Anyone ever catch any coyotes in the Havahart live traps. They make a size for coyotes and even for wolves. Would they be too smart to go in that kind of trap?

Plinker

Plinker--Maybe if you remove the tag that says "coyote trap" they wouldnt figure it out.

Plinker,

Long time no read. Glad to see that you're out and about and clearly, coyotes are your most recent interest.

I've caught a lot of different animals in Havahart traps (racoons, possoms, skunks, groundhogs, squirrels, cats, even an inquisitive crow!). Scent can be the determining factor but if the coyotes in your area have no experience with the Havahart and you have a great bait even that may not matter.

Is it your intention to relocate this animal, take it to dog pound (for a joke, kinda Carpetman's sense of humor) or for some other reason/end result? Just interested.

You should be getting some snow today. Hope all is well with you and your family.

Hi Hobie, you've been scarace as hen's teeth, too!

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I've caught a lot of different animals in Havahart traps (racoons, possoms, skunks, groundhogs, squirrels, cats, even an inquisitive crow!).

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You caught a CROW in one?? I should have thought of that when i was hunting crows last summer.

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Is it your intention to relocate this animal, take it to dog pound (for a joke, kinda Carpetman's sense of humor) or for some other reason/end result? Just interested.

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Let's see. How can i answer that in a way carpetman can't turn into a joke. Getting it mou...no. Taking it...no, not taking it. Stuff, no..... Sheesh... Let's see....preserve its memory through the services of a taxidermist.

It would be kind of funny to take it to the pound, though.

Yep, got snow last night and more on the way.

Plinker

Catching a 'yote in a cage trap is difficult if not impossibe as far as I know. Foot snares work well but you'll need a choker to handle them for boxing them up.

Always good to see Airgungirl doing something.

My experience with live traps is limited to birds,cats,skunks,coons,possums,couple of snakes and one rabbit. But this question does bring up some thoughts. I have for example caught the same cat twice several times. Owner gets it from pound and later I caught it again. No way am I trying to say that a pet cat has the same survival skills of a wiley coyote. Akin to trapping would be deer feeders. There I see the does and spikes and smaller antlered bucks--but don't recall ever seeing the big one come in. This would make me think if you catch a coyote dont take it to the pound as you would be introducing a dumb one into the gene pool. Digital Dan has offered that trapping one would be rare to impossible. What you do see is bull elk and big bucks taking risks during the rut,that you don't see them taking otherwise. So I'm guessing if you find a dog in heat and collect some urine and put a container of that in the trap,that might lower their guard?

HI;
The usual way to catch them around here is with a locking wire snare set on their regular trail, no worry about re-locating the poor things.
Grizz

Plinker,

How accoustomed to being around humans are these coyotes? I know over here we get red foxes that will scavange in your backyard or around farms at night and they are generally considered easier to cage trap than their truely country cousins.

Although not a live trap, what about snares and leg hold traps?

You mentioned crows as well..if your interested in traping crows or especially Magpies do a search for "Larsen Trap plans" ..the side entry ones work best...These things are box/cage traps that can be knocked up at home fairly easily and they are used by Gamekeepers in this country to control corvids...

Regards,

Pete

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So I'm guessing if you find a dog in heat and collect some urine and put a container of that in the trap,that might lower their guard?

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Heck, if i could find a dog in heat, could pen it up and stake out some traps around it. My mother in laws sissy dog pees like a girl. Maybe i could stake it out...

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Foot snares work well but you'll need a choker to handle them for boxing them up.

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I have to read up on how the snares work. Went out yesterday looking for some heavier steel traps. The guy in the pawn shop/gun shop was showing us snares, but he didn't seem to know much about setting them. Don't look to me like they'd get caught in them just opening the noose and laying them on the ground like he was demonstrating.

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How accoustomed to being around humans are these coyotes? I know over here we get red foxes that will scavange in your backyard or around farms at night and they are generally considered easier to cage trap than their truely country cousins.

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Pete E, i'm not even sure now it is coyote, might be bobcat... It should be pretty used to humans. But i have steel traps out and not caught anything yet. When the live trap comes i ordered, i'm going put a little wire cage in the back with a bird in it. I can trap some live birds with sparrow traps. Have heard foxes/coyotes/bobcats, can't resist the temptation of live bait.

Thanks, i'll check out the Larsen trap plans. Always interested in something like that.

I'll update y'all if i catch anything. So far, i think whatever that varmit is, it's keeping in out of the cold.

Plinker

Plinker,

If your going to use a live bird as bait, you'd better check your trapping regulations carefully or at least make sure the cage trap can't be seen if you get my drift..

An alternative which might work is to hang a crow wing or better yet some feathers tied in a bunch above a meat bait using thin fishing line..any wind will give it some movement which might just make your coyote or cat curious...

You may also need to dig the base of the trap into the soil a little so the animal is not walking directly on the steel mesh, again thats what many of the gamekeepers here do with their cage traps.

Like any trap, yours will need a while to weather loose any scent, so don't be dissapointed if you don't get a catch straight away...

Good luck,

Regards,

Pete

Plinker,

Take a look at these folks if you haven't done so already:

http://www.snareshop.com/

I bought various things from the a couple of years back and they were very good and did not try to rip me off with the shipping charges either..

Along with the stuff I needed, I ordered a couple of different sorts of "DISPATCH" snares designed for coyotes, out of curiousity more than anything...

Please take a friendly word of advice...don't put your hand through one "to see how well it works"

lets just say the things *do* work very well indeed!

regards,

Pete

Plink,

Cage traps are not effective for coyotes, it can be done and has been but in every case they were urban/suburban coyotes and mostly young animals. Leghold traps and snares are really the only effective tools for catching coyotes.

Same with the majority of red fox, but cages can be very effective on gray fox and bobcats. I just spent the past month caging cats and grays, my state only allows cages for commercial fur harvest so they're what I use.

If you really want to catch a coyote I'd suggest getting in touch with the West Virginia Trappers Assn. and your state DNR to find out if theres a trapper education seminar coming up. I'm pretty sure WV does this and you'll learn a lot.

You'll love trapping, it adds a whole new dimension to the outdoors and will sharpen your skills better than anything.

Skinner, thanks for the information. You must have a lot of cage traps. I have one small one for raccoons, but this new one i bought is 18" high and 15" wide and 48" long. It is sized for bobcats/coyotes. Got it baited for the first time last night. This morning, the biggest cat i ever saw. It must have weighed at least 20 lbs. It was obviously someone's pet since it was so fat, and it seemed glad to see me. Not wild or mean, so i just let it loose. I put some chicken liver in the trap to try again. I hope those tracks i got so excited about wasn't from a big fat house cat.

Plinker

Plinker, just out of curiousity, why do you want to catch a live coyote??

The live trap (Havahart) or box trap is out of the question for a coyote. If you try a snare, you can get one but don't expect him to be breathing when you arrive to pick him up. If you try to get one in a leghold, you better get at least a #2 trap minimum, double staked, using a heavy swivel. Unless you're a vet and have access to a dart gun with good drugs, you better get yourself a catch pole and some welders gloves!!

My experience with coyotes, is they have more will to live than any animal out there. Once in a trap, they will do whatever it takes to pull up the trap, break the jaws, or pull out.

Good luck...sounds like you're already getting into the neighbor's cats...try a conibear, the cats won't make so much noise!!

MG

I don't necessarily want to capture a live coyote, the box trap is the first thing i thought of. Now i see it was a waste of money, but maybe someday it'll come in useful for something else.

Plinker

If you are trying to catch a coyote or any other critter you should boil and dye the traps then coat them with wax. This process helps to eliminate the scent from the steel and makes them easier to cover and hide.. When you set them take a square of wax paper and put it under the trap then put another over the trap then sift the cover dirt on top of the wax paper.If you are in an area where it will freeze make sure the cover material is VERY dry. I use a lot of ant hill material it is mixed with grass stems and has very little dirt in it...If you can catch a coyote you can catch anything. As far as a live trap...good luck!!!