How much do you "need" to worry about scent when trapping coyotes. If I'm wearing a coat that I've gutted deer out with, or something similar, will a coyote spook? I always take my gloves off to bait and lure sets but I store my gloves in the garage. Is there gonna be too much scent on there that coyotes will shy away from my sets? I know this can be a matter of opinion to an extent and it varies from place to place. But at what point is absolutely necessary. TIA

Depends on the canine. You'll catch some of them without worrying too much about it, a lot of others will be paranoid and will avoid anything that smells off.

I would never store my trapping gloves in a garage.To many odors located there for me.

Where do you store them at? I've always wondered what others do I've always just kept my stuff in the garage but I'm not very successful when it comes to canines

It depends on the amount of pressure put on them
Around here we can and do shoot them 24/7 365
We want them gone completely
Always have a gun in the car or on my shoulder when I go for a walk
So they are very cautious to anything new
My best sets are when I set just before a snow of a few inches
I believe it covers most of my scent

Odar free box with a top in the bed of my truck

I have a few totes I use for wolf traps that have a gasket on the lid to keep airborne contamination to a minimum. I keep gloves sealed in pairs in Ziploc bags with a pinch of baking soda inside. Never touch canine traps bare handed or with "dirty" gloves, I try not to spit, sneeze, cough, or sweat near my sets or traps. I try not to touch anything at the set that I don't have to, and spend the least amount of time at the set as possible (set the trap, prep bait, etc a good distance away, then approach the set location). I also keep my mouth closed while setting so I'm not breathing Copenhagen all over everything. Also don't like idling a snow machine or truck (whatever you're using) near sets either, and I'm careful about exhaust smells on any gear I'm using for canids

If i could leave no human scent at a coyote set i would, but it's impossible. The question is how much human scent will a coyote "tolerate"? It varies from coyote to coyote and region to region. The good news is human scent dissipates a little each day. When I test lures about 95% of my digging is on day 3, which tells me that's about how long it takes for human odor to get to a level where my coyotes will really commit and work a set hard. When I run cams on test sets there will be coyotes that will sneak in for a quick sniff and go before 3 days. And I leave less scent at a test set than I do at a real set. I store my setting gloves in my equipment bag and I've found a drop cloth does seem to help increase the first and second night catches. Some really cautious coyotes seem to never work a set if they ever smell human scent at it even after it dissipates. The more attractive your bait or lure is more likely a coyote is to over come his caution.I think one of the worst things a trapper can do as far as human scent and coyotes is walk up to there set every day. I usually check from a distance sometimes with binos if I have to. About every 5th day I'll get close enough to see if trap is sprung or been messed with but usually do that from truck or SxS if I can.
That's my 2 cents on human odor and coyotes.

Thanks for the replies. Especially Yes Sir, that was really helpful.

The only thing you need to be cognizant of is not to induce any scents no matter what they are where they are out of place.
Scents in the wrong place at a set will cause an animal to move, approach or behave in a way that is counterproductive.
For example when snaring you want an animal moving thru the snare.If you get some bait scent on the snare it could cause the animal to stop,balk turn or drop its head at the wrong time and you could miss an otherwise sure catch.

This. In addition to not introducing any human scent you can avoid

All depends on where you trap. If the coyotes are used to human interaction then just get in and get out and not worry about scent. My gloves (leather) stay on the dash of my truck and the only reason I wear them is to protect my hands.
If I was trapping the actual wilderness or areas where human interaction is minimal I might change things up, but not necessary where I trap.

Some very good info here. It's worth a second read to pick up some very excellent points and tips. It's on target with my observations and experiences.

Every coyote out there has a thresh hold of human intrusion it is willing to accept as safe.

For some it’s high, others it’s low.

For trappers, this usually means human scent we leave behind. But it can also mean sights and sounds too.

As you exploit a population, the percentage of coyotes that will accept a high level of human intrusion decreases, while the percentage that won’t, increases.

Well put.

These are some of the scent tricks that I think matter in Central Texas where I trap 10 months a year doing Predator Control.

I am more careful on my first trip or two to a ranch. I think it helps me catch coyotes quicker. After the third day, I think the coyotes are already used to my scent as I place new sets. My sets that I set the first day are now mostly free of my scent. Or at least the coyote knows I haven’t been there for a few days, so they aren’t so “on guard”. My catch always begins going up on the third day.

I try not to touch a set until I pull it. That can be 3-4 months on some ranches. I drive by it on my side-by-side and keep moving if it is not disturbed.

On my first trip to a ranch, I use a canvas cloth to kneel on to make my sets. After a few days, I just use a kneeling pad with no cloth. I try to set in under two minutes… less time equals less scent.

I fill up the truck and side-by-side with gas on my way home, not on my way out trapping in the morning. I think gas spilled on my boots and hands puts coyotes off for several days.

I wear a long sleeve shirt even in the summer to set. The shirt reduces the amount of skin cells I drop around the site.

I wear gloves to protect my hands (not so much for scents control). I set with gloves and bait and lure with bare hands. If my hands get too much lure on them, I’ll stop at a cattle trough and wash them in water and dry them by rubbing them with dirt and grass. This is mostly because I don’t like smelling like lure all day.

If I think coyotes are shying away from my sets I’ll sometimes carry a fresh caught coyote with me on the line. I’ll drop it next to me while I make a trap set. I think it helps reduce avoidance. I’ll even drag a coyote from a different ranch along my line from set to set. Some coyotes will trail the newcomer. Our coyotes are nearly worthless by the way.

This is just some of the stuff I do concerning scent. Do whatever gives you confidence. Confidence matters. I believe that.

By the time I start setting for canines and cats I have been trapping beaver for a few weeks and distributing some gut bucket contents here and there on the line.
Animals when they come across the human scent you are just another animal in the habitat.
it doesnt take long for the canines and cats to associate my scent(human)with something beneficial
I have made my scent an ambient scent in the habitat,not an induced scent out of place.
By the time I activate sets the canines and cats will associate my scent with a free meal.I make a point to bring even a little bait with me every time I visit jackpots
Any scent including human,bait rust steel etc can be either an induced scent,out of place, which will spook an animal or an ambient scent which is natural in its surroundings.

Good replies, thanks a lot. I think you have covered my answer and then some.

If what u say is true then when a predator that equates your scent as food is down wind of you they should start coming to you. And if that happens I'd have to see it to believe it. Same for anyone that states human scent doesn't spook coyotes. I catch a good number of coyotes the first night and I guarantee they could smell me at the set. That doesn't mean the human scent didn't bother them or that every coyote in my area will tolerate that strong of human scent at a set.

When trapping coyotes, I don't worry much about scent. I do use a kneeling pad; I wear gloves when handling traps and bare handed when baiting or luring. Bed the trap tight enough so that it doesn't rock. I sweat like it's going out of style; sometimes even drip sweat on trap bed even though I try not to. Set on sign; make sets in as short time as possible and check from a bit of distance.

Rickey