Expert: Mongo - 2/20/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hey Mongo,
Thank you for sharing your expertise.  Do you know of a way to exclude bobcats and foxes from a coyote set.  I have young children and the coyotes have scared us away from our favorite camp site.  I'm no chicken and have lived my life hunting, but those rascals circled our campsite.  They are also bothering calves and other livestock

ANSWER: Hello Park,

To be honest, I really don't know of a way to catch coyotes, but avoid bobcats or foxes... If you make a set, the first animal that comes along that finds it interesting, is going to investigate, whether it is a coyote, fox, bobcat, or even a possum, skunk, or dog... You can somewhat avoid a few of the bobcats by using no bait at the sets, and only using coyote gland lures or coyote urine...but this won't totally exclude bobcats, and it will not dissuade fox or dogs at all...... My suggestion would be to go ahead and make your sets as you normally would, and simply carry a release stick with you, and release any bobcats or fox you catch...or any other animals you catch but don't want..... I have run the woods for over a half century hunting, trapping, fishing, camping...and have never had a problem with coyotes threatening me...however, I have been threatened by feral (free running) dogs on several occasions.

Actually, I doubt that the coyotes would bother you while you are camping... Often they hang around areas like that because they have learned that many times people will leave scraps of food or bones, or trash, when they leave...and some "kind-hearted" but totally misguided people actually leave food for them...which causes them to start to loose their fear of man, and that is when problems can often start... Like I say, I really doubt you will have any problems...just make sure you keep your children in sight and in the immediate area. And in places like this I would avoid taking any small pets such as cats or small dogs with me, as a coyote very well could see this as prey...and, you may even want to consider having a gun handy, just in case... To tell you the truth, you probably need to be more careful of "two legged" predators than 4-legged ones...and carrying a gun on your person while in the woods, and somewhat isolated, is, in my opinion, just "good insurance" against problems with not only coyotes and other wild animals, but also feral dogs, and the 2-legged predators as well.

Sorry that I can offer no more help than this, but these are my personal opinions on this matter... And don't let the fear of those coyotes prevent you and your family from having an enjoyable time in the outdoors. Just be prepared, take proper precautions, and stay aware of your surroundings... If you do this, you should not have any problems.

Mongo




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: On another vein,  you mentioned in another answer that you use offset leg traps.  Do they hold better when offset?  Do padded traps hold better?  I saw some earth anchors in a catalog; I can't imagine how they work.  Would it be reasonable to place a second trap near the circumference of the area a trapped coyote might circle to catch a second foot and thereby cut down on it's ability to pull on the first trap?  I'll stop with those questions, but I have a hundred more. Again thank you!!

Answer
Good Morning Park,

Actually, I first started off-setting foothold traps simply because in my state the law says that any foothold trap with 2 or more springs must be offset... I don't believe they hold any better, or any worse for that matter, however, I do believe that in many cases they cause the animal to fight the trap less...... As to the padded jaw traps... To be honest, I have never used them, but from all that I have read and heard, over-all they do not hold as well. But then they are mandatory in some places.  And I also know that they are more expensive to buy, and that the pads must be changed from time to time, thus costing even more money... They do have a place, but for the average fur harvester, I don't believe they are as good as standard traps.

The "Earth Anchors", and such staking systems, do hold very well. The "anchor" is driven into the ground using a stake-like setting tool and a hammer. Then the setting tool is removed. When the cable is pulled the "anchor" turns sidewise and is extremely difficult to remove.

When you say, "Would it be reasonable to place a second trap near the circumference of the area a trapped coyote might circle to catch a second foot and thereby cut down on it's ability to pull on the first trap?" ... I am assuming that you mean a second trap placed so as to catch another of the coyote's feet after the main trap had already caught one of them... If the main trap is set correctly, is the proper size, is stout, and properly adjusted, and has made a solid catch on the foot (Many people call them "leg-hold" traps, but in fact they do not catch the leg if the proper sized trap for that specific animal is used. They catch the foot.) then another trap is unnecessary.

If you have any questions you feel I may be able to help with, Park, just holler...and I will do my best.

Mongo