A good week on the Trapline

Trapping season opened Dec. 1 and it was a few days before I was able to get some traps out.

It seemed like when I did, I couldn't catch anything. Days went by and nothing. A raccoon here, and there. One on a Bobcat set, and one on a high ground set. Nothing in my water sets - which is frustrating. Raccoon tracks all around my sets, and no raccoon's in them yet. But I know they will come in time.

My land access for coyotes, fox and bobcats is limited this year. But I am trying to make the most of it. At one location, there was a coyote messing with me. Its like he knew there was a trap there. He would leave a paw print right in the middle of my set. Steal the bait a

nd urinate all over the whole set.

After some consideration I decided to give him the "fake set" set. I put traps back where he was stealing the bait. knowing he wouldn't step in them. But thirty feet away, I made a small dirt hole set with a trap that was set shallow, soft trip-pan tension and a s

ubtle bait. (I made it myself).

The next morning I was greeted to this.

The "fake-set" set worked again. It is a good plan when there

is a skittish coyote in the area. Make subtle sets that will get their

attention without spooking. Also, what I did was funnel him into

the set. placing the trap at about a 60 degree angle to the dirt hole.

The next day, I checked the set that was remade and caught the coyote. There was nothing in it, but when I got to my bobcat sets. Made deep in the woods, along a faint trail. I placed two sets. One big dirt-hole with a tried and true bait- and a few feet away, a set with a loud call lure.

I walked up to the set, and there was a good bobcat waiting for me.

So it was a pretty good week. I had to pull everything in this area,

and will set in new places next week. Giving this area a rest. Hopefully I can get a few more raccoon's. I know one place I will be is loaded with them So I am really going to try and hit them hard.

A good start to the season. lets hope it continues. - I am planning a trapping trip the week after Christmas - going to our property and really hit the coyotes and bobcats hard. There is a good population of coyotes, so I am hopeful I will be able to hook up a few while I'm there.