I spent over 3 weeks at my Northern NY camp, trapping. Now, I am home, trapping. If a genie appeared to me, after rubbing my Lantern, and granted me 1 wish, I would not wish for money. The smart thing to do, would be to wish for good health--but I am not that smart. I would wish to be a better Coyote trapper. I do have a medium size pile of nice Coyote pelts hanging in the barn, but I am never satisfied, it seems. Truth be told, I missed more Coyotes than I caught. The North line is mostly woods and logging roads. The home line is Farmland with interspersed woods, swamps and tons of roads and houses. And, yes, there are ample numbers of Coyotes in both locations.
This year, so far, I have used flat, urine post, dirthole, and every kind of presentation of trap and bait/lure that has ever been invented for Coyote trapping. There has been no measurable snow on the home line, but there was a couple inches of the white stuff up North.
I have had no traps dug out, so it appears that my bedding method and cleanliness deserves an A+. BUT:
I have had Coyotes walk right past sets [SNOW] and not stop. Both flat and dirtholes dug out from the side. Coyotes working sets from the upwind side. [?] Coyote tracks in the dirt/snow, right next to the pan. Coyotes crapping right next to sets and moving on. On and On and On.
I am trying to get better at foot guides--using marble size stones, weed stems, tiny piles of pebbles, big piles of dirt, small grass clumps, etc. Sometimes they worked--sometimes they didn't. I tried bedding back 9 inches to 12 inches. Centerline and offset to the right. I have and use curiosity, call, gland and everything lures. I am on my second quart of both Fox and Coyote urines. I check a lot of empty traps everyday.
Genie, if you just let me become a better Coyote trapper, I promise I will never ask for anything, ever, again!
Ron