Seems I posted something way back about my catch rate increasing when I started checking after daylight and was told time of day had nothing to do with it…by most on here. Guess it all depends on who says it, lol.

I have caught 2 coyotes after a 4am check (prior to going to work).

I know for a fact I’ve run coyotes off when checking way before daylight. Every time, I got excited seeing eyes at the set only to see them run off and immediately start doubting my sets or actual traps. Every time I’ve apparently rode up on them checking out the set instead of being in the set!
I check in the AM and go back after work to reset and have critters in the sets. Even had a manager call me one morning 2 hours after daylight asking if I missed one cause he’s sitting looking at a coyote in a trap. He was on the tractor and saw it standing there and was about to shoot when he saw it lunge and realized it was caught.

I've touched on this before, but it warrants another look.

When trappers get a deep paw catch many think the coyote was really committed to the set.

I believe the exact opposite is actually happening in many cases. I think it's because they are wary of the offering, and are crawling up to the attractant.

You can easily see how this could happen when the coyote has his front legs parallel to the ground while belly crawling.

This could also account for the occasional elbow catch as well. It seems to be a more likely culprit than the roll.

This occurs most often with new objects or baits. The same can apply to smells and visuals you might use at your sets.




Some might think the coyote is getting lower just to gain access to the pig.

I don’t believe that is the case because they do the same thing when in front of a skinned carcass.



This is not an isolated incident. I see this behavior over and over again.

So you’re saying you think they crawl to a dirt hole, pipe, or flat set? That’s where all my deep of catches come from. I know of NO one that sets a trap that close to a carcass without catching a buzzard.
I could see maybe crawling to a carcass, but my trail cam pics of catches show them upright and walking when caught in the above mentioned sets. That goes for bobcats and fox as well.

I know they will WB.

I’m saying that there are times where they will crawl up to anything that they are really apprehensive of.

That includes a set of any kind. Avoidance can occur with any attractant whether visual or olfactory.

Even a familiar sight, smell, or fresh bait new to the scene can cause this.

I believe this happens more that we realize, and accounts for some of the deep leg and elbow catches.

When I say deep paw/leg catch, I don’t mean paw flat on the pan. The paw is past the pan to the frame or beyond. The leg is usually parallel to the jaws of the trap. I saw a trapper post a photo that fit this description last season. His set was made on a fence line where the coyote had to crawl under on his belly to get caught.

I've seen where a coyote crawled up to a flat set from multiple angles. He walked away from the set on that particular day.

Coyotes might not illustrate that kind of behavior where they don’t get a lot of pressure. Then again it might be pure instinct that makes them creep up to something they are extremely wary of.

In the past I've had trappers in high pressure areas tell me they had coyotes crawl on their sets as well.

I have been fortunate to have witnessed this a few times in Maine while bear hunting over bait. I had two different coyotes come in to one bait site and they would slowly crawl up to the bait barrel. Often aborting several times before actually committing to the barrel. I had never experienced this before and questioned the camp skinner who was also an accomplished trapper in the area. He stated the same thing as Tejas about taking that approach to anything they are apprehensive of.

Yotes have a relationship with crows here big time. I’ve been driving a grain cart for a month now during harvest and have seen some pretty interesting yote behavior. Took some pics and videos. Soon as I get some time I’ll post them here. They definitely know what a combine is and how to work the fields. Seen at least a dozen rabbits caught.

Ok, gotcha now. Yes I have had a couple catches where it looked like their foot had “slipped” through almost where it was caught WAY above the pad. Dummy me thought it was almost like a delayed fire for some reason and he had almost like slipped on the pan. Makes sense now, lol.

Tejas, as far as trap placement, how do place your trap as far as levers go? Levers pointed towards the bait/lure or the other way? Not sure what traps your running but for most guys loose jaw away from bait/lure? Just curious if if you think it matters?

MB 550 OS is what I use.

I’m put the levers at three and nine, with the dog at twelve facing the attractant.

I don’t like the levers at twelve and six because I feel there might be a better chance of a coyote stepping on the very end of the lever dislodging the trap from its bed.

Another reason for that trap position is I do not get a lot of three and nine o’clock approaches. That is where I want the levers to be.

I don’t think it really matters which way the trap faces as far as diggers are concerned. They will jack the set up regardless of position.

Difference between GA coyotes/buzzards and yours. Shot this pig Sept 29, 2022…pic was taken this afternoon on the way in hunting. I’ve caught coyote/fox/cats within 50 yards of where I dropped this pig, lol.

It’ll eventually rot away to nothing I hope. Quail season starts in a few weeks and if it ain’t gone by then, then we’ll have to cover it to keep the dogs out of it.

Here's one way to keep a coyote busy.

It's the trapping version of “Rope-A- Dope”.


Here comes an unsuspecting victim looking to snatch a midday snack.


The time is 11 o’clock on a cloudless day.

He found out there's no free lunch.

Good stuff Tejas ! I was thinking of making a few deer hide sets like that.

Also I had a question for you. On a set day how many sets can you put in comfortably ? At this point I don’t know if I’m slow or not lol !

I wouldn’t worry so much about how many traps you can get out in a day.

I would focus on getting good sets out on location.

When you are on the sign take that extra minute to pinpoint exactly where you want your set.

Make that set stand out from a location standpoint before you think about the visual aspect of the presentation.

It can make a huge difference in your catch.

You can do a lot of damage with as few as two or three dozen traps if they are set in the right location.


Mr. Lucero has told me time and time again you don’t need to set a lot of traps to catch coyotes in numbers if your sets are good and in the right place.

You can take that advice to the bank.

Here is the low crawl posture again.

This coyote is spring-loaded to the rear ready to jump back.


The bait is a fresh deer pelvis.

This coyote spent a lot more time on the ground working the bait than she did standing up in front of it.

This might be something to keep in mind if you are thinking about using exposed bait.

Do you split the hide on the hogs ? I've found that splitting the hide with a utility knife from the neck to base of the tail really helps the scavengers clean up the carcass. I've had 150 lb sows cleaned up to just the skeleton in 48 hours.