Morning Sir!

Good coyote conversation MC.

While catch circles are coyote magnets in many places, coyote behavior around circles here is sketchy even on the best day. In many cases gang sets too close to a fresh circle will go cold as well. It’s guilt by association if you will.

Even though the two trails showed nothing but coyote tracks, I can’t ignore the fact that we have hoards of javelina in the area. Trails in dense cover like the ones shown are where they like to travel the most. Groups of twenty to thirty are a common occurrence. Because of their overwhelming numbers, using snares is just not practical here. As an example, if you set a snare on the perimeter, twenty javelina would pass there before the first coyote came by.

Here is one of the smaller groups.

Good Morning Coyote Crew!


Here’s a set you might try out if you get the opportunity.


There was an existing set on this side of the guard.

A coyote showed his appreciation by leaving a deluxe calling card at the bend on the opposite side.

There was very little traffic on the far side turn.




Both marks were scooped up and carefully placed at the existing set on a high traffic trail.




Some folks won’t use scat in the same area they found it thinking it will have better appeal on new turf.


The coyotes here didn’t get that memo.

The only problem is if I blow up that trail with a catch they will quit using it immediately.

If they switch trails on me, I am not likely to find the new one for lack of sign.

I could have put a blind set at each location and picked up those two coyotes pretty quick, but then the trails would be avoided indefinitely.

The two trails shown are coming from the direction of a bedding area.

I didn’t want to mess a good thing up.
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TEJAS,

I think this is some of the best information in this thread for the guy wanting or needing to make a dent in a given population of coyotes.

You’re not just looking at catching the next coyote, you’re looking at catching multiple coyotes in days to come at a hot location.

Great information and thanks for sharing your knowledge with us!

Predator camo is hard to beat.




I’ll set the Inside bend where there is good sign every single time.




Life is hard in the South Texas Brush Country.


Female - Flat Set – G-Dog Urine - Coyotero

Got a bad ear

Good Sunday Morning Coyote Crew!




That would be my normal MO Gary.

If I had a bigger population at this time I would definitely set up more like you suggested.

The low numbers and pressure really change the way I approach the situation.

I usually won’t blind set with really low numbers, especially when the only trails I have coming to the location are heavily used by deer.

There are not enough contestants left to have a group show up at the carcass, so I don’t set way back for coyotes waiting in the wings.

I try to keep in mind that the survivors are on high alert. Because of this, I don’t want several new smells at the location, and I certainly don’t want any old smells I’ve already used.

This is a tough sell with only a few potential takers. We will see how it plays out.

Four nights have passed since traps were bedded and only one coyote has made a pass by the carcass as far as I can tell.

With our normal coyote numbers, that deer wouldn't have made it past the first night.

Most folks only show their catches.

You don’t see many photos where the coyote wins the round.

There are misses, drive-bys, digs, calling cards, and then you have this.



No, it’s not a coon. I wish it was. This was the only coyote sign I saw on the roads while running the line yesterday.

The set was positioned with the trap on the upwind side of the attractant for the last two catches.

You can see where the coyote stood at the bottom of the photo on the downwind side of the set deciding on a game plan.

She did approach from the downwind side of the set, but pulled up short of the attractant. She then hit the upwind side and pulled up the trap with the swipe of a paw.

I chose the right angle for approach, but the wrong placement for the trap. What worked for the last two wise guys doesn't necessarily work for all of them.

Keep in mind digs will usually occur on the back or side of your set if your trap is on the downwind side of the attractant. Backing will not deter this mayhem in most cases.

The trap was rebedded on the downwind side of the attractant where it was for the first catch.

Might be time for ya to pull out for a few weeks.

Heck Swamp, it’s just now getting fun.

Besides, what doesn’t kill them makes em’ stronger.

We can’t have that.


That wise guy will slip up there just like the last three did.

Is all your trapping on one ranch? If so, you probably got some slow days ahead.

How did you determine it was a female James?
My money is on you winning the overall chess match with her

I just trap for this ranch Swamp.

It’s been slow from the start, so nothing really new there.

A few real slow days on line don't bother me near as much as finding a few dead fawns in the fall.

I try my best to grind these coyotes into the ground. That is my objective.

Once the roads go stone cold and remain that way, then I will pull up the line.

I was wondering if someone would catch that.

Most of the time when I get unearthed traps, digs, or chaos in general it’s usually an adult female.

II can’t recall many tappers mentioning this on T-Man, but it certainly seems to be the case here.


It would be interesting to hear from some of the coyote men on this subject.

Who causes more mayhem on your line, adult males or females?

FEMALES !!! Every instance I’ve had a bad yote problem. That problem hasn’t went away until I’ve caught a mature female. Worked a job that they were killing goats. Caught nine yotes and got all confident that I had the problem solved. Let the traps soak another couple days for good measure. The day I was going to pull dead goat out side the fence. Pulled everything and set new subtle flat sets. Caught an old male that night and an old female in my crooked stick flat set in a tire track the second night. 10 years now since they have lost a goat.
Set a deer lease once where the owner was getting 5 and 6 yotes at the same time in his trail cam pics. Sign everywhere. 10 sets all dug out first night and for about the next three nights. Caught one young male and he was chewed up bad.
One frosty morning I could see a slight trail coming out of the bottom with yote tracks on it. Went down the trail to a bend and made a big dirt hole. Then backed up each way where the yote would first see this and put in trail set. Next morning had an old ugly female in a trail set. After that no more dig ups and killed 13 more yotes in 12 days.

The males here I feel are much easier to catch. When I set up an area with established yotes the mature males seem to be among the first caught. Bullies imo. Usually in a urine/gland type set. Old females with worn or no teeth are my “trophies “.
Killem till they cry momma Tejas!!!

Thanks Good post Rob!
When I took instructions from Vern Howey in Wyoming he stressed that when a pair of coyotes responded to a predator call, the female would always trail the male. Vern said if you want to reduce your coyote population kill her first as the male would be easier to catch when trapping. Darn females! Lol

Well that would make sense as to why I catch mostly males…I’m getting the stupid ones, lol.

I would agree mostly female trouble maker's,I did have one big male that was a big time problem child finally nailed him,he had all of his toes which really surprised me.Got him at a blind set 3' from a set,I had 2 blind sets just out from the original set along with other flat sets in the close quarters no place to hang a snare either.He fought that trap HARD!!!!When I walked up to him,he laid down and stared at me never moving,he knew he had lost the chess game.

Did you reset the same spot? if so please post up the new set . I am curious to see the trap placement this is good schooling for me.I ran into this last week myself but I did not have enough time left to play the game my week off came to an end.

I pulled a little bait and switch to get this gal off the road and to the set.


Female - Flat Set - G-Dog Urine - JL #1


With the set on the trail downwind of the road I had to have a way of stop any coyote traveling upwind.
A small shot of urine in the middle of the two track did just that’
It stopped her long enough to find the flat set.




I always watch where coyotes enter and exit the sendero while in the deer stand.
This is one of those locations. Notice the trail behind the circle.




Chew sticks are always picked up and used at other sets.