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