My dad suddenly wants to come visit and not sure if I'll have time to check the traps I just set. Y'all got any suggestions on ways I can temporarily take my traps out of commission without tripping them? I'd rather not have to go and have to remake every set, but I'll trip them so I'm not in a bind later if I have to. My first thought was bucket lids and rocks, but I think that might set them off. They are all MB 550s

How many traps we talking? For me it would be as fast to trip them and reset, especially if ground is not frozen and dry as it it would be to gather up and place any kind of material over set.

It's only 8 so not a lot at all. Maybe I just need to be faster at setting traps haha. A few other thoughts are that I don't have enough bucket lids to go around which means I'd have to buy some more, but that won't happen because I'm too cheap. And I'm not too fond of the idea of putting a bunch of bucket lids everywhere and it looks really suspicious to anything moving though. Perhaps I'm overthinking it

I had buy a dozen buckets and lids here recently and like everything they seemed quite expensive compared to last time I bought some.

lf you could find some old asphalt shingles, you can cover your sets easily and put something on top to blend them in well. You can sift dirt over them and put a few rocks, bark wood or some branches to help hold in place. However, the other consideration should be your trap check laws in your state.

Yes sir! It's crazy!

That's a good idea. Probably could go to the hardware store and find some rejects. Probably won't be able to get them in time this time, but I'll get some as a contingency for next. It's 36 hours here in Texas, but I try hard to keep it at 24 or sooner. Thanks for the ideas y'all

Don’t feel bad, I’ve got a few dozen to pull here this week sometime and praying for a little rain before I have to!! Leave out Saturday for a couple of weeks, but don’t want to trip and leave. Don’t know it a critter coming up and seeing them tripped would hurt me or not, so I’ll just pull and reset when I get back.
Probably gonna move to another property anyways. Got a landowner that started feeding deer again and now has critters…imagine that. It’s crazy how a property can fill up over a few months time, especially by adding a food supply.

Not sure what your setup looks like but I run disposable anchors on cables that attach to the the trap chain at/around ground level. If it were me, I would trip the traps, use your J-hook tool to uncrimp the J-hook connector and remove your traps while leaving the cable/anchor submerged and intact - and then when it's time to reset, bring out some fresh J-hooks (important) and re-connect the trap chain to the already driven anchor and re-make the set. It's either that or trip the trap and just let it sit visible for a few days, which I have done but don't like doing, and I have caught coyotes afterwards.

take Dad along on checks

Just take him with you. Especially since it’s only 8 sets. He’ll probably enjoy it

Disc blades. Talk to a farmer, most have some old ones laying around. Better look up what is considered a set and your check laws. Even covered might be considered a set.

Thanks Wanna Be! Hopefully you get some rain and catch lots of yotes at the next property

Ok that's a good idea. I just tripped them today and left them. I'll have to try that next time

Keets and G Hose,

I'd like to someday, but at the moment he can't understand why I don't just shoot them when I see them haha. I need to get better and then I can show how effective trapping is

Ok I'll have to check to see if I can get some discs. That's true, I could see why that could get you in trouble

No check laws for coyotes in Texas, they are not classified as furbearer in Tx

I was wondering why not take him along. When family visits us we don't change our schedule. Right now we have family coming to visit and we are in full swing running catfish nets and fishing. If they don't want to come they can set at our house and find something to do as we don't have TV. Unless they are physically unable to tag along, we don't entertain them.

Can't tell you how many in-laws just happen to schedule a visit during alligator season when we are in full swing running lines. Or want to visit during duck season. Or want to visit when we are running crawfish traps in the basin.

Even better! Thanks Yotegiter

Sounds like y'all are busy! I don't blame you on that though and normally I would have been the same way, but he wanted to help me build a porch so I couldn't let him be working on it while I was away haha