I just started trapping again this winter. Started by putting out some cubbies with body grip traps in them. No luck but learned a lot. I have had sets out for coyotes since December. I currently have 10 different sets out on my hunting property. I have cameras near these sets. I am getting pictures of critters coming by my sets but none appear to really work them or step in the traps. I live in northern Minnesota so dealing with frozen ground. I have some dirt hole sets and some flat sets. Dirt holes are only 1.5” holes as I used a drill to make the holes. Have bait with wool in one hole and a lure on wool in another hole. Also use some coyote and or fox urine at the set. Any ideas or input on what may help to get them to work the set more?

In the 1st pic above the set is just on the other side of the coyote. 2nd picture the set is in front of the white rock that is visible behind the coyote. 3rd picture the set is in front of the stump in the picture. 4th pic the set is just on the other side of the fox.

What bait and lure? I have caught coyotes a month after setting a trap, never rebaited. We deal with rain not cold so much. I would think it wouldn’t be hard to catch the attention of one of these.

wws

Wind direction? Is it blowing from the set to the travel path?

Sounds like coyotes just being coyotes to me. Patience is probably the best thing for you right now. Perhaps look into joining our state trappers association. We have some excellent trappers who would be more than willing to accompany you on your line and give you some pointers, this will definitely shorten your learning curve as well as make some new friends.

Put your set right where they’re walking

I have been using Junes Widowmaker Paste Bait and some coyote gland lure from Dunlop’s with urine on some sets and Highway 61 Predator Bait on others with gland lure and urine.

I have to be off to the side a bit as they are walking on deer trails, but where the fox and coyote both are at the same set I probably need a set on the other side of the trail. I also added a set yesterday in the middle of the driveway between the tire tracks near where the bobcat picture was. Found lots of coyote dropping in the grassy area next to the driveway.

I'm having the same issues. I'm trying to put my finger on it. Maybe you can shed some light. I have a few questions. How long have the sets been out ? How long from between then and when you got the pics. How far from the camera to where they are walking. The problem I'm having is that I find trails w/ fresh tracks on them, make the sets, get few pics then the spot goes dead within a week. . Most of the time the camera is fairly close so I was thinking it might be the camera proximity. I have deer cameras still out that are high in tree. I get daily and nightly pics. They are bothered by the camera at all.

Wind direction is important. You can try using a trailing scent. Used cooking oil bacon grease mixed up you can add sardines in the oil shake well. Squirt it on the trail leading to the set.

Some of the sets have been out since early February. I added some more in mid February and been adding thru March. I get pics almost weekly of coyotes, wolves, fox and bobcat. Hoping to not catch a bobcat as season is closed. My cameras are 15-20 yards away and most are infrared. A couple weeks ago I had a coyote work the set as I had numerous pictures of him there rolling around. When I went to check it to see why I didn’t catch it he was right next to the set and it looked like the tail brushed the dirt off the pan.

I do have some fish oil I bought for coons would that work? I have had skunks and coons very near my sets with no catches of those either.

Fish oil will work.

Did you use any kind of antifreeze? Your traps could be frozen down at night. I know I have made the mistake a time or two of not using enough and being able to step on the pan without it firing.

wws

I used waxed dirt on all my sets. I don’t believe they were froze.

The deer are interested in the sets. I have had issues with deer messing them up.

Don't use urine as it contains salt and deer like salt.

I had the same problems plus other non target animals. Coyote are tough in our state. I had camera on one set this year. I didn't have trap there but just wanted to watch how they worked it. This set was in the middle of they woods on a game trail. This seems to be a tougher location.

What you describe could be considered a “stall-out” location meaning the coyotes use it repetitively and are usually in a neutral/relaxed mood when there. If you have a set near and up wind of this location and the coyotes are not attracted enough to the scents to work your sets, change scents!

I have a couple sets near this area. One set is the one with the rock as my backing. I also added a flat set on my driveway on Sunday. I believe they come from the south so hoping the driveway set will get them in the way in. I did use a different gland lure on Sunday when I made the new set and freshened the rock set.

When he says near, he is talking right on or as close as possible. The best set with the best bait still needs to be right on location - 2 feet down wind wont do much. Ditch the camera and try a few sets right on location. Might try skipping the urine if deer are present.

Exactly! Thanks Maurob.

Interesting. My deer camera is about the same distance as yours and it gets pics all the time for the past several months. It's also infra red.. The others were much closer. Less than 10'. Those go dead quickly after making the sets.

My 1st catch happened today. Caught and released a nice red fox. My son, grandsons and I made 2 sets on another piece of property on Saturday afternoon and had success today. It was pretty awesome to make the release with my son and one of my grandsons with.

Nice work, hope the coyotes cooperate soon for you.

I was reading your post, when you said your using waxed dirt, two things come to my mind dirt from another area different odor contaminated wax, where the Coyote was rolling on the ground did you have your trap bag or pail sitting their or where you kneeling when making the set?... with the deer messing up your set sounds like your dirt, I have never had a deer mess up my sets, sounds like some rock salt got into the dirt, I stopped using waxed dirt plus i stopped importing dirt, I used only calcium chloride when i had to you can't use a lot, plus i used the same dirt even if i had to grade it over the set, this time of the year i would try using some beaver castor or muskrat liquid, another question comes to mind did you deodorize all of your equipment, i know on the east coast the Coyotes are hard to trap, i had to make my set backwards and put all my tools behind me and made my own lure that is when i started banging them out and just as i got to that point i had to quit because of work, the Coyotes know you are there.

My take is the coyotes know where your sets are by this time. They make their living finding things that are trying to hide from them. The wind changes directions and swirls more than most people realize especially in timber. Them rolling close to the set most likely means they stole the bait or lure from your set and are rolling on it. The coyotes are just on to the game. Deer have great intrest in every bait, lure and ingredient ive tested. Cameras cause more problems than most people realize but you can't convince a novice of it because they get pictures of coyotes on them, things aren't that black and white with coyotes. From my observations of coyotes the mostly likely time to catch them is the first time they encounter the set, after that their intrest gets less every encounter after that. The good news is a lot of places have enough coyotes its likely a different coyote will come though and get caught making us trappers think we caught the one we previously missed. The more attraction your bait or lure has the more likely a coyote is to over come its caution and commit to the set enough it gets caught. In my testing I've seen a wide range of intrest even among very popular baits and lures. Too much human activity too close to the sets can definitely put coyotes on alert that the game is on. Got a friend that kills coyotes for a living and keeps them really thinned out, he says for the most part the real tough coyotes can't be caught on sets with any kind of attraction. And I'm starting to believe him.

Find where coyote is traveling make trail set then use a match head drop lure on it straight across from trap got him. For tough to catch coyotes. Simple is way beter. I came after a wss officer once years ago with this set caught 23 coyote in 3 weeks using this set with 5traps

Thanks everyone for your input and tips. I finally caught my 1st coyote yesterday. I actually had a fairly successful week. Caught and released a badger and a fox and now the coyote.

Good for you, Papa. Well done!

Thumbs up, always great to include the grandkids! Your first is always the hardest.

Good deal

Broke the seal, congrats, first of many I am sure.