My boy and one of his buddies decided that they wanted to have a trapline this year so I helped them get their traps out yesterday after we slayed a few pheasants. Nothing like setting traps when its 20 degrees to break a kid in to trapping. Pretty sure both of them were having second thoughts by dark yesterday when the last trap went in the ground. This morning that was all forgotten as they got ready to do their first check - I tried to tell them that the first check was usually not the best one but they had visions of 50% catch rates on day one. As it was, they were both pretty thrilled with this young male coyote that they picked up.

NICE 'YOTE and those boys have everything Too smile about. I like the set up for that terrian, next to that little boulder. In big open country, that little feature has 'come hither' written all over it. Excellent Job Ranger Dad!

PS: I can't quite tell in the pic but are you using a longspring or coil?

#2 Northwoods coils - baseplated, 8" of chain/swivels(3), shock spring, Speed Dip on all my traps.

Well, if a picture is worth a thousand words, those #2 Northwoods are doing their job Perfectly! I'm big on the sterling MJ600, but the one and only problem I get into with them, is the timing. I don't have a screw that can adjust the pan tension, so instead I cut a length of the 'spring' from an old measuring tape and the ends curve over the jaws and under the middle of the pan. That way I can adjust the weight to a 10 lb foot fall, not a skunk bumbling around.
Just wondering, in the cold country where you live, do you ever put a little salt in your sifting soil to keep ice from putting a hard layer over your traps? I have done that before, but I also sometimes wonder if wise ol yotes who have seen their brethren overhauled don't reconized some sort of salty smell and steer clear.

Roughly 30% of my catch consists of red fox so I run a tension free pan and rely on dog adjustment to facilitate proper paw catches. Never use any anti-freeze just pre sifted dry horse manure/soil.

Very cool sir.

Congrats.


Travis

Thank you so very much for bringing in the next generation! No. 2 coils have always been a fave with me. We even used them for mink trapping.

Definately keep us updated on how those 'young' trappers are doing! Successes and even stumbles along the way are just all in the name of learning the game. I'd like to see how they do, because they seem off to an excellent start under your instruction.

Hey thats great Ranger! I am not running a line this year, well maybe a few cat traps this winter, but thats it.

Teaching the youngsters how to trap will give them skills that are lost on most hunters.

LNF, I just use the dirt in the trap area, I buy calcium chloride in 50 pound bags, one bag will last me all season. sprinkle some in the trap bed, then some over the sifted dirt and you are freeze proof, even in the snow/rain for a day or so. Salt works, but its too dang corrosive.

Coyote #2 in the same set as the first. Not too bad for a couple of rookies. They had a snapped trap as well - poor bedding no doubt.

I love it once a trap gets working, got a fresh set in the area?

Most of the sets are doubles - There is another set roughly 50 yards from this one. Generally that set is better than this one - not this year.

I hope them boys know they are being spoiled by you taking them to known set area's that produce!

Thanks for taking the time to post the pic's, they are much enjoyed.

Day 3 - 4 coyotes, 1 nice big pale colored male and a smaller pale female. They're moving good in this weather.

Awesome! Nothing like a little weather to make it all happen. Thanks.

A little ignorance on my part, do you dispatch the critters, or is there a market for live yote?

Frankly, I like about 50 grains in every one I can find.

Wish our yotes were that nice!

Thanks for sharing.

All are dispatched and put up for the fur market. I do have several taxidermists that have requested a large male or two that have very pale coats. Those hides are put up differently and run considerably more money.

None of these coyotes get shot. Holes in the hide and the accompanying blood aren't a good thing when one hopes to sell them for maximum profit.

Wow!!! Your dealing with miniture prairie wolves compared to ours! With our moderate weather year around here there is no reason for ours to get all big and bushy. In fact, one of yours could probably open up a whole can of 'Michael Vick' canine whoopass on an entire pack of mine.

It all about location, location, location (geographically speaking).

Well done & congrats to the young men.



If they weren't shot, how did they meet their end?

Also, am curious how big of a spread (# acres) y'all are trapping on?

Won't go into detail on kill procedure but if you look closely at the bucket on the right in one of the pics you'll figure it out. Just as quick and painless as a gunshot but not as messy. Trapline is about 30 miles long - covers several ranches worth of roadway.

Day 4 - Very nice pale female - Forgot the camera at home so you'll have to excuse the pic.

got some nice belly's on them. should be good high dollar fur.

Dang Ranger...leave a 'seed crop' for next year!
That #4 is beautiful, man.

Didn't even notice the contents of the bucket until you pointed it out.

Another nice 'yote, BTW.

The boys checked traps alone so no pics in the trap, but two more good dogs.




And today's check - 4 more coyotes. Brings the total to 13 in 6 days out of 21 traps.

Wow, beginners luck, LOL! thats an impressive ratio for the boys.

OK, enough is enough. I can't stand this any more! What are you guys using for scent lures??? I don't know montana regs, but can you use visual attractors like feathers or a pieces of faux fur, too? Whatever you two are doing, your definately doing it the right way!
Congradulations!
LNF

We use mostly Caven lures with a couple of others thrown in for change-ups. All sets are dirt holes or flats with no feathers or visual other than the fresh dirt. We do stuff a little sheep wool down the hole to make it tougher to steal the bait. I have always been a big fan of Carmen's Pro mix instead of straight urine - we're using red fox but I've had equally good success with coyote as well. Seems that extra shot of gland lure makes all the difference. - Yesterday's check yielded one more coyote and a coon.

Red fox is a good call all the way around. Because that will just irritate the living rat turds out of coyotes, to where they just at least come to investigate. To those 'yotes that is a challenge within their home territory by a minion canine peeing on their home plate. Nicely Done!

Thanks for sharing and getting these young men involved. It gives them a healthy respect for the outdoors and away from the commie TV guys and flipping video games (both big time wasters). Good job!

As far as dispatching, I like the old school wooden bat. You won't catch me or mine using an aluminum bat for this chore.