Well I figure since season is fast approaching that it was time to make this thread. Yesterday I set out 4 conibears on coon trails coming out of corn fields and then 4 dogproofs near culverts by corn fields. Going to be checking on Thursday so hopefully I have something. It did rain today so my lure and shellfish oil will probably be gone so counting on the conibears now. First time fall coon trapping so hoping to catch a few. Also have a spot on a slough bank where there's the bank, a line of tall grass, and then the road. And the slough mud isn't allowing my wolf fang to turn horizontal so going to take my few coon boxes down there and set them. There is a long line of tracks for the last 2 nights now, I need to get a couple of trail cameras one of these days. I think that's all I got for now. Really hoping that we can have better weather than last year during rat season and freeze up can wait until Thanksgiving.

Good luck

Looking forward to your adventures!

I'm glad, I'm going to be recording a lot more this year or at least attempt to.

Thank you!

You have a good attitude. Keep it up and good luck this year.

Good luck. Can’t wait to follow along. Started going through my gear now that the weather is a little cooler.
Jim

Thank you, good luck to you too!

I've had my gear all ready for about a week now. good luck to you too and thanks!

Today went out and checked the line, on the trail going from the slough to the road where I had 2 220s set up, I caught a skunk in one of them and nothing in the other. Went up the road to a slough bank where there were coon tracks and set 2 boxes baited similarly, going to get cat food and a few cans of sardines tomorrow but didn't have time today. Caught nothing the rest of the day but hoping that those couple boxes pay off. I have each conibear cabled off to about 20 lbs of weight. Don't have a picture of the skunk but it was good sized. This is the first one I've caught in 2 or 3 years.

Also been making floats to expand my line this year since I bought about 5 or 6 dozen burnt up coilsprings at the state convention auction. Only have about 28 traps left to respring but I'll need to order springs. But so far I have made 38 floats and have nothing into them except for time and a little bit of gas. All the rest is scrap wood I've gotten for free or using screws that were extras from other projects.

Wouldn’t a bit of rain be a good thing if you’re using an oily based lure? As it drains away, it’d belike a treasure trail to the jack pot.

Good luck , I hope you have a good season, I’m looking forward to beaver season November 1

Not in my case as it pretty much wiped away my shellfish oil.

Thank you, good luck to you too. I'm looking forward to starting mink and rat on November 1st.

Today I went out and pulled all of my conibears since pheasant season is starting tomorrow and I don't want to have the chance to catch someone's dog. On the same trap as yesterday where I caught the skunk, I caught another one. So 2 skunks over 2 checks. I wish I had kept it set since I like catching skunks even though they stink. Really hoping that the weather will hold out until November 1st so I can catch a few fall rats and beaver for weasel bait. Anyway here's the pic of the skunk from today, I left the dogproofs out so hopefully I can catch a couple of raccoons yet.

Put a couple of dogproofs where you caught them skunks. They have no problem reaching in and getting caught. I use cat food, seafood flavor, for them.

I would but they would end up just getting shot anyway with all the pheasant hunters running around since I had them set on public right of way.

I pulled my last 4 traps I had out today, they were all dogproofs and I caught nothing. I haven't caught anything in dogproofs for over a year, and I've had them set out whenever I've had the chance. I don't know what I'm doing wrong but I feel like it's not me because I've tried everything. But anyway, I'm going to hold out to set more traps until Muskrat and mink season opens up.

Find a silage pile and you will be in business on the coons. I see a front is coming through this weekend. I hope your open water season isn't over before it even begins!

Yeah, I might talk to some farmers or something. Going to be going around and getting permission on a bunch of rat ground. Yep supposed to freeze over so I might be done for a little while. Going to trap coyotes if the sloughs freeze up.

It seems like this year the weather will be fighting me again with freezing up early. I might be switching to coyotes sooner than I thought but they keep switching the weather every hour.

Well, 3 days and counting. I went out and scouted 2 sloughs today and both had ice that I could stand on. About 1.5-2" of ice. I hope that it will thaw out by Wednesday so I can set out some gear or at the latest Friday. Still have 15 or so yard cleanups to do so I'll keep busy either way. I said I wouldn't bust huts this year but it might be the only way to catch some rats. The goal is 400 for the whole season, if I can catch about 100 before spring then I should be able to catch the other 300. I have around 85 floats this year and enough traps to fill every one so it'll be a good spring season.

Well, today didn't go as planned but nothing has gone to plan for the last month so what's new? I only got 5 sets out in about 2 hours. There's not about 2.5-3.5" of ice with some open water left and the culverts still open. Definitely not the start I wanted. I have a 159 set in what I think is a run, a 159 set in an old concrete culvert that's about half submerged, a colony trap in a run, a 120 in a dryland run, and a mink box set near an open culvert with mink tracks near it. I didn't have any mink lure or bait with me but will thaw some bait out for the check on Friday and throw a jar or lure in the bucket. I'm hoping to connect on a few sets for rats but most of them were Hail Mary sets. I wish I trusted the ice enough now because I could start busting huts but I'm going to wait at least another week before that happens. Might pull these sets on Sunday if they don't catch anything and go set some easy to check coyote sets or something.

I went out and checked traps today, The ice is starting to melt so hopefully this week I will be back out on the sloughs setting out a bigger line on the slough I was going to trap on opening day. I'm glad I waited to bust huts. I did pull the mink box and one of the 159s today as they were both obsolete after the ice melted. The good news is that I caught 1 rat in the 159 in front of the old concrete culvert and 2 rats in the colony trap about 5 feet away in a run. I didn't catch anything in the 120 in the dryland run but no biggie as it's about 20 feet away from my other 2 sets. I will pull on Sunday so I'm ready to get my bigger line set if the weather works in my favor. Already have all 3 rats put up and they look really good, they definitely look better than the first rats I put up last year. I did find a new knife I like already and this was my first time using it, so I'm going to order a new one since this one is used, I think it's a Victornix Swibo boning knife.

Looking good, fall rats are nice, no bites like in spring.

Thank you, I like spring trapping more than fall trapping but that's probably because I haven't done much fall trapping.

I pulled traps today, I had the 159 set in the culvert snapped and then 2 rats in the colony trap, male and female. I'm going to get my bigger rat line set out this week. Around Wednesday. Didn't get a picture of the rats on the carcass but I'll snap a picture tomorrow of them put up. They look way worse than the other ones I put up, one of them also had something wrong with it but they're really good sized rats. Also, I have a question for you guys. I'm freezing my carcasses to process later and was wondering how you guys prevented them from freezing down to the surface they're on.

dry them over night with a fan on them, then layer them in the freezer belly side up. dont stack them deep. the cold air has to get to the bellies so they dont green up.

I skin them out right now but I was wondering like the actual carcass part, like the body after the fur is removed.

if saving them for bait, break apart into about 5 pieces. sprinkle a layer of salt in a bucket, then a layer of bait, then lightly salt the top of the bait. continue this in layers. they wont freeze together this way. the salt will penetrate the meat and make it freeze proof, and the mice wont eat the bait from your sets as they would with non salted bait. non frozen bait will also keep putting out more odor than if frozen.

Well, I finally got done with all my yards, I started a couple of weeks ago with 15 and got done with the last one tonight so you know what that means. It's time to get some steel out. I got 4 dozen footholds, half dozen colony traps, half dozen 159s loaded up with 5 dozen fiberglass poles, and a couple of tools. All loaded up in my 10 ft Pelican Bassraider, the plan is to use this to set and then check with my big otter sled. I'm going out to set tomorrow if it's not too windy. Anyway here's the pictures of the rats put up that I caught on 11-6-23.

Looks like we are going to get a nice warm up. Hope you have some open water to enjoy!

Yes we are! Going to hold off on my coyote trapping plans a bit. It's all open now, but I just need to find the time.

Nice job on your rats YT.

Your rats look pretty good YT. I see you are pinning down the side skirts, which is good. I would suggest you not put as much tension on your tail hooks, just snug, and you will eliminate a lot of the longitudinal wrinkles on your rats. This will give you a little heavier hide in those areas. Good luck, and have some fun ratting, Gary.

Thank you!

Yeah, I noticed that with these ones. Still getting back into the rhythm after not putting up fur for a couple of months.

I went out today even though it was windier and colder than I would have liked it to have been but I stayed warm. Got into around 2 dozen footholds and 1 colony trap. The rats are doing the same thing they did last year and stacking vegetation up against their huts 3-5 feet out so there's little water by the huts. So I just dig it out quickly and set my trap. I lured a couple of them with Dave Scirfes Muskrat cherry lure, hoping that it will be similar to Mark Steck's Laughing Lady since I really like that lure for rat trapping.

Keep after em TYT!

Well, I forgot to post but I caught 3 rats yesterday so not great but it's still catching. We had it ice up on the edges so it deemed almost all of my traps inoperable. I did put it in a pocket set on the side of a hut with a dead rat that I found. So maybe I'll have a mink tomorrow. Going to pull it tomorrow since it seems it's going to be the same for a few more days. Might switch up to yotes and coons for a bit since I found a spot but just waiting on the go ahead from the land owner for yotes. Have a guy that's trapping all the culverts around me with colony traps, left a note on his lath to try to get into contact with him to talk to him. I learned how to gut muskrats today so that was new. Going to be a really hard spring season if this weather doesn't help me a little bit. Anyway here's the picture, I didn't get it while they were still on carcass.

I pulled traps today, looks like more freeze and thaw conditions which doesn't help my trapping. Got 3 rats, and caught one in that pocket set in the side of the hut, was hoping for a mink but I'll take it. I also skinned out a coyote that my dad shot today, going to take it to the fur buyer's at some point so he can teach me how to flesh and board coyotes. Only put a couple of holes in it which is partly due to the fact that my shed is not set up for anything bigger than a beaver. I'm still looking for a property to trap coyotes on since I'm having to wait till after deer season to trap most of mine now so hopefully the snow will hold off. But anyways here are some pictures of the rats and my fur shed bench.

Nice looking set up, TYT. I need to be more organized.

Thank you, I redid my whole fur shed this year but am still very low on space.

I picked up 22 more dogproofs today, 1 z trap, 1 sterling, and 20 dukes. Soaking them in vinegar now since they're super rusty, only paid 85$ so that's good. And I said that I wouldn't buy any more traps...

"And I said that I wouldn't buy any more traps..." I think we've all said that a time or two....

Yeah, I say it a lot. But if they're cheap and I know I can make them pay themselves off I usually have no regrets.

Just an update, found 2 spots and a 3rd if I need it to trap coyotes on. One has a field bordering an irrigation ditch and sloughs with trees, and the other is pastures with field and fence lines with tree belts. So hope that I can find some good sign when I go scout them out tomorrow. Also going to hopefully have someone join me on the line to give me some pointers.

Traps are like cash. Ya can’t have too much! Keep up the good work.

Very true, especially if they're cheap, thank you.

Well got the 2 coyote properties scouted yesterday, found a few set spots on the one 2 miles from town and seems like a good spot to run some. And the spot about 10 miles out of town is in my mind one of the best looking places i've seen. Lots of coon sign so going to be taking out all of my dogproofs since I found 30 or more beat down paths. Hoping that it will produce. Going to set it on Wednesday. Got the last batch of those new dogproofs soaking in vinegar, going to take them to the car wash next and pressure wash them off. Now I'm up to 4 dozen dogproofs so that should keep me content this spring for the bounty.

First check of the season, only laid a few traps out for lack of equipment (on order as of yesterday)....caught a sheep, sad trombone moment.

Yep have said that myself. And then a friend called me and said he had a dozen new duke 110s and 2 new duke 220s and said he would take half of the retail price for them. Couldnt help myself had to buy them.

I won't even look at a 110 now that I'm running 159s. But I do like my 220s.

It's been a good few days, I got 18 dogproofs out on Monday with 3 different baits, 2 of which are a mix that I made on my own. So I'm doing a bit of testing to see if I can find something that produces better for my area. I'm going out tomorrow with one of our state trappers who's going to teach me how to trap coyotes so that'll be fun. It's also going to be my first check on my dogproofs. I did order a new trapping bag and that should be here on Saturday so that's exciting. That's all I know for now, starting tomorrow it's supposed to get cold and freeze up good.

well I went out and checked traps yesterday and put in 3 coyote sets. I caught 1 raccoon out of 18 dogproofs and it was caught on my 2nd homemade bait. I also put in another dogproof right by this one in hopes of a double, both baited with the same bait. Got really cold today, hoping it'll warm up a little bit. The new bag should be here either tomorrow or Saturday so then I'll be able to get to a few more different spots.

Another day another check. Where do I even start? I had a couple of robbed DPS today, I have goofballs but I forgot to put them on the traps today, going to do 9 with and 9 without and see which produces more, etc. I'm really enjoying doing this mediocre testing. I haven't caught anything in the 9 traps near the junk pile which is really surprising considering there's coon poop everywhere. I started on the 9 down the tree row and on the third one I caught a large coon, it was 23 pounds 14 ounces. One of if not my biggest to date. And then on the last dogproof where I caught that little coon the other day, I caught a skunk. Well, I had my skunk sleeper in the truck and I went about my business using it and it broke off right where it connects so I had to end up giving him a couple of trigger pulls. Well, I went in to retrieve my syringe and I didn't realize it smelled like skunk so bad so I threw it in the truck, well to come to find out about 5 miles down the road, it smelled like skunk bad and so did the bucket with all the spare parts and ammo. So I ended up having to air out the trapping truck today since I keep that bucket in the cab. Now I need to run to the vet on Monday since they were closed today. I'm going to let him air off until at least Sunday and then reset, luckily I set an extra dp there on Wednesday. I checked all 3 yote sets and my flat set/walk through set had a flipped over and snapped trap from deer. So I had to rebuild that set. I ended up only having 5 gallons of dry dirt left so I went and picked up about another 40 gallons of dirt from a barn that I got it all from. I need to set my jet sled up in the back with a heat lamp on it so I can dry it a little more since there's a bit of moisture in it. The new bag should be here tomorrow, I'm super excited, I'm already thinking of getting the muskrat bag for setting dps and small things like that. Anyways here's the picture of today's coon. All 3 animals at this location were caught on my 2nd rendition of my raccoon bait so it's safe to say it works well.

The cheapest dry cat food in a 40# bag will last all season and catch coons. You can add either grape or cherry koolaide flavor to it for more scent.
I don’t worry about rusted DP’s, a coon will clean it up after the first catch. Rats and flying squirrels are notorious bait stealers around here, but with those Dukes just set them with a hair trigger and you’ll have fresh coyote bait, lol.
Good luck!

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Cool,it looks like a Kangaroo.

First one of the year!!!

At least you didn't leave that bucket in the ol man's shed! Lol

I've tried every bait I could find and this bait has been the best so far. Those dps were rusted beyond usage. Thank you!

Yes he did, very photogenic.

Good job! I've caught more this year than in the last 2 years. And I've only caught 2!

Well I left it in the garage but he's used to me stinking everything up.

An exciting day today! I went through my line and had nothing as expected with this snow and wind we have been having. I reset the trap that I caught the skunk in after letting it sit for a couple of days. It did indeed ride on the hitch carrier on the way home and not in the bed of the truck. I got to the last coyote set which was a T-bone set and low and behold, a coyote or fox had danced all over the set like it was a dance floor. But someone forgot to put salt in the dirt to keep it from freezing so hopefully they'll come back through. Later this week, I'm going to set a couple more traps in this field and then run some snares on the fence line since they have trails all over the place coming through it. I really like this Weiser Beaver bag, I should pick up the muskrat bag or the predator bag one of these days but probably will after the season and see how I like this bag for the rest of the season. I was thinking about putting a tray in the bottom to keep it from tipping over.

Nothing on the line again, almost all of the snow is melted so that's good. I did put in some new stuff today, I put in a dirthole using an old pocket gopher hole and baited it with some Dakota Prairie Predator bait, some random lure, and a shot of urine. And then I hung a couple of snares off some H braces in trails where the coyotes were running under. And then I stuffed a 550 in a cattle trail and pretty much made a flat set where a coyote was walking. I just put a little bit of gland lure on a stick, gave a clump of grass a shot of urine, and was on my way. I have confidence in both of these sets as they look really good. I also found a place where the coyotes are entering into this pasture so I'm going to set that on Thursday as I ran out of daylight. I have another place that I want to set but I don't know if I'll have time. I might set it up tomorrow. I really like this Weiser bag. Anyways here are some pictures from tonight.

Nothing in the traps on the first property today, found a lot more coon sign so I'm going to set it on Saturday since it's a little bit of a walk I need to get my beaver bag emptied so I can throw my stuff in there. It's all in a dried up stock dam with the levee between the dried one and one with water that's by a small creek, all of course frozen. I'm hoping I can get a wolf fang to stick in somewhere. I might do a coyote set or something on the dam since there are also coyote tracks in the dried dam. I'm probably going to pull quite a few of my dogproofs and move them around since there has not been much activity but I'll probably wait to do that later this week if possible. I'm also going to throw some weasel boxes in the dry culverts and on slough edges by the road on the way down to this spot since I'm getting impatient.

On the second property, I started trapping today, I only have time to put in 2 sets. I put in 2 dirt hole sets since I knew I could pop them in quickly and be done. I'm also going to be bringing more traps to this since there's an irrigation ditch that runs through it with mink and coon sign on it. There's also a slough that cuts the field in 2 so I'm going to keep an eye out for rat sign. Here are the pictures from today.



This set has Mountainman bait, a homemade castor lure, and wool shoved down the hole with urine squirted on the log.



This set has Mountainman bait, Steppenwolfe 1, and wool shoved down the hole with urine squirted on the grass behind it.

Another day with no catches, I have a feeling that a critter is going to slip up soon. No new traps put out or anything fun sadly. I have about 13 gallons of dry dirt ready to go so that's good and another 15-20 gallons being dried so I should be good for most of the winter.

Keep at it, those coyotes are tough to get a grip on (for me anyway). With your work ethic, I have no doubt that you'll get the hang of it!

Yeah, I'm going to keep after them.

Well, it wasn't another check with no catches, just a catch I didn't want. I think The first property has either dried up or the animals aren't moving like they were. I caught those couple coons off of it and a skunk and there has been no sign of anything else except for a few tracks that I have no clue how old they are. I'm probably going to keep my traps there for another week or until Sunday so I can set a different property on the next check day. I did put in 3 dogproofs in a dried up stock dam where the coons and coyotes are running like crazy. I have no clue where to put a coyote set in that place but I will probably drag my gear in on Wednesday to put a set or 2 in. I also set a random freshly dug hole with a snare, I am going to assume it was a jackrabbit but those are still worth 5$. So that's what's new with the 1st property, no catches there today.

On the 2nd property though, I finally caught something in a dirt hole. I pull up to the 1st set of the property and guess who looking at me as I get out of the truck... A cottontail rabbit. Well, I went up there to assess his leg damage to see if he was releasable but sadly he wasn't so I ended up having to take care of him, he won't go to waste though. I'm honestly surprised he was still there, but he must not have been there for very long. So I reset that trap and got the 2nd trap checked and had nothing. Nothing new on this property but if I end up pulling on the 1st property, I'll set this property up a bit more. Really being an eager beaver to go bust huts but I'm hooked on just catching one coyote. Once I start setting a line up north, I have some huts along the road I can check quickly on the way to the coyote properties.

After that, I went and looked around an old junk pile at a place my buddy's family is renovating to see if I could find any scrap metal to build a skinning machine since I want to make one for as cheap as possible. I found a really nice stainless steel table with a sink and all that I'm going to grab tomorrow since It would be a really nice table in the fur shed when I do expand. Also probably going to pick up as much usable lumber as I can get easily.

Anyways, enough rambling, y'all have a good night now.

Keep at it.

Unusual weather coming in lately, going to be lower 50s for the next 2 days. Really putting a damper on my weasel trapping. I've decided that if I don't catch anything on the 1st property over the next 2 checks then I'm going to pull on Sunday to get ready to set the 2nd property up heavier and set up a line going north to my usual stomping grounds.

Oh boy, this will be an interesting one for you folks. So I went through the first property and of course, had nothing, I did freshen up a couple of sets with some coyote urine. I also put 1 more coyote set in the dried up pond where the dps are. There are coyote tracks everywhere so hopefully I can pick one up there. Nothing too exciting here today, hoping to catch a coon or something on here before Sunday.

On the 2nd property though, I checked the first trap without the log backing and had nothing, It was not one of my best set locations but it was a Hail Mary set. I get to the 2nd trap which is the one with the log back and I see my trap is sprung and laying directly in the trap bed, so I think it's a bit odd and drive up to it and guess who was waiting there for me. A short tailed weasel! I would have never guessed that I would have caught one in a coyote set, the #2 bridger dogless fully modified wasn't too hard on it luckily. Now hopefully I can catch a coyote in that set next. I did set a weasel box in the brush pile behind the set so that way I can hopefully pick up some more, I'm going to assume it was because of the skunky lure I used and the location. Anyways, enough rambling, here's the picture of the little guy.


Well it seems that I can't post the picture so I'll have to try again tomorrow.

I would think that your pan tension is a little light if you're catching a weasel. May consider that, but hey at least you caught something!

Yeah, they're very touchy traps with the night latch and using floor wax. But I won't complain since that weasel is still worth more than a coyote. I don't care what I catch as long as I'm catching something, keeps the set thawed out at least.

Well had a rough day in school today and decided to cool off the only way I knew how, trapping. So I decided that I was going to check the line a day early. So I checked the first property and had nothing, jumped up a couple of roosters but that was it. Going to be setting up some more traps on it this weekend but that's all I know.

On the second property, I had nothing in any of the dogproofs, probably going to move them or set some more down by some big cottonwoods and see what happens. I got to the first coyote set and I could see another set from this one I saw something orange/ red lying down so I instantly knew what I had, so I rushed over there in the truck and a beautiful red fox was lying there with a very nice catch from a duke 550. He was caught on a gland/ walkthrough kind of set. I did have to remake it into a dirt hole though but it's a pretty flashy dirt hole. So I finally caught my first k9, now hopefully I can catch the other local k9 which is a coyote. The lure and bait I used for the remake are Dakota predator bait, sheep wool, a stick dipped in John Graham's Super Bonanza, and coyote urine squirted on the fence post. Anyway, enough talking, and here are some pictures.


\

I also got a free stainless steel table, it only needed the leg rewelded. It has a sink compartment and everything. I'm hoping next year that I can move into a bigger fur shed and use that as my main bench but for now, it's going to stay outside for when I skin beaver.

Congrats! You'll remember that fox forever.

Congratulations on that first fox. And yes you will always remember that one. Nice looking red for sure.

Way to go TYT,nice fox.

Thank you! It's getting tanned as well so that'll be fun.

Thank you! It's a very nice looking fox, very grateful to have caught it.

Thank you!

Well, nothing in the traps the last 2 days. I did pop a tire on the ranger I use for trapping so I switched to my red truck. I pretty much spent the whole day Saturday sweeping out sets of snow except for 1 which was heavily drifted and the wind was still blowing so I didn't bother. Well, today I had a fox walk my tire track up to the drift, and then run away and I also had a weasel that stopped within inches of my box. I've been putting together plans for a skinning machine that'll start going into construction this week. My dad and one of his buddies have been having luck lately as they have won a local coyote hunting contest for the 2nd year in a row with 13 coyotes. So who knows, they might win it again next year. Here's the picture of the coyotes.

Looks like you have some skinning to do!!

Nope, those all went to the contest and they dispose of them, I'll take the ones my dad shoots that are nice.

I got nothing in the traps today but did get some new gear set out. I got 1 new coyote set out on the 2nd property 2 conibears set in runs and 3 stoplosses set in huts on the 3rd property, which I have run through the last 2 years. The ice is about 3-4" thick so perfect for chopping. I'm hoping I will get a rat because I need one for Friday since I'm going to demonstrate how to skin a muskrat for my speech class since we're working on demonstration speeches right now. My dad and I started work on the skinning machine tonight by cutting a hole in the ceiling of the garage and boxing it out so the OSB doesn't get beat up and then mounting our 2x4s for our winch to go on. We didn't have any bolts though so we'll have to get some tomorrow and work on it the rest of the way whenever we have time. After that, we're going to start constructing our base. Anyway, here's the picture of the coyote set.

Well, pretty lackluster day again today. I went up north and checked my 5 rat traps, had 1 alive rat. I did pull all of these as it's going to start thawing out again this next week. I just want cold temps now and I'm surprised I'm saying that, I want to trap rats and weasels. Went and checked my spot out west of town which is the 1st property and had nothing, just reset a couple of knocked over snares that the wind knocked over. Also, set a snare in a dry drainage that the coyotes travel like crazy. The 2nd property had nothing on it, really surprising I haven't caught a coon out there yet with that big slough nearby. I did pull the weasel box as it's getting too warm and they will spoil since I don't check every day. We did work on the skinning machine tonight and got it mounted in the rafters and power ran and everything. Also got my rts speed gambrel and chain gambrel in the mail today from Funke trap tags and supplies, only took 3 days to get them. I'm going to be going with them again if I need something again. Anyways, enough rambling, here's the pictures.

Also, has anyone had a coon, skunk, or opossum pull up a wolf fang that's sunk about 12" into the frozen ground through tree roots? I had a dogproof that I thought just got knocked over and covered by snow and I would reset it when the snow melted, well I went to go reset it today and it was gone. I caught a skunk there before and that was the only catch, I did notice scratches on a tree branch that I didn't notice after the skunk so I have a feeling that I caught something. The only reason I still think it's an animal is because there was duff from the catch circle shoved down the hole like something had dug down and pulled the anchor. I didn't find any signs of cable or trap or anything. It also makes me think that I have a trap thief on my hands but the thing I don't get is that there was a trap about 5 feet away that's untouched. I just don't see it being possible since there was nothing to get that much leverage on. This is about 100+ yards off a gravel road and the tall grass I was using to cover the trap up got destroyed after the skunk got caught so is it maybe a possibility someone took the animal and trap and just dug the anchor out?

If you "set" that anchor, I highly doubt any of those 3 pulled it out. Without a visual it's hard to say though.

Looking forward to seeing your machine when it's done!

I set all my anchors, I just find it weird. I have one of my friends who lives nearby keeping an eye out in case he sees a coon running around with a 20$ bill on its foot.

I just use H.D. Berkshire anchor, drive them in 15"-20" .
Only tug an set the one's that go in Rocky or hard ground.
Otherwise the critters do a good job of setting the anchor.

Only have had trouble with the 2 legged COYOTES cutting them off.

Did have a very energetic thief once that dug up a anchor.
To take everything, that's hard up.
Heck I've never dug one up, I just pull by using bolt cutters on the j-hook.
Don't let it get you down, we lose 3-5 percent a year to scum bags.

Heck, back when we could trap in the roads I once had two traps on chained earth anchors with welded j hooks stolen. Had them set in a gated road, driven right through the shot rock, at least 18" deep. Had boot tracks going through the snow drifts on the way in there (March) two catch circles and no traps or anchors. To this day I wonder how the heck that thief got those things out of the ground up through a rock road. Half a mile to hike in, and only one set of tracks going in and out, so it isn't like he went out and came back with tools. I didn't figure on being able to pull them even with a puller, figured I would have to use a bolt cutter on them.

They must have been very determined then. But that's really odd.

Yeah, I know it's just a part of trapping. Just really mind boggling

Well, pretty boring day today. Checked the 1st property and had a coon in a dogproof baited with my RB #2. That one so far has been the leading bait so I'm going to keep trying it. Good looking coon, will post a picture of it tomorrow since I forgot to get one today. Nothing in the coyote sets. On the 2nd property though, I had a trap almost get run over by a loader because I had it set near a pile of trees and old fence parts, it would be the set where I caught the weasel. And the landowner decided to pile them up more so I almost lost a coyote trap, and ended up just pulling it for now. Probably going to pull one of these properties here soon and move to a different property. Other than that, it was a pretty good day of checking traps.

Nothing in the traps today, pulled one of my coyote sets and some fence snares, going to be pulling my 1st property on Friday and getting set up to run a line north. Put in a flat set on the 2nd property lured with coyote urine and scandanaga gland lure guarded by a duke 550. I'm going to try my hand at making wax dirt over Christmas break since I have a lot of flake wax that I got a few years ago with the purchase of all my other gear. No picture of the set since It was dark out by the time I got done.

Youth, if your trapping in SD and are not catching coyotes, your doing something wrong.
Wish you best of luck but you need to re evaluate things.
I'm just guessing here but I'm gonna.
To much lure,to much blocking.

Try a well blended compass set.

I'm just following what the local state trapper said to do and it's flat out not working. I'll start taking pictures of my sets and you guys can critique them. I know there are coyotes around but I don't know what I'm doing. I do feel like some of my sets have too much blocking but not enough to warrant a peek or 2, I'm using a normal amount of lure like I should be, maybe I should try some sets with less.

I might try a couple of those or twin hole sets with just straight lure. The new place I'm setting also has a lot of posts, so I will probably try some post sets. Do you guys think having urine would help? Most of the time it's frozen so I don't get very much on the set.

I wouldn't go down the rabbit hole of thinking different sets are going to fix your problems. The sets your using should catch the large majority of your coyotes. Only time I change up sets is if I'm trying to catch the ones that are super cautious and have wised up to the game. Better off figuring out what the real problem is and fixing it.

This right here.

Take a look at the picture you posted on the coyote set. Ask yourself as a coyote looking at that what you would say. No way I am going near that. It's no natural or blended in. Coyote trapping tips:
1) location where they travel - stick it out in the middle of a corn field you will not catch anything. Trap the edges, corners and where they are hunting for food.
2) clean gear a must!
3)blend the set even a dirt hole make it appear more eye appealing and natural
4) the right lure on a piece of wool stuffed in a dirt hole which is on an angle
5) make sure the trapped is bedded correctly and spaced the correct distance
6) staking - drive a set in the soil away from where you are setting and pull on that with all your weight-if you pull it up or it moves its not good enough
7) double cross stake helps
8) ?? ask

I feel like as a coyote, quite a few of my sets I would go too. I'm always worried about having too little backing I guess.
1. I have it all on edges, crop changes, and the new place I'm going to be setting on two tracks.
2. Yep, all of my gear is dyed and waxed and stored away from any odors.
3. I blend as much as possible but I'll try to do more of it.
4. I use wool so I should be covered there.
5. What would be the correct spacing? I was just told to put the trap in front of the hole by the state trapper.
6. I've only ever had one anchor pulled and that was on that dogproof, and not even I could pull it up.
7. I'm only running anchors as my chains are set up for double staking.
8. Yep, that's the plan.

It was not too much of an exciting day, I got out of school at 12:20 for Christmas break. I got to the first property around 1:00. I got all 19 of my dogproofs pulled without any struggle and started pulling coyote sets, the 1st one went easy, and then the 2nd had a big boar coon in it so I got that dealt with, it weighed 28 pounds 4 ounces. I put it in the freezer since I'll probably get it tanned. Then continued, and ended up cutting one of the anchors on the other 2 coyote sets. Everything else went easy except for 2 of my NO BS chain anchors, I straightened the J hook on those with the puller, I will go back in the spring and pull them. I did end up finding an old shed though so that's nice. So now I'm down to 1 property until I go and set another one which will hopefully happen on Friday. I have the truck all loaded with my starting gear I'll throw out and then bring more out as needed, I think it's 1 full section of ground that I will have access to by 2 different landowners. On the 2nd property, I ended up putting in 1 120 in a dry run, and 2 colony traps. There's some old beaver sign in the ditch that borders the East side of the ground so I might get a glimpse of him. I need to get my dozen 110s that are brand new degreased so I can set those since some of these dens and runs need them. I'll put spring clips of them for use with my fiberglass poles. Nothing in these traps today, found some raccoon tracks that I'm going to set with a conibear box nearby. I also found some coyote tracks walking a dried up slough so I'm going to make a set nearby on Friday since the mud is still very wet and not frozen. I also made a hanger in the topper Anyway, enough rambling, here are the pictures. Also the picture of the flat set I put in last check.

U need to weld those J hooks shut on ur earth anchors. I'd lose half of mine every time I pulled them.

no need to degrease rat conis. just set them as they are.

Coyotes are like real estate: it's about location #1-if they are not there you not gonna catch em period.
You could post some photos of your sets and locations in the fields.
If you are not catching fox or coyote then they are none there unless you are getting refusals which would mean you have a problem with the set itself.

That's why mine are unwelded so that way I can still pick up my trap. I just go back in the spring and pull them.

That's the problem is that I can't set them because they're so greasy. Just going to take them to the carwash and give them a quick rinse.

I usually post photos of my sets but not of the locations around them but will start doing so. I know that there are coyotes in both locations because of fresh tracks.

Where are you seeing the coyote tracks? Are they passing by your sets?

Our sloughs around here are down a little bit and I'm finding them in the mud after it freezes at night.

you should not have an issue catching them in a slough-maybe even a blind set or two where it narrows naturally. I looked at your picture of the one set with the stick, again if I was a coyote I would not go near it. How far are the tracks from your sets?

I tried to put a set about 15 feet away from this since that mud won't hold an anchor or stake and the ground wouldn't hold there either, should I just set on the field edge and use a loud call lure? I don't have any sets nearby; the closest one is 75-100 yards away. The field edge is probably about 50-60 feet from the tracks. Are you talking about the one with the corn stalk in the mound of dirt or the one where I caught that coon?

I had a productive day today. This will be a long one so buckle up and get some popcorn. On the 1st property today, I had a coyote or fox dig at one of my sets but didn't dig up the trap or anything, there was just a tiny tiny piece of wax paper sticking up, so I just sifted some more dirt on top and put in a couple of pieces of stem going vertical where the tracks were. All of the rest of the traps were empty except for one of the colony traps that was set in the entrance of a bank den that had 4 rats in it! This was a first for me as I usually only get 1 or 2 in a colony, all average sized rats. I also set 2 coon boxes on this property right by coon tracks so hoping I'll have some tomorrow. I couldn't locate any other runs but I did fill a gauntlet trying to. Also, I included a picture of my flat set that I put in. So that's all for the first property.

Now for the second property which is the one where I just got permission on with lots of 2 tracks and fields separated by tree strips. This is going to be a very picture heavy one since you guys requested pictures of the surroundings of the sets. So I head up there and I have to drive through a field to get to the start of the property so I get to the gate and I know these are a hot spot so I set a trap within 15 feet of this along the 2 track, it was a flat set with Red Fox Gland Lure and Coyote urine on a piece of sod, this is set #1. Then I kept going along the 2 track to where it goes into a y and set a trap on the point of it, it was a dirt hole with Dakota Prairie predator bait, a homemade castor lure, and coyote urine sprayed on the clump of grass, this is set #2. Then I went in some more and set 2 dogproofs on well defined trails coming out of the wreckage of an old house and then 2 more, one on each side of a culvert with multiple snow geese pulled inside. The coons are eating good on snow geese with all of them around. I drove around the property for a bit looking for more spots and found a spot where I had a 2 track, a slough, a tree belt, and a field all coming together so I set on the corner of the field, tree belt, and 2 track. It was a flat set with a rock as backing and Red Fox Gland lure, and coyote urine, this is set #3. I then found an area where there was a line of taller grass between 2 fields that intersected into a slough so I set another trap there with a T Bone baited with Dakota Prairie Predator bait, a bit of John Graham's super bonanza, and coyote urine, this is set #4. On the way out as it was getting dark I set a trap near the entrance to the field with a dirt hole set, baited with Dakota Prairie predator bait, beaver castor lure, and coyote urine sprayed on the sod, this is set #5. Overall it was a super productive day in my books. I'm going to bring the GoPro out tomorrow so I can get some better descriptions for you guys. Also on the way home I saw some open spots in the water with rats swimming in them, gets me hyped up for spring float trapping. I would set some but we're going to get snow and freezing temps for a while so that plan is gone.



Coyote or fox dig at post type set


4 rats in one colony trap


Far out view of flat set

Property 2


Set #1 far out


Set #1 close up


Set #2 far out, I don't have any closeup of this one


Set #3 far out


Set #3 close up


Set #4 far out


Set #4 close up


Set #5 far out


Set #5 close up

Looks like some good property time will tell ..try blending your sets in more make it look like you were never there I've always had better luck with well blended sets for coyotes anyway