I want to continously reuse the same trapping spots for the most part. Is it better to take the animals away alive so other animals won't avoid the site because they smell all the blood of their kinsmen there?

Thanks

I don't. Seems to be fine with a little blood in the area.

I use the same trap locations that are producing year after year. I don’t change traps and I dispatch the animals where I find them. The most fox I have caught in a single season, from one trap at the same location is 15. The most raccoons from one trap at a single location in one season is 9. If it matters I haven’t noticed.

I will add that they are good locations with consistent sign.

Of course there are folks here who have been trapping before I was born, and have forgotten more than I have ever known. They will be along soon to let you know how they do it.

I’ve killed 7 fox at one set this year. If anything the smell of blood makes a predator stick around and investigate longer, IMO. I’ve never seen any evidence that killing an animal at the set cause any apprehension from other predators

Blood is a natural attraction, that's what predators eat.

Nope, only humans have issues with death.

No

In the case of red fox I've never seen refusals. Coyotes and even coon I've had circle shy, and gray fox to. Usually if the population is low. I wouldn't think blood at the set would be a factor. My guess is caution lack of competition has more to do with it. Some may call me out on the circle shy coon. I would have until I went from IA to AZ .the coon were very circle shy in low numbers. I see it accasionaly here in Wy.

Never had a problem with this, and remakes just get better and better.
Jim

X2

Had a single set catch 4 coyotes a redfox and a bobcat, the set looked like a tornado had hit so I reset and put a walk thru on the back side thinking the coyotes might avoid the front, the traps were less than two ft. apart the stakes were next to each other next catch was a pair of coyotes.they were all dispatched with a .22.

No makes it better IMO ...Jon

Get a death ray an don't worry about it

Only makes it better

There where some well known trappers that would tell anyone that listened that if you caught a possum in a canine set you had to make another set because the smell of the possum ruined the set .I was dumb enough to believe that for awhile But I know now that is not the case .However as several have mentioned some critters will not cross into a trap circle . I have had some success with making a set on the edge of the circle without any lure or bait and catching foxes .

James Mast explains circle shy critters in his book,has nothing to do with the blood or torn up area.

I remember that, back in the days before the internet, guys would have you believe you had to be a trapping god to catch a fox because they were that smart and difficult to catch. Even the written methods were so over the top with the scent-control methods they advocated. Nowadays we all know that's not true.

Most of my catch is red fox, all are dispatched without blood so it's mostly a non-issue with me. When I do have to shoot something I don't worry about a little blood at the set. Like others have mentioned, I've caught a dozen or more fox at the same set in one season.

Your mileage may differ with coyote.

The first reliable source (Charlie Dobbins) told me one time that no matter how careful you are about scent control you can never convince a fox that you where not there He farther explained that your goal must be to make the fox think your presence there is no danger to him .After that he said the best thing to do is make your set properly (Solid Bedding ) and make it as quick as possible and than leave and stay far enough away when checking .That was some of the best trapping advice I ever received from someone in the trapping business.

Pretty sure i saw it on this site about coons and this very problem. Since then i have absolutely noticed that after catching a coon in a DP, that that spot will most likely not catch another coon within the next few days. Always exceptions and i'm usually to lazy to pull them and move them a few yards away but just this year had a spot that was littered with coon tracks. Caught 3 in 3 DP's the first night. None of those 3 were touched after that. Caught coon around the area but never in those 3 again. That's just one small example but for years it's been one and done at most locales for me

No ...