Sorta embarrassed to even ask this, but if you don’t know you just don’t know.

So here’s the situation…I’m on a property where the landowner was having a problem. I won’t go into said problem, but that problem has been taken care of. I went ahead and set most of the property for other “problems” and asked the landowner (like I ask all my landowners) to let me know if he has anything on any of his cameras.

Well he sent me some videos last week and said this coyote has been on this camera the last three nights. I find out where the camera is and go make some sets. Unlike most areas in the North and West, there are very few places to see tracks so we set where we “think” critters will be. I make sets based on where the coyote was walking.

Now in the last video, it looked to me like it was carrying a pup in its mouth. I even sent it to my son and asked what he thought without mentioning my thoughts. He also said a pup. Based on the video it appeared she was heading slightly off the property. These videos were also during a time we (his property) got some serious rain.

Now for the question…where did they go? After making the sets, all that he’s gotten on camera are deer. Three nights in a row…I make sets…they disappear. I’ve had this happen before. I told a buddy, I may not can catch them, but I set and they vacate the area. Why????

It’s not like they’re coming through and I’m missing them or they’re spooked. They’re just gone…poof! Disappeared. And I have a camera up as well watching from a different approach. Heck I don’t even go back there unless I think a deer might have tripped a set, so it’s not like a lot of human scent or activity is going on.

I’m sure I did something wrong and I figured this is the best place to let me know what it was, lol. I’m thick skinned and tough, lay it on me.

No idea. Does the property (more specifically where you were on the property) normally get a lot of human presence this time of year or was it abnormally high when you were taking care of the initial issues?

That’s the only guess I would have is they bounced due to pressure. As to where they went, somewhere else!

Pressure, Disturbance too close to a den site and/or weather can play a big factor if the preferred denning areas have been compromised by flooding. Not always easy to make that call as to why.

X2 on what Mr Jameson says !!!! I always say = small acre = is a recipe for disaster. I just refuse to work jobs under 1200 acres. When you work small places. These type things happens. It DOESNT have to be your fault either. Logging crews. Survey treams. Workers spraying for Coogan Grass. Owners kids riding around on weekend. The list of = what may happen. Is almost to long to list.

Wanna Be. Another thing. To keep in mind. According to research. About every 2 weeks. In the south at least. Coyote will move its den. Reasons like = flea’s and feces build up in = the actual den WILL cause a coyote to move. SO. They may move den. On their own.

Patience.

They will return.

This is 100% true. But they may return as juvenile pups. Killing and eating everything. OR their parents will be killing THATS the problem in the south! Impatient landowners. And a belief in the QDMA stratagy of trapping.

WB, that is a good question. I have run into this lately myself. Guys calling with game cam pics of coyotes a couple nights and when I get there to set no more pics . Tracks on the road and make some sets and nothing. I was able to make a few sets this past weekend setting on sign I had scouted the previous weekend. I picked up 3 on the second night but that was it . None were caught close to where a guy was telling me where he had them on cam . In my short time in the coyote game I have learned that this time of the year is tough. I am also learning that the more I trap on the properties I have access too ,the harder they are to catch.

Lots of time. Simple is best. Slip on in. Use drags only. Set Flat Sets only Use Very little lure. Use very little urine. Make it look like you where never their. Be = Super Ninja Quiet STOP using dirt holes ! Their a dead giveaway. And a training tool for educating coyotes

And don't forget to say the next coyote u catch within 2 miles of there was the tough one, makes u look like a Super Trapper.

Sounds like a winner!!! LoL !

I love the whole = camera thing ! Like seeing 10 coyote pictures on camera on 320 acres means theirs like 10 coyotes inside that tiny high fence. LoL ! Or the guy that thinks = He has a positive ID on a coyote. Like its a Border Patrol 20000 dollar camera ! LoL!

Somebody gotta try and catch em on the small tracts too.

You make fun but these cameras have sound and can speak through them. I sometimes wonder if he hasn’t yelled at them. I know he has with his initial issue at the front gate. And yes, electric gate with a key pad and my “own” passcode, lol. It’s not like he can’t see every time I ride through. But to his credit, that’s the only camera on a road. All the others are off the beaten path. In fact some make no sense to me, but he does kill a Booner every other year out there and it’s not high fenced. It’s only 664.7ac and bordered by a quail plantation. I’m sure they trap as well and year round too. It would be nice if he would bring loads of sand in and sand all his roads, for track purposes.
As far as urine, quit using it. Not sure what our deer find so alluring about urine, but every set I’ve used urine has resulted in deer tripping them. Even had to move a set because they’d come through every evening taking turns who would trip it. Even my son said this deer season he’s pouring fox or coyote urine in a bucket and just dipping his boots in it before heading to his stand. It’s literally a deer magnet.

Wanna Be you are correct. You have to tailor your trap setting to where you are. High deer density or cows. Means no urine for me too. People trapping around you can be a BIG problem too! Someone making unnatural dirt holes. Using old Duke traps. And toeing them can be a MAJOR problem ! LoL!

Swamp Wolf. You are correct. My point is. He is doing nothing wrong. I personally dont like small property because = to much You Cant control! I know longer believe lots of what I use to believe! After being in different western states. And doing things different I feel + = impatient landowners on micro properties are no longer what I want to have to deal with. I am getting to old for their BS. Give me land. Lots of land is my new song !!! LoL!

Dont get me wrong guys. Making the landowner happy is all that matters in the coyote removal business. I will be in Central Alabama this Thursday or Friday setting up a small 3000 acre job. I only took it because the owner pays so well. Plus I get to come home and see my daughter. And be home every night. So I get it. I just dont want to do it 365 in the south anymore

My experience is totally opposite on tract size. My largest property is only 300 acres. Most are less than 1, or at least a collection of several less than one with a house sitting on each.

They definitely will move if disturbed right on top of a den. But in my case disturbance is a relative thing. If they moved everytime a human came near they would be a neurotic mess.

My best sets are the pinch points, and routes between houses are full of pinch points. But sometimes it is a waiting game as Swamp says.

Honestly though I feel for y'all that set on tracts where you might be the only set of tire tracks they'll see this month. Y'all can't fart without the dogs knowing it.
I know I get away with all sorts of crap that wouldn't fly for y'all.

I've come to the conclusion that putting a camera over a coyote set or setting traps where a camera has seen a coyote is the Kiss of Death. Either they never come back again, flat ignore the set, or just dance around it. Only once have a caught a coyote that had a camera over it

I think too much credit is given to coyotes. Their nose tells them all they need to know about any trap set location. They ain't smart...most are cautious/spooky of fresh disturbances, especially where humans have been recently.

When you think they have left the area...they have not.

Swamp Wolf. I think you are 95 % correct. But I have seen some educated - smart coyotes that are in the 5 % that make me think they are smart and capable of reasoning. A truly educated or smart coyote. Just leaves. Ane goes else where. Those are the 1s that are hardest to catch

If they have pups they will leave. I think Coyotes from a survival stand point are smarter than dogs and I've seen some pretty smart dogs, but just like people Coyotes got to learn and be taught. Pretty easy to think the coyote you just caught is the one your after when there's plenty of coyotes around. Get into an area where coyotes have a pretty small home range where they regularly find your sets in the first 48 hours and are onto the game and recognize "your" scent. It can make you pull your hair out.

Learned and taught behavior in coyotes often save them from being caught. Smart females. Give birth to and teach the Female pups she raises to be = Smart Females. IF they live. Plus 1 on they know your smell ! Start the game off right. Make EVERY set like you are going after a = 8 year old 3 toed female and you will have less problems. Have a plan. Catch them BEFORE they know you are after them. IF you can

My problem is I'm new enough at this game that I might still be dealing with the coyotes that were learning the same time I was learning the basics here on my home turf. But I'm not a bounty hunter and it's still fun playing cat and mouse with the tricky ones. Just hope that none of the pups are learning the game from the parents because at some point it will get a little hard on my ego. Lol. I like learning and the challenge, if I really wanted to win I'd hang a bunch of snares in the area. I run test lures year around in my area and that probably helps them recognize my scent. You would think that that would cause them to let there guard down by the time trapping season rolls around but I'm almost convinced a few can tell whether I just walk up and put out a good odor for them to sample or if I spend more time there and bury a trap too. My old dog knew if the formulation was safe to sample or if there was a trap guarding it.

Craig O’Gorman talked about = having a trap line dog. That was on line 365 with him. He ran 200 traps some days. That being said. The dog was exposed to traps 365. But he caught the dog about 2 times a year. So did the dog forget ? Mess up and think trap was gone ? Smell really old or faint ? Point is = it got caught. So any think can be caught. Just may take a LONG time ! LoL!

Yes I could believe that. I would be curious what kind of sets it would get caught in. I could see an aged blind set being deadly even to the smartest dog. Then maybe a scent post with good pee as the dog would be exposed to a lot of natural ones regularly.

Country or city the smartest of the bunch in any species is mama. They got babies to care for.

But yes, definitely a learned behavior. More often than not when targeting denned canines I'll snag mama first or dead last if at all. And it's Katy bar the door if pups are the first caught.

Yea Sir. I dont think that sets may matter. My guess would be Flat Sets. According to biologists. Depending on = humidity heat and so on. Human scent molecules dissolve in 24 to 36 hrs depending. SO after 2 days all human scent is gone ? So if we put = lure or urine on something like wood or q tip or sheeps wool smell is their for a while? So with undisturbed ground. Nothing unnatural to a coyote AKA a dirt hole. I believe IF natural on day or night 3. Human scent is no more So good flat set. Good lite amount of lure? Catches that old female

I’ve learned that lure/bait last a very very long time. Deer will visit a set that is 3 weeks old and sat through inches of rain. If they can still smell it then I’m sure a coyote can. The issue with deer is they check out everything, they have no preference, lol!!

For some, truly understanding how long lure and a blended bait can last may take manyyyyyyyyyy years to sink into to their way of thinking.

Once you figure that out and leave behind the " more lure is better train of thought ", the better success they will begin having. For trapping non pressured areas and YOY animals it is generally an easy peezy routine. Run and gun so to speak.

Get beyond that time of year and circumstances you will start getting an education that will challenge your soul and skill at times.

O'Gorman popularizer the mafia set)two trap trail set) We wouldn't be surprised if that was the set that caught the dog. There really isn't a anything to give that set away unless you're blending is horrible.

Sniperbbb. I just think. The point is = after = X amount of days. Dog doesnt smell human. People talk about smelling the steel ? As in the coyote smells the trap? Depends on where you are I say ! I have seen USDA government trappera catch = bad sheep killers that where = female and OLD with rusty traps. The point? Rust and Steel buried in the West. Is just something a coyote expected to smell. Now somewhere else ? May be no.

I agree Chris with the old rusty steel traps. Seen it and have done it just to prove that fact. You can get away with some things in some areas or parts of the country where circumstances can be totally different in another situation and part of the country.

More dry conditions seem to allow you to get away with rusty traps while another area you better have your A game equipment ready.

Much, if not all of the animal reactions I do believe are the result of single element or many such as human frequency presence / trapping / hunting / calling pressure in those areas.

There can be some variables going on at the same time. And some you may not be aware of also.

Pressure and loss of a once perceived safe zone will cause boot scooting all the time.

Last fall I had a few flat sets with rock backings along some trails, lure in a little hole under the rock. Rolled the rocks back this spring so the mower wouldn't hit them this summer mowing the trails. Last week there was a hole dug up where the lure was from last fall. 6+ months later, something smelled that spot and dug it up.

Here's the recent digging.

Just helps to drive home the point that a formulated product will stay bonded with odor emission for quite some time. The amount used and its placement with regards to weather exposure help determine how long it will continue to have odor potential.

No shortage of rusty metal in the east as you know, so smelling rust isn't an issue. It's an issue for your traps longevity and functionality to be sure.

Coyote trapping is a grand chess game alnd the rules may change on a whim.

I'm a firm believer in being able to condition a coyote to your smell to your advantage, if you have the time. I've pre-dug a lot of trap beds and put in anchors a week or two before setting a trap to stay ahead of ground freezing conditions. While I'm doing this my trap line dog is with me and putting his scent out as well. The coyotes smell you and your dogs' presence, go about their business checking out your digging activity, often marking them with urine or scat, with no harm done. Upon returning to set a trap, if you smell or see the bed area has been marked, more than likely you'll have them with no issues.

Those pups should be big enough to answer a long howl from you. Try it real early in the morning or right at dark. The adults should be away from the den. If the adults are at the den they will shut the pups up quick.
A long howl or better yet a siren works good to locate the den
Also look for and listen for birds, they will be around to pick up any scraps and puppy poop