I have a question with coyote working sets. This season a few trappers in this area got together. It seems like we all seen the same issues. All of us were using some lure and bait at our sets. Everyone stated that coyote would shy away from sets didn't matter if it was dirt holes or flat sets. A few of us caught them in blind trail sets or snares but foot hold sets seemed to be useless. I have been going by my old sets where traps were pulled and coyote still won't go near them. Years ago I could go by old sets and they were usually dug up. Just a curious question to see if anyone has any idea why?

Do something different

Not quite the same but I have problems with the coyote stepping over the backing that is 6-10 inches tall. Never approach from the front.

I have been changing things up every season. I'm not stuck on any one way. But sure would like some insight on what I might be doing wrong along with others. This area doesn't have high trapping pressure but something has changed.

I don't know why it happenes but have seen it here with a few different dogs. 1 thing I do now is put my backing out in these spots and leave it year round. They pee on it all the time. When season starts I just bed a trap and move on, if I use anything it's just a shot of urine.

I’m still lost. Blind trail sets or snares worked, but footholds didn’t? What was your blind trail sets set with?
Maybe I just misunderstood stood, but I’ve read it three times.
You use bait at flat sets? My flat sets are either urine or lure, sometimes both.
Curious what lures y’all were using…gland or curiosity or food?

I use gland and curiosity lures at dirt holes with bait, usually two different baits in different sets. I use gland and curiosity lures at flat sets. Blind sets with foot holds and snares with no bait or lures always work. But throwing down bait or lute seem to alarm the coyote. I can catch fox, skunk in the same sets with no problems. I have used urine at my sets and have more issue catching non target animals so I don't use it any more. I never had problems like this before except the last couple of seasons. Some areas I cannot set blind sets because of the land.

Some coyotes just won't work a baited/lured set. They are frustrating to say the least. I had a large male last season that wouldn't come closer than 3 feet of any set. I did put in some blind sets but he used a different trail everytime he came through. I got his mate but I never did catch him. I just figured he had a bad experience at some point.

I don't have any answers but will keep an eye on this thread. I'm interested to see if anyone has a theory on why this happens.

My take is it’s simply what happens. Coyotes are suspicious by nature compared to other critters; fox are crazy snoopy. Only takes a few generations of moms teaching pups what to be cautious around. The lower the population and higher pressure worse it is. Varies greatly across this state; even 100 miles makes big difference so I’d expect similarity where you are. In grand scheme of things there are only so many basic set options and likely the same dozen ingredients pretty commonly used in most scents

Try bait only in the dirtholes. If you're on location, that is all you need. Also, try a stepdown dirthole set. Don't even need any backing to make iit work. Naturally guided.

i've had some success with a coyote stomach(two years or more old in a gallon jug at 40 to 50 degrees) buried in the middle of a 6foot trench trap on each end. Some of the stomach liquify some dry into a ball I guess it depends what they eat for their last meal. This is a natural around a bone yard, they expect to find something dead this bailed me out on a sheep ranch, I was a hero once!

Your lucky to have some coyotes around. Our coyote population is a fraction of what it as a year or two ago. I usually catch 30-40 coyotes per year but caught only 3 this year but didn't put out the numbers of sets I usually do. Of course we've also have had an increase in hound hunters so maybe all the less intelligent ones have been removed from the gene pool leaving less but smarter coyotes?

Are coyote population goes in waves. This year we have them in this area. I am in 2 different properties that seem to be overrun with them. I catch coyote on both properties every year but not a lot. This year 2 so far with cables but expect more. Just got started with the snow.

I had more refusal than ever this year. Tracks in back, front and sides but no commitment. I tried bigger backings but not too high and start making more trench sets to reduce the possibility of coming in from the sides. I had less refusals. Also, double bait hole sets worked better.

The coyote population is down in my area this year. I have caught more fox than I ever have where I currently trap.

Haha, y’all are describing how I catch quite a few coyotes. Bed trap, blend (look at some of Steeltraps pics) , add 1/4 drop of lure, move over 3-6ft or so and put in a standard dirthole. Coyote will step in the blended set as he’s
trying to decide if he wants to commit to the hole. If the traps are close enough that back foot will be in the dirthole set.
Why two sets? Because of the situation y’all are describing.

Heck, y’all got snow to tell you what to do. I had to use cameras and see them do it a few times before adding that second set. Sometimes I won’t even put a set at the dirt hole. If they’re not committing, why place a trap. Put it where they’re showing you they’ll step.

Wanna be I will trade you the snow lol. I spent all day shoveling sets today and breaking ice crust.

I always used to say there was a big behavior shift in coyotes in January. A time when they’d start to completely ignore and blow right on by perfectly good baited or lured sets. It wasn’t really related to human intrusion (I don’t think) as they’d still visit and pass through the locations, might half heartedly check out a set. Just weren’t really interested in the stuff they were a month previous.

Of course this was related more to hormones and entering into pairing season. A guy could still pick some of em off in snares or switch to gland and urine, social smells. Just had to stay in front of them and be willing to change things up.

But anymore I’m noticing another serious behavior shift in December. This one IS related to human intrusion in the area and I’m convinced it is caused by the callers.

Thanksgiving anymore kinda kicks off “calling season” in many parts of the country. This is the time of year most start making their first big forays out to call coyotes. Early December is when the first contests are held. This one’s bad. Not only do they “shut down” around anything smelling of people but they’re liable to completely quit the locations too. Pretty serious attitude shift.

I had a similar thought conversation with a very good coyote man just a few days ago. There is more to it than this, the changes that the callers have brought. Incredible the impact on a wild dog population can be so wide spread.

Osky

the traps or lures are likely not the real problem.

Are your traps clean? are they bedded solid? what's your bedding material, Switch out lures, or bait, maybe you just dont have much of a population to work with.

Try minimizing the look at the set, 1/2 hole, no bed pattern, less lure