What are the biggest contributors to coyotes pulling out of traps? For some reason, I’ve been plagued the past couple years with small, empty catch circles on my coyote line. Last year I caught around 30 coyotes, but missed probably 8-10 due to pullouts as described above. Happened with new traps, old traps, modified traps, and stick traps. I’m positive it’s user error, but need to identify and fix it regardless.

I use short chains. Swivel off of trap, 2 links of chain, swivel, 2 links, swivel, anchor. I bed the trap with polyfill under the pan, put peat moss in the jaws, and cover with a thin (1/4”ish) covering of native dirt/duff. Pan tension normally set between 2.5-3.5 lbs with a night latch to help them fire crisp. Picture below of a Victor 3 rubber jaw I pulled up to this morning with coyote tracks and urine all over the catch circle.

So, what contributes to these pullouts?

I’ve got to ask…offsets? I don’t want to jinx myself, but I have maybe one or two sets I know for a fact was a coyote over the years that got away. Both times was in the summer and set in clay. I’ll be honest, I’d love to have your luck with catching that many!

Some offsets, some not. I’ve sold almost all my offsets over the last several years, but still have a few hanging around. Id say the majority of pullouts I had last year were closed jaw just because that’s what I used mostly

Pics are deceiving but that catch circle looks small for a coyote

How much dirt covering the trap jaws/pan/levers?

I've read in some books to cover dirt sets 1/2".....never...not me. I cover trap just enough that it's not visible....maybe 1/8" to 1/4" depending on soil texture.

I'm also not of fan of grass clippings and leaves as covering....ever.

Pan tension if it’s too light maybe how much dirt on top of the pan?

Dang you gotta be fast and I’m not.

I have to say the pic looks like a coon pullout to me, not saying it is but just from pic that's what it looks like. I'm no coyote expert but your setup and bedding sounds good. If your sure it's coyote I'm guessing it is from poor catches on them. Can you be getting rain on sets then when dirt is dry that it is getting tight/crusted over enough it might be slowing trap down resulting in poor catchs????? That's about all I have.

I cover deep, good 1/2 and then make some extra. I get less dug traps bedding deep but I'm mostly dealing with dry dirt.

U guys do realize he tells u what his pan tension and how much covering he puts on his traps don't u?

X2

sportsman94 -

My opinion only. I've spent lots of time thinking about and analyzing wolf pull outs. Probably the same problems arise with coyotes.

1. Wrong trap. Too small?
2. Weak trap. Old, slow, and/or weak.
3. Trap not bedded solidly. Must be rock solid.
4. Too much covering. The duff, dirt, covering is too thick over the trap.
5. Too light of pan pressure. This can lead to premature firing with poor catch or miss.
6. Too large of pan. If the pan is large, the wolf/coyote may be standing on the jaw when his toenail fires the trap. I don't understand over-sized pans.
7. Uphill approach. Should be flat approach or slightly downhill. Uphill approach, wolf/coyote is often not committed; tentative.
8. Smell on trap. Often, with light odors on trap, wolf/coyote will dig, exposing jaw, and may spring trap.
9. Even with good, strong trap, a poor catch will happen. Shock springs and swivels (multiple) will reduce pull outs on marginal catches.
10. Sifter too large of screen, allowing large pebbles or sticks to impede trap closure,

Jack

Up tension, 4 coil, short chains (i know you run them anyway), lots of swivels, check early

You hear the problem and the problems start to get checked off in our heads it just automatically a process. LOL look at the same advice given.

I appreciate all the help trouble shooting. If repeating the same info over and over would help me realize the mistake I have no problem with it. I think what’s most frustrating is that for the first 7 years I trapped I never had a pullout. Or not enough to mention anyways. That leads me to believe it’s something I’ve changed since then which could be bigger holes in my sifter, peat moss in the jaws, shorter chains, and probably something else I’m not thinking of right now. Mb550s have been my biggest problem child, but that’s just because it’s what I’ve used mostly. Todays pullout was a Victor 3 rubber jaw. Brand new 2 coiled from the factory. Rain during or shortly before seems to be common amongst the pullouts, but a couple times it’s been in soil that doesn’t seem prone to crusting over.

I’ve shared the pic many times now, but here’s a paw of a bobcat I caught twice the same week. First time was a pullout in a brand new closed jaw 550, then caught him later in another 550. You can see the hold it had on him prior to the pullout. Still not sure how that happened. I may pick up a sifter with smaller holes before season to rule that one out (or maybe fix it entirely).

Up your pan tension for a deeper catch.

…. Helper springs… I’ve had some upper pad caught pull out right next to me while loading my gun .. either that or respiring with known quality… a lot of asian junk these days

What changed after your first 7 years?

Something, and we cannot likely answer it for you.

I lose some to toe catches. Step down is not step down enough or a poorly guided flat set.

I didnt see you mention spring strength. They could be coming up slow on older traps.