Good morning trappers.
Looking for some advice on catch-circle shy coyotes. (Previous catches have all been coyotes) However, I’m getting a lot of refusals just outside the circle based on the tracks I’m seeing. Any suggestions on changing up the remake, vs putting in a fresh set nearby, and whether bait plus lure or one over the other would be better.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

I've had both avoidance and great interest in catch circles. If the coyote is checking out catch circles you got them there put in a set close by maybe just lure.

Think of it like this: If coyotes are visiting the catch circles but are refusing to commit, simply drop on the downwind side of the circle and put in a blended pee post set. Coyotes, both male and females, will normally urinate on or mark something if they are nervous. Use this to your advantage. In my honest opinion, adding an additional "lure" smell can sometimes make them even more skittish. Use their natural instincts.

Good luck.

I've had good luck with a mafia set nearby. Just a fairly fresh turd for an attractant. No urine or lure. Keep the circle remake operational because it is a huge appeal to a lot of coyotes. The mafia set will a lot of times pick up the shy one.

Another good option is a blind trail set, either foot trap or snare, within sight of the catch circle. It can be a few yards or 100 yards if the terrain is open. I think they're still curious even if they're shy of the catch circle.

Great advice!

Always have a fresh set nearby for backup! They can be finicky. Will say though a catch circle with some snow on top is a magnet.

I figure the refusals are a result of either being the mate/running buddy of the one caught and were there when it got caught or sensory overload for that individual coyote with all of the visual and scents.

Of course if you have an educated coyote that compounds the odds of a refusal

I think you’re right on track with that assessment. Which makes the blind sets and mafia set effective on those coyotes. I think they’re still curious about the catch circle and will come close enough to check it out but won’t commit.

I've seen the switch from year to year. Some years remakes in a catch circle are the absolute best producing set out there. Other years I couldn't catch a cold with them. I always remake them, because the trap is already there and I may as well. Sometimes they are dynamite and every catch will be in the same set, other times, nothing. I haven't had much of any success with a trap set just outside the catch circle myself, but have to admit that I've only done so a few times, so have limited experience with it. I almost always gang set, so there will be other sets relatively close, and I may make an additional subtle set or two, depending on situation, as well as remake the catch circle. And I always seem to catch either in the catch circle itself, or in one of those nearby sets.

I will say that about the best canine set I can think of is a catch circle remake where you've caught a cat; longtail or shorttail, doesn't seem to matter. And coyotes always seem to work a fresh wolf catch circle, not sure why, but if there are coyotes in the area I can about guarantee they will work the remake any time I catch a wolf.

Theres a thousand and one reasons a coyote will refuse to step into a circle. Pick one, or ten.

I believe MOST of it just the tore up nature of it, and that distinct "hard line" in the ground. If I had a dollar for every time ive seen oodles of coyote tracks JUST outside a circle (and I mean within inches) id have a few bucks. Which is where a set just outside the circle comes into play.

But, I think if a guy can get that coyote to take just one step into that circle, they quickly convince themselves its safe and will wade right in with relative abandon the rest of the way.

I dont believe scent is a big factor, as Ill see all kinds of refusals, than get a skiff of snow that hides the appearance and everybody wades right in again. Although scent "overload" could be a factor in some instances. I can go into a weathered out catch circle that hasnt had a coyote in it for 9-12 months, break open that old trap bed and get blasted with coyote stink. So if I can smell it they sure as heck can. But, its weathered out and itll catch right away.



Let the coyotes tell you what to do.

5-6 years ago in my country a catch circle was worth its weight in gold. I caught 18 coyotes in one set, never changed a thing about it. Slap it back in and catch another. But we had a LOT of coyotes. So there was a lot of competitiveness within the population.

The last few years, remakes have been slow at best and if they connected at all and usually take some time to do so. Theres also some seasonal distinctions in the effectiveness of remakes.

Which brings up another topic. When is a remake no longer considered a remake? Scent can persist for many months. And out west the appearance of a catch circle can persist for years in some instances. So, is it still considered a "remake" two weeks later? Six weeks? Four months???

Good question to ponder

I would have said a remake was setting back immediately or at least before the ground had been weathered (several weeks)

Around here when the grass is growing the catch circle will blend back in within a few weeks to a month.
In the winter they will remain visible until greenup

I have trapped 5 coyotes in remakes from the first catch. I try to rake out the catch circle to level everything back out as much as possible and use the very same bait or lure if needed.
But like others l have had refusals too.

I have noticed this week coyote tracks in a catch circle from last winter. Im going to follow Boone Lane’s imput and remake a set in that old catch circle and see what happens. What have l got to lose?

It’s much easier to avoid creating a problem coyote vs trying to find a solution to one.
Next time around you might consider Gang Setting as a proactive strategy. It works.


This method works well.

REMAKE DOUBLE

Its not always a problem you created.

Ive seen where gang setting can sometimes act like a sensory over load and actually can cause more caution.

Every approach has it advantages and its disadvantages. Learning to capitalize on the advantages and minimize the disadvantages in each particular situation is what makes trapping coyotes a constant challenge.

Try making a trash pile right on the edge of the catch circle and a fresh trap blended just just out of the circle. Preferably on the up hill side. And I like a quiet smell like a gland lure or castor type lure..

Like above, I like to reset the original trap and add one on the edge of the circle. Drag some of the scratched up grass and make a small mound on the edge, pop in a hole or pipe at the base and add a little gland lure and maybe a turd from a different area. Also have used a red fox foot in the hole with good success.

It’s a given that some have the wariness & paranoia meter turned up to eleven right out of the gate.
Even those coyotes probably had some form of interaction that influences their behavior, especially on high pressure ground.
I bet most would agree the vast majority of avoidance problems are caused not inherent.

Odds are we all inadvertently cause more problems than we realize without even knowing it .
Then we justify the behavior by saying “It’s just a coyote being a coyote”.

Thanks everyone, these are excellent suggestions. Appreciate all the feedback!! I’ll be giving these a shot on the remakes.