Is it weird that I like being beat?

Of course everyone loves to see a coyote, bobcat, or fox in their trap, but what does that really teach us? Sure you did it all right but the catch circle has removed all the evidence that you could put to use on your next set.

Let’s see some of those near misses that might show us what to do next time. I’m new to this but here is my worst. This coyote stepped literally everywhere BUT the pan.


Tighter blocking? Another punch hole? I’m not sure what I should have done differently but it’s fun to think about.

Cool idea for a post. I've always felt that you learn a lot more from a miss than you do from a catch.

Misses I had that honor of experiencing that this morning.it used to frustrate me a lot when it happened but now not so much.The ones you catch are the experience of the ones you miss.

To me it tells me you are doing everything right but they just don't there foot where it is suppose to. He's going to be back.

Misses are going to happen. More so on flat sets. I dont worry too much about the occasional one but if its happening too regular then something is going to have to change. The way I see it every kind of set has its pros and its cons and how well a set guides the placement of the foot is one area I evaluate a set on. Also how well a lure or bait gets them to work a set has a lot of bearing on catches and misses. Im not a big proponent of the idea if you miss them once they will be back. It does happen but I've just seen to much evidence that intrest is always the highest the first time they encounter the set and it fades quickly from there. The exception is if the weather gets real bad and they become very desperate for food. You get to dealing with the hard to catch % of the population and misses get real painful. I think if people realize how many didn't commit to the set they would be more concerned about that than the occasional miss.

Better than showing misses, show me a trapper who catches every coyote that comes by their sets. Every one has misses. One of the best pieces of advice I got on here for an almost guaranteed catch every time a critter checks out your set is to set two traps at every set.