Trapping coyotes can be a difficult task if you do not know how to do it right. These small animals are always alert and tricky meaning that if you want to catch them, you should use various skills. Regardless of the time when you want to catch them, you need to set your traps right.
There are people who have been trying to trap coyotes for long but without any success. However, now that the perfect season to get these animals is just around the corner, you do not have to worry because this article will let you in on some of the most effective ways of doing it. The following are the most important areas to focus on.
Get the right gear
There are people who use the Montgomery dogless coil spring traps while others prefer Duke coil spring, and many others. What is important is for you to look at the size of these traps. If you look keenly, you will notice that most of them are categorized using numbers from 1 to 4. The purpose is to ensure that while trapping coyotes, you do not end up damaging their skin. The good thing is that you are the one who knows the average size of coyotes that you want t trap and therefore, you should choose the gear appropriately.
It is important to note that choosing the gear is not just about the size. Coyotes are sensitive to scent and therefore, this should be the most important factor when choosing a trap. Any hint of human scent around your traps will make them avoid the entire area. Since they have been handled by many humans before you bought them, these traps should be boiled to get rid of this scent. You may also want to use gloves when setting up the trap as long as the gloves are also scent-free.
Choosing the areas of target
Setting up traps in the hunting and travel routes of coyotes is the best way to find them. Finding their travel paths is not a difficult task because you can easily follow their tracks. These animals prefer to move along narrow strips of bushes, alongside fields, and around the lakes and ponds. In addition to that, you can find their paths among the woods. These animals also frequent game trails and ATV. You can also find their tacks in agricultural areas especially if there are many humans in that area too. If you like on the outskirts of towns, bushy areas around your home are where you will most definitely trap coyotes. Usually, the areas where these animals frequent are laden with fur. You need to understand that these areas also have other animals such as foxes and dogs running around and therefore, you should stick to trapping your target. Learning to distinguish between the tracks of foxes, dogs and coyotes will make it much easier for you.
Determining the best sets
One of the most preferred sets is the classic dirt hole. By placing this set on the edge of any snow machine or snowshoe trail, it will be set at the extreme edge of trail making it much more effective. This is because a coyote will not usually want to go all the way to investigate a trail before getting moving. They prefer to step on the edge and the inspect the surrounding. Therefore, when the set is placed at the very edge of the whole, you have a higher chance of capturing the small animal. You also may want to dig a 2 or 3 inch diameter hole underneath a small bush or grass. With such, you have a backing that gives the coyotes only one way of approaching the set. What is important is to ensure that you anchor the animals to the traps. It does not have to be snow because these animals can also be found in areas where there is little or no snow. What you should be more concerned about is to ensure that the trap is concealed and that the hole has a bait that will lure any coyote that comes by.
If you try on set and observe that the coyotes are not falling for it, you should not give up. There are various additions that you can make to the set so as to make it better. You may consider changing the location, or size of the dirt hole. You also can look for better ways to conceal the traps because it could be true that the coyotes are noticing them. Even the smartest ones will be nabbed if you try using a different type of trap and bait. There also are those that can be nabbed without baits as long as they are lured to the dirt hole. One thing that you should not forget is the fact that these are very cunning animals, and they may try investigate the set from a distance before moving any closer.
Choose the right bait
What type of bait should you use to trap coyotes? Although there are many types out there, you should only choose a high-quality one. Sometimes, you may not know which the best one is especially if this is the first time you want to trap these animals. You also may want to try various types of baits until you find one that works best. Sometimes, these baits work best in specific areas. You also may want to talk to some of your neighbors just to find out the kinds of baits that work best for them.
Conclusion
Hunting coyotes can be a lot of fun if you know the right tricks. It is all about getting the right traps, and knowing how to set them. As long as you know how to conceal these traps and keep them in the right locations, you can be sure that you will be trapping these animals every day. The best part is that once you master it, you do not have to do a lot of work just to catch a coyote.
