The cause of pullouts

I've been using MB-550 offset and 4 coiled for predator sets and I have had two traps set off and pulled away from the bed as far as possible. No fur in the traps and no visible struggle on the ground.

I'm running these traps at a 3.5lb tension, some pillow fluff under the pan. They are being bedded tight where there is absolutely no wiggle on the trap. I caught two bobcats but they had to be released.

I just want to know a good and probable reason that those two traps were pulled out of the bed and set off. I had thought maybe a coon dug them out, set them off, but I don't know why it would move them. I figured the 4 coil would keep hold of a poorly caught foot on a coyote.


Thanks guys for any insight.

Sounds like a deer to me. Lots of times the trap will be at the end of the chain, no hair or struggle.

X2 deer

x3

Deer probably

I agree about deer. Sometimes around here it will be a big footed lion. Trap closes under the foot and catches a pad for the length of chain.

Alright, that thought had been in my mind too, it being a deer. I guess thats just unlucky of me. The two traps in question were both set on corners of mowed trails.

I've just been a little discouraged, I've always done water trapping up until this year and do better than average I'd say. I think I'm on good location and did not want to be giving out free education to canines.

Deer and rolling are the main culprits for "pullouts" With offsets it's s little harder to identify rolling unless some hairs get caught in the corners.

classic "deer stomp".

thought I had another one today, but when I went to re-set it, the dog was conformed nicely to the bottom of the frame; resulting in a beautiful (nearly perpendicular) bent dog.

I tend to pull out cause I don't want any more kids. Make them feel safe and secure and they'll hang in there.

Agree 100% deer. I run mb550s as well and I have never had a pullout other than deer in the 10 years I’ve been using them. Once a coyote or fox gets in a 550 it’s game over.

If you are waxing your traps, you can normally tell by looking closly at the inside of the jaw. One side will have a smudge in the wax, that is all in one spot(depending on the size of the deer) and on the other jaw, straight across, will have two smudges that are made by the back edges of the hoofs. They are two seperate marks. This is not 100%, but most of the time you can ID it that way. If you don't wax, it may still show, but not as vivid. Hope that helps you!