New to this forum, but I recognize a couple guys from the "other" and I'm already impressed with the info I've picked up here. Everyone seems to get along well, hope you accept a newbie just jumping right in Background-trapping just wolves this year in SE AK after a lengthy hiatus. Really gettin' back into this trappin' thing and sorry I had to stop. Anyway, after pullin' some nice animals right off the bat I've been on a bit of a dry spell. Goin on nine days (believe me, I've gone a lot longer-possibly opened myself to some jokes there) but that's really not the issue here. The problem is I'm having wolves come into the sets and I mean right in-inches and stop and walk away. I've seen this a few times before and just figure they just ate or something, but generally if they come in at all you pinch toes. Including today, the last three times through the line I've had seven different wolves walk up to a set and walk away. Dry sets and water sets. Everything is exactly as it should be (to me anyway ) the only changing factor is the bait is aging. I believe I heard one time that fresh bait works and putrified bait works, but there is a period in between when they are not interested. Don't know if there is any truth to this. Haven't done enough expirementing. Obviously they either were not hungry enough or something else was wrong. I've gone two to three weeks without a taker and then picked up four or five the next week, but I've never had this many balk at my sets. Input, comments, or similar expiriences? My wife is getting tired of listening to me go on and on trying to solve this. I think I heard the word "obsessed", but not sure as I was busy searching all old threads on every forum. I know strange things have a way of happening and that's what keeps it interesting but I'm a tad on the frustrated side, my skinnin knife is getting rusty. I'm sure none of you guys have had any frustrations and tribulations out on the line, but maybe you heard of someone that did and can pass on a funny story to cheer up an unhappy camper.

Iff it was a dingo or wild dog doing what you describe then I would tell the trapper to set his trap a little further away from the decoy or lure.
For a 50 pound dog I set at about 15-18 inches to centre of trap so a wolf that weighs may 75-100 pound I would think around 20-24 inches.
I believe fresh is always best unless you have hungry pups travelling in the area.
But I've never trapped wolves so might be totally wrong.
Good luck.
Al

Without knowing all the conditions and factors there's no way to know for sure what's wrong but being its wolves you're dealing with, I'd say they've figured you out to some level. Try placing your traps/snares differenty than they are now, don't stick with the same set. Maybe further away or move the whole set to a new location. Are you using lures? If you are, try switching to a different type or back way off on the amount or try switching up the bait. Some wolves are way sharper than others so you'll have to get creative with them. If they're taking a wide girth around a set, make another set similar to it and close by, only set traps or snares in a line away from where the bait goes, and where you'd anticipate them walking around the set.

If you think you've contaminated your traps/snares try making that last set I mentioned without the bait. Set out the area with traps/snares heavy then wait a week or so, then walk in and put your bait/lure in and leave. Hopefully weather conditions would have eliminated a good share of your contamination at that point and just hope they come into the set upwind.

Wolves have hardly touched my lines this season so when it comes to wolves, I'm jealous.

SEwaterboy, I've read your posts on the other forum, I still get a kick out of a drowner set for wolves, pretty cool. Like wilsonjr said I bet they've wised up to how you do your sets, change thing around a bit like wilson suggested, have you tried your wolf carcasses for bait? I've had good luck with them over the years. Have you tried just dog pee? last year I cut the anal gland out of a wolf and used it on a pee set and worked. I've always wanted to try a fm dog in heat pee but never have. Been no wolf activity around here and only got a few at the begining and am jelous as heck also LOL good luck.

I know, I know. All this activity and I'm not producing! It's driving me nuts. I just need some more patience. I guess there is the possibility that some of these wolves are getting educated. Heck that wolf a couple weeks ago was sitting behind me watching me remove the alpha(probably)from the set. Maybe in his head he was thinking "stink in rocks is bad" but I was kind of hoping he was thinking "I wish that guy would get old Bob out of there so I can go in and eat that stench" Who knows what the deal is, I'm going to give it another week before any drastic changes. Another thing-I got grounded yesterday by the coast guard. Can't leave the dock till I get a fire extinguisher on board. In twenty five years of running a skiff around I have never been boarded by the coast guard. I had THREE guys in my rig yesterday! I'm glad they are out there but it cost me checking the last set of the day that could have broken the streak.
To be fair in two sets I had a crow and the wolves came in and ate those out. I know, I opened my mouth on the other forum and said "if you know what you are doing you shouldn't have any bird probs" I jinxed myself as well as shoving my foot in my mouth. Dang, I hate it when that happens. And on an expiremental set-don't know what possessed me-I had a chunk of bait hanging off a limb six or seven feet up. This was off to the side of a game trail a few feet where a pretty big log bisected the trail. I figured a wolf or wolvy would see/smell the bait climb on the highest point(the log) and go for the bait stepping in a #9-everyone happy. It never crossed my mind that a wolf trotting/running down the trail would fly over the log and try and rip the bait all without stopping. This happened in a half inch of fresh snow and I am really kicking myself I didn't take a picture. It was pretty impressive. He missed, skidded to a stop looked back and kept right on going. Like I said before my tests never produce right from the get go. Man, I love this game.
Oh yeah, I have never tried wolf carcass. When I was young a couple old timers here said it didn't work so I never tried. I usually listen up when they have something to say, but I have to admit it is always a good idea to see things first hand. If I EVER catch another one I'll give it a try.