^This^

Big picture view, connect the dots. Coyote sign seen here and sign there. Hansel and Gretel are leaving you bread crumbs if you know how to read it.

Topographic maps and aerial photos are your friend.

Ag ground can be hard to find sign in many locations---Lots of grass, etc. On the other hand there can be bare ground and farm lanes with mud in spots. Check where you can but dont get too discouraged as finding that elusive sign to set on can be very tough for even a seasoned trapper.

1) Try to keep in your mind or a note book where you see sign now and watch whether that holds true in the upcoming months. Mom and pups tend to not be covering more than a small portion of their range at this time of the year. If you happen to be in the right spot where they are currently living, you may actually be overwhelmed with sign. Seeing alot of sign in those locations can be encouraging but remember by trapping season those critters that were only operating in 1-3 sections of dirt for 3-5 weeks periods of time will instead be covering a majority of the home range that likely is more in the neighborhood of 12-16 sections and pushing up on the boundaries even. Lots of summer sign can turn into very little at the drop of a hat come fall.

2) If you can find particular geographic or manmade features along with the sign try to piece those data points together over a long distance to give you a feel of movement. Not having a vehicle will likely make that more difficult and farm ground generally doesnt look like the picture that Savell posted. However, it is the same principle regardless of the area. Also keep in mind that the entire world changes in October/November in ag land as the corn and beans come down. What were basically hidden forests where the family hunted in complete cover everyday is now barren. Try to envision what the landscape will look like 100 days from now.

Physical sign is great, but a guy needs to learn to identify places to catch critters regardless of sign, or specifically without physical sign.


Theres ground types where little to no sign in the form of tracks will be left behind. Rocky or baked hard ground situations. Frozen ground without snow. Turf type grassy areas, etc.

Turds are cool, but how many times a day does a coyote or fox poop? They’re covering a lot of ground without pooping!

In my country, if I only set traps on physical sign, I wouldn’t set many traps. And I wouldn’t catch much either. The critters are there, the ground just isn’t conducive to leaving lots of sign.

All true, especially in big wide open country. But for most of us trapping woodlots and hills and hollers sign is the first step for a beginning to put the big puzzle together.

With practice and experience it's gets to be the reverse read the land to figure out where to find the sign.

BTW I'd be lost in open country, lol.

I kinda think I might be too. It takes me some time to switch from ag land to big forest as everything looks different. I envision open landscape being even more alien

Around my area the highest ground I can find, if I travel over the mountains I set on sign. Here the low ground will flood, dig a trap bed and it might fill with water before you can get the trap in it.

wws

If you set low ground here, they will end up under water.

Why would a fox hop on a log and walk it?

If you were hunting in the open would you be at the peak where you could be seen easily?

Won't hurt to rake a few areas down to the dirt bury a bait or fishoil and see what happens lure works to but critters will acclimate to smells with no reward Piece of hide staked down,beaver tail hanging from a limb Old stump or log with fox urine in a sandy spot
But remember if an area looks great but is hard to access or set in the critters have to get there first