First Time Coyote Trapping-Any Advice is Welcome

[go_deep]

Do you have the night latch set?
Do you have a pan cover over your trap to keep dirt from getting under the pan so it will trip easier?
Without your trap set, if you lift the pan does it fall freely, or just sit in the air? Pan should drop, if not, you could have to much tension.
Are you orienting the trap dog in the right place when setting the trap so they step on the side of the pan without the dog?

 

[nw_bearcat]

It has been a bit since I have posted regarding my new venture (had to allow for the start of the trapping season). The good news is that I am having coyotes at spots every night (set my traps three days ago). The problem is that my Duke 550 traps aren't being tripped???? Paw prints are directly on top of the pan area so I have no idea why they aren't being set off. Any advice regarding this issue would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Check your pan tension. Are you running a trap cover or do you have dirt under the pan?

Does your trap dog move free?
That’s what I like about the dogless style, little quicker to set and less to adjust

 

[7RemMag]

It has been a bit since I have posted regarding my new venture (had to allow for the start of the trapping season). The good news is that I am having coyotes at spots every night (set my traps three days ago). The problem is that my Duke 550 traps aren't being tripped???? Paw prints are directly on top of the pan area so I have no idea why they aren't being set off. Any advice regarding this issue would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Assuming your traps are not froze in, I would assume you need to adjust your pan tension is my guess. That pan should just barely stay up on its own. Maybe slightly heavier if you’re targeting coyotes specifically.

 

[Nine Banger]

I don't personally use 4-coils and have actually cut all my 4-coils back to 2 coil.

Same here.

I got some 4 coils when 2 coils weren't available and they are a PITA.

 

[ElDiablito]

Same here.

I got some 4 coils when 2 coils weren't available and they are a PITA.

I only use 4 coils out west here. The faster and stronger the better. Our coyotes are probably bigger and meaner too.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Find where 2 packs territories overlap and set there. That's where I have the best luck.

 

[Chris in TN]

I only use 4 coils out west here. The faster and stronger the better. Our coyotes are probably bigger and meaner too.

I can easily see how they might be faster and won't argue with you there at all, I just don't like doing things that increase the possibility of me smushing my cold, wet fingers in a trap. The 4-coils I messed with were simply harder to set, and I'm not the most nimble-fingered person on earth, so I went back to 2-coil.

 

[Dobeman887]

Thanks for all the responses. I am using pan covers so there shouldn't be any dirt directly below the pan itself. After work I will head home and adjust the pan tension a bit to hopefully allow it to trigger more easily. The good news is that the coyotes have been there both nights, and have taken my bait, and it appears they have pissed on the area because it was wet?? I did notice that for Duke 550 traps I need to hammer the "Dawg" in a bit, vs adjusting a bolt and screw.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

I only use 4 coils out west here. The faster and stronger the better. Our coyotes are probably bigger and meaner too.

2 coil/4 coil doesn't matter you you get them behind the pad... Make sure you pan is level with the jaws and it snaps at 3ish lbs. I use 2 coils because they are easier to deal with when you setting a couple dozen traps.

 

[Nine Banger]

2 coil/4 coil doesn't matter you you get them behind the pad... Make sure you pan is level with the jaws and it snaps at 3ish lbs. I use 2 coils because they are easier to deal with when you setting a couple dozen traps.

View attachment 968334

I was thinking same. Based on my experience I'd only run 4 coil if I was somewhere that a wolf might hit an MB 550.

 

[ElDiablito]

2 coil/4 coil doesn't matter you you get them behind the pad... Make sure you pan is level with the jaws and it snaps at 3ish lbs. I use 2 coils because they are easier to deal with when you setting a couple dozen traps.

View attachment 968334

I set hundreds not a couple dozen…. You’ll miss a bunch of coyotes running 2 coils like that especially in freeze/thaw conditions.

You will have fewer lions to release with 2 coils.

 

[go_deep]

Thanks for all the responses. I am using pan covers so there shouldn't be any dirt directly below the pan itself. After work I will head home and adjust the pan tension a bit to hopefully allow it to trigger more easily. The good news is that the coyotes have been there both nights, and have taken my bait, and it appears they have pissed on the area because it was wet?? I did notice that for Duke 550 traps I need to hammer the "Dawg" in a bit, vs adjusting a bolt and screw.

If you can see a good amount of tracks look at where they're stepping, try and see if you turned your trap so the dog is facing a different way would they then step on the side that doesn't have the dog, or maybe move the trap back just a little and then they'd step on it more times.

Good luck!?

 

[Sccritterkiller]

I set hundreds not a couple dozen…. You’ll miss a bunch of coyotes running 2 coils like that especially in freeze/thaw conditions.

You will have fewer lions to release with 2 coils.

No lions in SC..not much of freeze thaw/thaw either. But you do get to deal with fire ants and skeeters all season long.

 

[ElDiablito]

No lions in SC..not much of freeze thaw/thaw either. But you do get to deal with fire ants and skeeters all season long.

That sounds miserable.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

If fire ants where on the landscape during the Civil War Sherman would have never made it out of Atlanta...

 

[Dobeman887]

Update- it has rained intermittently here the past few days so the dirt I would be working with is now mud. I'll let you know when I get the traps back in the ground.

 

[Dobeman887]

Ok, dug up the traps yesterday afternoon and the Duke 550 traps are not "easy" to adjust the pan tension. I followed a video and hammered the dawg in a bit and got everything reset.......this morning, same thing- tracks all over and bait taken from hole. I don't know what to do at this point other than get some different traps where the pan tension is easier to adjust. Any advice here??

 

[go_deep]

Ok, dug up the traps yesterday afternoon and the Duke 550 traps are not "easy" to adjust the pan tension. I followed a video and hammered the dawg in a bit and got everything reset.......this morning, same thing- tracks all over and bait taken from hole. I don't know what to do at this point other than get some different traps where the pan tension is easier to adjust. Any advice here??

How much dirt are you putting over the pan?
Where is your dog oriented to the bait?

No way a k9 should be able to step on that pan without tripping it.

I have caught rabbits and squirrels in my mb-550's and no-bs k9 extremes, that seems crazy hard to trip.