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Trapping coyotes on frozen creeks & in general, QUESTIONS!!!!

Another idea on your staking in sand on the rivers is lengthen your earth anchors, pogos or whatever you use, cross stake or even triple stake and if you still don’t trust it use bigger washers on the pogos, but get them deep. 24”+ leaders on the anchors and even get the trap chain down in the sand to counter the coyote working some sand out of the circle. I’m not a body builder but pretty sure I’m stronger than a coyote and they will hold with those options.
 
I keep hearing about “social stress” from deer being overpopulated causing bucks not to meet their full potential.
Watching a few deer in the field last night when the coyotes started howling all around I would hypothesize there is 10x more stress from coyotes than from a few extra deer.
The closest coyote was maybe 1200 yards away and half the deer cleared out of the field immediately.
 
Iowa said:
I keep hearing about “social stress” from deer being overpopulated causing bucks not to meet their full potential.
Watching a few deer in the field last night when the coyotes started howling all around I would hypothesize there is 10x more stress from coyotes than from a few extra deer.
The closest coyote was maybe 1200 yards away and half the deer cleared out of the field immediately.
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It's weird because I have seen coyotes clear a field before too. I have also on more than one occasion watched coyotes walk within 20 yards of deer and the deer just watch them until they are gone. Once, looking through a thermal, I watched one walk right through a group of bedded deer. I have also watched deer out in a field at night show little to no concern about me playing coyote vocals not that far away. I think they have ways to assess threat that we don't perceive. Maybe those coyotes were saying something the deer didn't like?
 
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I tried trapping a couple times with no results. My neighbor has shot 9 in a hollow behind my house with a creek bottom this year. Thermal night hunt, I was surprised he shot that many since I have few pics of them this year with 10 cams out.
 
When I was running snares before the snow matted the grass down I would catch roughly one coyote per day for every 20 snares out.
This was 99% right of way trapping so I could hit a big area in a small amount of time.
What I learned so far: stay off trails that are beat to dirt they have too many deer, stay away from deer in general, I like spots that have thick cedars they’re coming in or out of and you can tell deer aren’t crossing there, if I get a snare knocked down more than once I’m not re setting it( to me that means there’s something crossing there that isn’t coming through at coyote height aka: deer , and eventually that deer will come through with its head down if you keep re setting it) , I burned all of my stakes and wire ahead of time , I boiled my snares in baking soda water and dyed them brown, wear clean gloves for setting and find a way to keep dead coyotes off of your traps you are going to set like a lick tub or a tote with a lid.
I just started doing this last year and definitely have a lot left to learn but that’s what I’ve picked up so far. I wish more people would try setting a dozen somewhere on their daily route, even if you’re killing a coyote 20 miles from your farm you’re helping the herd.
 
Good stuff guys.

As for snares, to be safe around deer, have a reputable snare maker build them for you. Have them add " deer stops/ break aways on them.
 
Bucksnbears said:
Good stuff guys.

As for snares, to be safe around deer, have a reputable snare maker build them for you. Have them add " deer stops/ break aways on them.
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100% but Deer stop won’t do anything if they’re caught around the neck. And a fawn won’t break the breakaway from what I’ve been told.
 
Trap creeks all the time for coyotes when it freezes. Super easy, don’t trap the creek itself just move up the bank and let the scent of your bait do the hard work. Just set areas where it’s easy for them to get up the bank. Don’t set in middle of the deer trail or you’ll be remaking the set every day due to deer tripping them.
 
CurtisWalker said:
Don’t set in middle of the deer trail or you’ll be remaking the set every day due to deer tripping them.
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This brings back a memory from 1967; I was trapping for coons and muskrats along a creek. I had a coon set with a #2 double coil spring, when I got to the set the area was torn to shreds and the trap empty. After close inspection the only tracks around were deer and a little bit of deer hair, changed my set strategy after that. Don't what I would have done if there would have been a deer in it :eek:
 
I am getting them consistently in traps now. Feel like worked some kinks out & getting better reasonably fast. This was a huge male. Bad muddy picture.
Few tweaks…. Got rid of sheep’s wool. Mice kept pulling out. I got those traps so tight & snug in every spot. I chose to use peat most, pan cover & some Anti freeze but I cover it with layer of dirt at end to cover it so looks natural & holds down peat most from blowing away.
One thing took time- I am figuring out locations of traps & where their travel is concentrated & good spots to set up.
Got a variety of baits I think that are also helping. Very consistently nailing them now.
Feel like if I was snow skiing again…. I’m for sure off the bunny hill. I’m NOT doing Double diamonds or even close. But I’m past the beginner phase. :).
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