She missed it BC2.
The trap pan is right on the X.
It might look like a track by the X but there is not.
When she excavated the empty trap bed she piled about three inched of dirt right on top of the trap !
So, the tracks you see are on top of three inches of lose dirt.
Her main approach on the first dig was at the 4:30 hour.
It is evident she hit from the same angle on the second nigh,t but I missed her fronts.
Then she just stood there and dug until the trap was completely buried.

testing in the summer compared to fall or winter will give you different results and reactions from coyotes even mild food based lures will work better different times of the year what i have found is test while trapping for example i have one farm that i have trapped for nearly 20 years and always catch yotes off this one mound in the first couple of days so if im trying new lures thats the spot i try because i know what works there and a new lure should still produce because the coyotes are there

Have u tested year around to confirm this? I for the most part haven't seen any preference difference based off the time of year.

limited testing as most of my coyote trapping is done in the winter but i have trapped problem coyotes in the summer and noticed the difference some of my top producing loud lures dont seem to work as great in the summer or early fall and if you read up on some lure makers posts they will sometimes say when a lure will shine

Ive seen stuff lure makers have said that dont pan out when you ask the coyotes. And I've talked with more than a few lure makers and wonder how much "testing " some of them do? Lot of stuff kind of seems a little logical then gets said enough that it's taken for truth. And when you start testing it it doesn't quite hold water.

When I started the coyote game I didn’t know about testing or what was good or not as far as bait goes. I stared with a couple items some worked some did not. Spent a lot of money like most did.After a few months of digging reading and learning by some here and the coyote mainly is that what works in other places does not always work as good here where I trap.I agree Mr. Fales I have not heard or seen anything being tested in my area.I use scraps that I pick up from a smoke house once a week.Those Scraps have doubled my catch. I hear folks say you catch alot of non targets on scraps.Not anymore that anything else I have used.My biggest issue here is Ants. I have reduced that some by adding used cooking oil to my scraps.Some of these coyotes will make you think that is for sure.I guess that’s what keeps me after them.

SPC, one of the things that makes the magnetic field theory hard to buy into for me is the extensive list of variables that can and do illicit the same exact response.
I don’t see how this theory could be singled out as the primary suspect amongst a lineup of known repeat offenders.

Then you have a host of conductive minerals called "Hot" rocks that will trip a metal detector just like a steel trap would.
If a coyote can indeed notice these magnetic fields, how could he isolate a handful of steel traps amongst thousands of acres of conductive mineral rocks ?

Now I understand there are places void of these conductive minerals as well. Maybe that is the caveat. It is certainly not the case here,
The area I trap is very rich in iron deposits. You cannot make a single sweep with the metal detector coil without it going off in most cases.
Maybe that along with dry conditions is why I don’t have any trouble.

Come to think of it I always thought the old theory that a coyote can detect the oxidation of the trap with his nose could be plausible.

Either way they are very interesting subjects that warrant more study.

Tejas I agree its usually a variety or combination of things but if a person or animal knows to look for an object or is looking for a particular object they are we more app to find it. I think maybe the difference between the "dumb" not knowing the trap is there and the wiser ones finding a trap is the one is looking for it. And if the have a particular spot to look for the can miss another one.

YS,, I believe most trappers gravely underestimate how good of a memory a coyote has..
The more repetition you show a coyote the more education he gains.
It is a s simple as that.

I've always thought the theory of them being able to smell oxidation could hold water. I mean I can smell rust and I don't have that good of nose. Of course it depends on where you are trapping. If you are trapping around old homesteads or old fences, there is old and rusty metal everywhere, so oxidesed metal wouldn't smell out of place.

They can absolutely smell rust.

Every spring it seems I will have a trap that probably should have been swapped out for a clean one get dug because it’s rusty. But I always seem to be rationing and trying to stretch out my trap supply so I do end up pushing my luck sometimes.

Doesn’t seem to happen to clean, or even dirty but non-rusty traps.

Light rust doesn’t concern me, but when it starts getting real crusty it’s a problem.

But I firmly believe in many situations they already know “somethings there”. Even a clean trap at a fresh set. They just don’t know what it is or care what it is, why would they? There’s rusty metal buried all over out there.

Iron, trap coatings, rust, fresh dirt smell, loose dirt, etc, coupled with human smell, are all potential red flags for certain animals.

Most dug trap problems I have are the result of skunks, fox, and other critters (swift fox are the WORST). And I believe most issues relating to dug or scratched at traps are a result of severe scent contamination, really poor bedding, or loose soil over the trap. I’ll have a lot more problems if I don’t firm up my trap bed, especially in warmer weather with real tentative coyotes.

A truly educated, smart coyote just leaves it all alone and most trappers likely never even know that animal exists.




I bury my traps pretty deep. Usually 1.5-2”.

That helps hide any wiggle there might be. Once I firm up 2” it may end up just being one depending on soil type. The wind may take 1/2”. And, should an animal scratch at it, I’d rather they not find something with an easy swipe or two. If they find something fast and easy, they’re going to continue to work at it. If they don’t, they may satisfy their curiosity, move on and get caught.

Years ago I had a coyote barking at me from some isolated buttes as I was setting a fur line in early November.

The first check back every set in the vicinity of those buttes had been uncovered and the trap drug out of the bed.

I believed the coyote threat barking me watched me make those sets. Investigated those sets “on point”, and was looking for something to be wrong.

Several checks (and more issues) later lo and behold a coyote was threat barking me from those buttes again.

So I snuck back in with a rifle and sniped a young gyp.

All the issues stopped.

If they’re looking for something to be “wrong”, they will most likely find something wrong.

Well said Boone

Good discussions and good input from an all of you. I have learned some things that i can apply next time I am able to get out.I have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and will most likely be down for a few months after I make a treatment decision. Keep me in your prayers please.

SK, I’m sorry to hear that sir.
We will keep you in our thoughts & prayers down South Texas way.
If you need anything just let us know.

Expect good news post op.We will do the same.
I hope you get back to killing coyotes sooner than you expect.

Great discussion you started Slipknot! The kind that the best K9 trappers can read and post……like some of them already have.
Were you diagnosed early? My wife’s uncle had trouble taking a leak for 4 friggin years. You know how us guts are though. Had he gone in a year ago, it would’ve been not too bad and treatable, but now it’s too late. He still running around and having fun, but the days are numbered. Good thing he retired at 55yrs old and spent some of his pension.
Good luck, God bless and hang in there SK!

Thank You Mr. Fales.
Thank You Tejas. I intend to get back after them as soon as I can.
Thank You Shakey. I believe I was caught early enough according to the Doctor and Test . I have another Test in a week and I am believing and Trusting God will Heal me. But if not he is Still God and I am gonna trust him.
I also thought this was a good topic and question to ask. We have a top notch group of Coyote Guys on here with a wealth of of knowledge.

Right on SK! That’s good news, you’re gonna be all fine.

I understand the variables could bring up questions. That's why for the most part I don't think it affects trappers to an extent be concerned with it. But I guess I'm not ready to discredit the fact that some animals can detect it. Maybe certain animals more than others.

I know a lot of Kirk's testing was probably geared more towards Beaver and he felt it really gave him the upper hand on those educated adult ones. Then when you're targeting animals with the use of cages, I would imagine it would generate a greater emf in that area.

Here's the forward to his book stating the testing that was done:

My findings based on infield testing, observation, real-time video, research periodicals, scientific studies, and reading trappers experiences with the devices mentioned. This work was done over 23 years trapping professionally. During this time, I experimented with body grip traps, round and standard, of various sizes. Snares and foothold traps were used of several sizes and snare lock types. Testing was done with experience from over 120 different cage trap designs, many having multiple sizes in length, width, and height, as well as trigger design. They were square, round, rectangle, triangle, and pyramid in shape. This included doors that locked with rings, powered and not. Traps with powered saloon-style doors on each end. Guillotine doors of various designs. Many had swing-down powered lock bar doors combined with some traps that had at least three different door designs on the same trap. Triggers on the cage traps used have been multiple numbers of pan designs to over six different wire trigger styles and type. Using trapping devices over 18,000 animals were caught, in the wild, and over 60,000 sets were made. During a 13 year period, of the 23 years, over 400 locations were set each year. More than one hundred thousand acres were accessed and over 14,000 animals were caught. In most of the 13 years, the bulk of trapping was done, in less than 120 days, with a 24hr check. 95% of the work that was done removing animals was Animal Damage Control. It wasn’t until a magnetometer was purchased that the way the animals were responding to set traps and hunting/ trapping devices made complete sense. For almost four years, I suspected, with very strong beliefs, but never could prove scientifically. I was always given doubt, from my findings, by respected professionals that I thought had the same experiences I had and the ability to interpret them. Concentrating on “the most effective traps”, the only thing they “all” had in common was a decrease in magnetic field intensity and a larger percentage of adult animals being caught in the traps with fewer refusals.

I’m guessing this book is called AN OUTDOORSMAN'S GREATEST DISCOVERY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY?
Sounds interesting. Figured it should be a good read and worth ordering.