So I walked back to check my fox set and there is a field 20 yards away across a creek and some thin timber, I saw something walking away so I hopped across the creek and look down the field edge to see a big yote trotting away about 30 yards away and he stopped and looked at me for a second then kept going. Don’t think I scared him too bad but did I just ruin any chance of catching him?

he sees people everyday I would think. It's not like your in deep wilderness and humans are rare. I think your fine

No

How far from your set was he? Might look for a funnel on his path to add a set. He wasn't there by chance.

You don’t carry a rifle checking traps? Get you a 22 mag. If I’m in the woods and not deer hunting that 22 mag is on my shoulder

I don’t think so. You should be fine. If he was scared of you he would have ran off instead of stop and look at you.

Might even bring him back. Never underestimate the curiosity of critters.

I keep a 22 250 handy and no your fine. In remote country like you find in the west might make him nervous. Especially going in every day. They dont need to see you to know you been there.

No

This is true. Coyotes that live around people, often look for food left by people, once the people are gone.

Keith

Hope you get him

Put a set in where he was travelling. Talk about setting on sign!

No worries you got him.

If you only have one “yote” you’re worried about then you may be in for a long wait.

It’s like insanely wet here so how do I punch In a set in the mud?

Where you find tracks. Coyotes are a mess to wash after being caught in mud. Wash the coyotes with a garden hose. Then skin. Wear a rubber apron its messy. Then go to laundromat and wash them in cold water without any soap. Toss in a dryer set on low. Try to go when the place is empty. Yes I am serious. Watch the hides so they dont get too dry.

Setting a trap in mud I dont bury it. Just put grass under the pan. All going in the same direction not wadded up. Dont get to much over the jaws. Let the grass under the pan extend over the jaws. Use your shovel to slop some mud around the jaws. Aint pretty but it works. Make flat sets. Tbones are good.

pipe dream set!

They don’t want to hear that…it works but goes against the “traditional” way of setting, lol.

TrapperE not sure what your weather forecast looks like but for here we are suppose to be dropping back into teens and low 20s at night within just a couple of days. Id guess your weather wont be too much different. You may be best to wait for the ground to firm up vs trying to fight the mud. But if you opt to set now in the mud keep in mind that you are going to need to be prepared for when it refreezes. Freeze thaw cycles are hard to deal with. Setting in a manner that lets any wet bedding material touch that steel now sets you up for bad potential outcomes or alot more future touch up work when it turns back to solid ice.

I had a set out but it rained then froze last night and the yote worked my set and stole my bait and my trap never fired so pretty disappointing