OK Mncooner,
Here's your post!

This is a post about why coyotes,(and we can go into other animals too, but mainly coyotes) avoid or miss snares.
Since coyotes, as well as most furbearers, are easily snared, why is it that many trappers have trouble snaring coyotes in numbers, especially in the high tech age of information we live in.
Now I've not seen Marty S. From Canada' new DVD but I have seen quite a few others and some of these guys who are pretty good trappers are actually poor snaremen and it's evident when you see it on film!

So that said, I hope someone will add to this and help get the ball rollin'.
What say ye snaremen?

I'll be watching this one very closely.

My first guess around here, this time of year, is tracks in the snow/disturbed area around the snare.

And, no, I have no clue how to levitate, so I need to figure this one out.

My second guess, is lack of good camo, and the snare sticks out like a sore thumb.

My third guess is the coyotes hate me, are on to me, watch me from thickets.

LOL. I too am watching this topic with great interest. Coyotes have made a fool of me since November...

The number 1 cause of coyotes "stalling" out and avoiding a snare that I have seen is because I have already snared a coyote there and did not re locate the snare.I see it a lot on fence crawl unders,which there normally is not an option to re-locate, rarely do I get more than 1 in a fence in the same spot.

Am I alone?

Forgot to mention the reason I know they stalled out is because the tracks in the snow don't lie. I have seen where I have had a snare and caught a coyote, couple weeks later after a fresh snow I could see where one went right to the snare and paced around, but would not commit.

I continue to reset them with snares, but I think if I were smart, just reset the spot with a trap near the fence opening.

When I first started with Cable Restraints (snares) here in PA I had numerous, snow documented, refusals. Newt hit a home run when he advised me to walk the trail beyond the snare and not just stop and set it or reposition it. Since I have heeded his advise, refusals are rare. I have not been successful in resetting a snare catch circle, even with a foothold. I now reset further down the same trail at some other narrowing opportunity. I also now dip my snares in Brown Formula 1, and may even touch up with some light tan spray paint. I had a coyote turn within a foot of a snare set on a moonlite night prior to doing this. If I set an active trail, usually I can snag the canine running it. Now that I wrote this, the snares that I will hang tomorrow will probably remain empty.

I'd also like to see included in this thread what color you prefer to paint/treat your snares with, especially those that snare a lot in snow...

I have had refusals but have reduced them dramatically over the years by doing a few things. 1)I follow through the trail. 2) I blend my snare in better with light weeds it really helps to breakup the outline to the snare. I do not dip or treat my snares they are just boiled on baking soda and hung out till needed. I use 3/32 7x7 with a washer lock here because in Indiana they have to be nonlethal. If it werent for the law I would drop my cable size and use amberg type locks. That would help also.

I would say the main reasons for avoidance would be disturbance to the area and walking up to check your snares everyday. I don't venture to far away from my vehicle when snaring so I can usually check my snares from the road. If I have caught something I can usually tell by the catch circle. Now when I locate a trail I don't walk the trail but instead I will walk parallel to the trail about 20 feet out if possible. When I find a location on the trail that I want to set I will approach the trail from the side and place my snare. I will never step foot on that trail unless I absolutely have to. Now I'm not saying that you cant catch coyotes if you walk on the trail because you can but I have experienced better catches by staying off of them. I think that by leaving disturbance or scent on the trail the coyote becomes more alert and cautious and may travel at a slower pace making it easier for the yote to see a snare. About once a week I will walk in to make sure that the snare has not been knocked off or closed shut due to the wind. I will re walk the same path that I used when I set the snares. I have often heard that coyotes and fox will start using these trails that are being made to set and check snares but I can honestly say that I have never seen it. In my experience they avoid it like the plague. For snaring in the snow I spray paint all of my snares months before the season opens so that they can air out. I don't get crazy with the spray paint, a light mist will do the job. I have set snares out in the middle of frozen sloughs along coyote trails with good success. It's amazing to have snare placed out in the open with no weeds or cattails to block it's outline and have a neck snared coyote waiting for you.

Like mentioned above if your walking the trail and set a snare continue walking down the trail.

What color?

Thanks for the nice response. I see the same thing here. Coyotes avoid human tracks whenever possible.

I spray them with a flat white spray paint when snaring in snow. I do have some snares on hand that are painted a flat tan which blends in remarkably well when placed in trails through soil bank or cattails.

i have had several avoides snares this winter. i boiled and dyed my snares, but i did so with brown and now we have 4 foot of snow. thought about spraying them white, but afraid the smell will hurt worse than the color. i have been trying to hide them better with brush and plants.

the point of walking the entire trail is new to me and will be something that i will do tommorro.

I boil my snares in maple bark then i put them in plastic container with a couple spruce twicks and a lid to keep all unwanted odours out. My best sets are bait sets that i use year after year. I go around in the preseason and touch them. Any new sets i make never produce near as good that first year. Hang them quick and get out don't block them in to much or fuss with them. I have no problem with walking down there trails just set them quick and keep going don't turn around at the snare. I don't beleave that an animal knows what a snare is unless they were caught before and chew out or running with a mate that was caught. My biggest taboo is i take my dog with me and after getting caught in one he now avoids them. Check them from a distance if possible and never walk up to them and turn around. Step over and keep going.

I have painted snares and then set them a few days later and have caught coyotes with them so it can be done if your in a pinch.

I never found a white paint that matched the brightness of snow. There are different shades of white and I break up the outline, along the sides of the snare, with a neutral color that matches the vegatation somewhat. I am almost always using some type of native material and/or grasses for blocking, at least on one side. I have painted snares ahead of a big winter storm and caught coyotes three days after.
Now I don't reccomend that, But I have done it. Our snow seldom last for more than three weeks here, usually in late January and February, when most coyotes are worthless, fur wise, anyway. I seldom set out snow white snares but I do have some ready if I feel I need them. A snow white snare still stands out against snow!

If you ask most Alaskan or Canadian bush trappers, most will boil in cedar limbs, sage, willow or whatever they have available and air out. Many trappers too will use a big piece of white chalk and rub up and down the sides to break the outline. Now chalk has a smell...Maybe not at -40...but it does have a smell!

*Note: I tried to post the other night but after typing about 20 minutes or so, the computer went blank and it was all I could do not to break something. Needless to say, the message was lost!

I am currently under the weather and am trying to get my health back before it goes in to pneumoia..so bare with me. I do have some thoughts to add on this subject and want to thank MNcooner for bringing up the idea. It is a common problem with trappers, who although catch coyotes in snares, miss far too many!

It is very pleasing however, to read what has been posted thus far. It shows we have some very knowledable trappers out there and even more who want to learn. I sincerely hope more will add to this post. Traps checked for the day...I'm going to bed!

Catch anything? Besides the sickness.

i had somthing knock my snare down twice and know i see where they make a loop about 3 feet to the side of the snare i think the one time it was live stock that got in the feild after i set up

does anyone use stepping sticks or guide sticks laying parallel to trail but to the side?
how important do you think scent free snares are? i've heard some say they don't use gloves even!
one of my biggest problems is locating a main trail. too many times what looks like it's getting used goes dead.
also one thing i try to do is come in from the side and reach thru a bush or brush. this leaves my tracks less noticiable.
great thread!

44charlie,
Human scent from "clean" hands, is not going to stay on cable out in the elements for any lenth of time. Would it be on there some? Sure. Would it matter on a camo-ed trail or fence snare? Probably not.

That said, I normally use some kind of thin gloves when handeling snares because I am around all types of odors ( animal, bait, urine, food items,) in the course of a days trap check and can not always wash my hands. I would be more conserned with how well the set blends and how natural it looks after setting the snare than human odor. Many trappers that I have observed, are actually very poor snaremen and do not make the set fade in, which causes coyotes, cats and even foxes to stall out.
More on that later...( still struggling , a bit under the weather).