing what he knows he shouldn't have done, and is wondering what you're going to do about it LOL.

Great pics

The Stink Eye!

I had not thought of that. Not only am I competing w/ the coyotes, i am competing w/ the other trapper. I talked to him. He said was 65 and that he doesn't get out of his truck to check traps so I'm guessing his sets are close to the road and very obvious. I have not been generous w/ bait or urine. I'll make the adjustment.

Since it got cold, I'm starting to see some action on the cameras. Several near misses. I think my traps are frozen. Heading out to check them w/ the Grandkids as soon as they get here.