I have read Kirk's book. I believe he has some very valid points. It has to do with EMF, Electromagnetic fields put off by metal. There are a lot of variables to consider though. The further north you go and the dryer the soil it's not going to transmit as much. Also, he found that better qualities of metal didn't put off a high field reading. So many may have not experienced many problems depending on where they live, soil conditions and the brand of trap, they used. He even stated it's a learned behavior not something they are born with. So, it's the older adult animals that would more than likely be the culprits.

I do believe animals can detect it and that may be the case as why some digging occurs with a trap bedded in front of a bait/lure test.

I have had very little issues with my sets being dug up. Most of the time it was a Grey fox or coon.I have had some uncovered slightly and reset and made a catch. Some of this I lay to my style of trapping in pre baited holes.I have had them work from a different angle after setting. If I have time I can adjust to him and catch him.

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.

I agree with Yes sir’s comment. I tested starting in April and would test into August and saw do difference of attractiveness in November & December. As to the question of how much testing lure makers do? I don’t know and I never concerned myself wether the lure maker just passed out samples to buddies or tested themselves because whatever testing was or wasn't done where, maybe in a feedlot for all I know, was NOT done where I trap!!!!

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.