Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Trapping Hobby trapping in the Ozarks

Since many of us enjoy the trapping pics and journals in this forum I thought I'd add to the viewing pleasure. The rundown (short version); I'm trapping merely for entertainment. However, I do flesh and stretch some pelts and ship to NAFA annually with hopes to break even on expenses. I use MB550 offset traps, I usually run 18-20 sets, and primarily target coyotes but usually make a few sets for bobcats. I'm fairly new to trapping, I started using live traps for bobcats in 2011 and have been using foot hold traps exclusively since 2014, so I am far from being an expert. I'm trapping in the Ozark Plateau region of NE Oklahoma.

I put 9 traps in the ground on 1/8/18 and another 9 the next day. I average setting 3 traps per hour if I don't have to scout much.

The first night with the initial 9 traps produced a nicely colored gyp coyote. The second night (first night of 2nd set of 9 traps) I caught a decent tom bobcat. Both of these were caught on dirt hole sets.

Night 3 yielded a double on coyotes, caught a gyp in the same set the bobcat was caught in the 1st night and caught the dog in a post set that was 40 yards away.

Day 4 gave a coyote, this gyp was caught on a post set.

The 5th day produced the elusive black coyote! In my area black (melanistic) coyotes exist but are uncommon. Not including this one I've seen one alive and a few dead in the last 10 years I've lived here. I would him call a "color phase". Caught in a walk-thru set.


and a pic next to a "normal" colored yote for comparison

Day 6 got another gyp on a walk-thru set.

No catches for day 7. The 6 day catch streak was by far my best. Day 8 (today) produced another gyp caught in a post set.

Good looking pictures and fur!

Thanks for the pics. Keep up the good work.

You got ( or had) a lot of song dogs. Good luck on more cats.

Very nicely done!

Keep the pics coming!!!!

They don’t look real happy!

Well today the line was full of surprises. I thought the color phase coyote I caught Saturday was a once in a lifetime deal, then today I find a black coyote double! Caught the dog on a flat set and the gyp was 100 yards away on a dirt hole set (that has now produced 2 yotes and a cat).



And then I find what is probably the prettiest bobcat I've ever caught! Found this one in the same post set I caught yesterdays coyote in.

Very nice catches!

great job,

Real nice pictures, but what does gyp stand for?

Gyp is often referring to a female dog that has not been bred or had a litter yet. Bitch is often used after they have had a litter. Gyp is also commonly used to refer to any female dog.

WL,

Now we're talking.!
I like the hobby, a lot, grew up doing it and at 53 I still can't get it out of my blood.
Your style reminds me of the time I ran a short week end line. I put in 9 step down dirt hole sets along a bank between a corn field and a small river with lots of coon sign. In just 9 sets the first night I had 1 Blue Jay, 1 opposom, and 5 coon. It covered the gas for that weekend. Lol.

This sub forum is kind of slow, but I suspect that there are many of us here on the 'fire setting steel.

I have been doing some research and trying to focus on Cubbys for coon. Oh, I know there are better and more productive ways to catch them, but I want to determine the psychology of coons when it comes to cubby openings and their willingness concerning entry and refusal.

Not wanting to hyjack your great thread here. But if anyone would like, I have some questions here in the sub forum in another thread that I could use some input on. Thanks.

Very cool!!
nice run and the blacks are a yuge bonus,,,

YES THEY ARE.!!!

Sounds like you're a trapping fool. Coyotes hides are going to pot here, as it's been a warm winter and the breeding season is approaching.

They generally start breeding mid to late January here, but in years past I have caught quality coyotes to the end of February. So far this season out of the 10 caught so far, I've had 2 that were "rubbed" or bare bellied.

Caught another coyote today, this time a flat set. This creek crossing as produced 2 coyotes and a bobcat in the last three days. I'd call it a great spot! I pulled up to it this morning and all the cattle (about 15 head) were standing around that set and I thought "great the cows will have those two sets fired off" but they were all standing and staring at the coyote.

Great line you have there. Good job taking out those fawn killers.

The bobcat looks unhappy.

You are doing some good!!

Pulled the line up today, won't be resetting til early next month.

Must be a local thing. I been doing this my whole life and you are the only one I have ever heard use the term.

Heard that phrase gyp many times years ago.. No so much now..

Heard that phrase gyp many times years ago.. No so much now..

Put 16 sets out today.

You are a day early!



Hell or high water I will get some sets out this weekend.

Ditto

WL.......Do you sell those Ozark Coyote pelts and if so what kind of money do they fetch?

Yes...I've been sending them to NAFA. Most of the coyotes I catch, especially the males, will be brown bellied and dark backed and will grade in the Eastern section. Those haven't been bringing much at all, $6-$15. However, I do get a few a year that will grade in the semi-western section with white bellies and light backs, they are usually females, and the last couple years they've brought $50-$55.

Thanks for the info WWL and good on you for going to the trouble to use the resource even if there isn't a ton of money involved.

My fur buyer is reluctant to buy Coyotes after the first of the year and cat season is over in a few days so I pulled my traps today.

Trapline update; got a line set Wednesday, no catches on Thursday. Friday was great with a real nice tom cat, and three coyotes to boot. Today I had one coyote and a small female bobcat.

Looks great.

I am really enjoying this thread....thanks for putting em up.

I never realized how big a bob cat is.

No fur today. It was real humid and foggy this morning. That must of played a role in the critter movement last night as it appeared that none of my sets were even worked.

Hard times on the trapline, nothing yesterday, was victim of the what appeared to be the handy work of a fox, had three sets dug up. Today however I caught a grey fox, had one set dug up and he was in the set 50 yds away.

Been a slow week, pulled 5 sets out yesterday, still have 11 I'll run at least thru the weekend. Finally picked off another song dog today.

Great thread WL205 , good job !