Yotes

We have been losing some sheep to coyotes the past few months. So, I bit the bullet and bought a few K9 Extremes and made a few sets. Got my 1st one this morning after 6 days. I had to make a couple of adjustments to my sets. But, maybe I am getting the hang of it now.

Using Caven's Terminator bait, Gusto lure and coyote urine. Using natural hair/wool off the sheep here at the house.

Kinda cheating, though.....
I have a buddy at work, Reed Brown, who has been doing all the Trial and Error work the past couple of months. He has obviously been learning, as he has now caught 16 yotes and 3 cats in the past couple of months!!!

Here are a few pics:

Give us some tips Hog. What pan tension are y'all running? Is 3lbs light enough?

That is what we are aiming for.....2.5-3 lbs on the trigger.
The K9 Extremes come coated. And, that coating is slightly 'sticky' feeling when they 1st come. So, a little wax on the mating surfaces of the trigger really helps!!!
I used screens on the 1st sets and had a couple worked that did not trigger. This dang sand around these parts had sifted through and were keeping the trigger from going down. So, I cut wax paper covers and used them. They make a little noise when they are 'fresh'. So, crumble em up good before using!!
One other thing we did was ride and gather scat. It really works good as an attractant at a set!

Thanks! That’s what I’ve been having the worst problem with too. Everything is sand around here and nothing was really working like I wanted it to. I’ve finally gotten around to trying wax paper and I agree with you that it looks like the best solution.

I’ve got some of that same “Gusto” lure you’re using. That’s some extremely loud smelling stuff. I put some on a little stick on a test hole behind my house and Otis could still smell it 2-3 weeks after I did it. He walked right up to the stick I put it on and thoroughly inspected it. This was after I had pulled the trap of course.

It is LOUD!!!
And, it would be easy to use too much.
All it takes is to dab a stick in it and wipe it off as you pull it out....just a smear.

Also, careful with overusing the urine......
Make it seem natural and think about the fact that you want them to step on trap as they commit.....not be able to smell all over it without the danger of getting caught. It is not a cover scent.

Think about it like this......

We smell a meatloaf when we pull it out of the oven or cut into it.
A coyote smells all the individual ingredients in it!!!

Nice work!

God Bless,
David B.

It's all downhill now Danny. Try polyfil under your pan instead of using a pan cover. I've been using it the last couple years and for our sandy ground it has worked better than any pan cover I ever tried.

3lbs is good pan tension for coyotes. It'll hold enough tension to get a coyotes foot down good on the pan and a good deep catch but will also catch smaller critters. I've had several traps worked by possums, coons and even a small grey fox at 4lbs without firing.

Looks like coyotes are not the only vandal that has been raiding the sheep pasture!
We found a couple of lambs that had been drug off and covered/cached by a cat. This is probably the culprit!!

It's a shame you had to let the bobcat go since season is closed on bobcats. Doesn't make much sense, as hunting season for bobcats is no closed season, but trappping season for bobcats ends Feb 28th.

O'well, maybe you can shoot it later while hunting.


God Bless,
David B.

[quote=BOFF]It's a shame you had to let the bobcat go since season is closed on bobcats. Doesn't make much sense, as hunting season for bobcats is no closed season, but trappping season for bobcats ends Feb 28th.

O'well, maybe you can shoot it later while hunting.


God Bless,
David B. [/quo

You are very correct, David, on ALL accounts!

It is a very stupid Regulation.

As I have already stated, my Dad has lost a LOT of lambs and even a few grown ewes the past 6 months or so. And, we know that a cat(s) cached a few of them. We followed the drag marks and found them buried beneath piles of leaves and sticks. We have a relatively small flock of sheep here. He focuses far more on quality breeding stock to sell than producing meat sheep. And, his young ewes stay booked (sold) about a year in advance. Every one he loses hurts! Especially on a small farm owned by 2 retired brothers. Their quality, and numbers of quality animals produced, will rival some much larger operations. However, they (my Dad & Uncle) can not afford to lose animals to predators.
I am going to call Monday and inquire about a Permit. I am trapping exclusively on our private land. If anything, the State should be liable for the damages......not sitting on a pedestal requiring farmers and landowners who do not even hunt to beg them for a silly piece of paper.....aka Permit.

Edited to add this: these coyotes and bobcats are literally catching/killing these sheep in my back yard!!!! And, I mean dragging them through a crossing in the fence within 40uds of my house after killing them anywhere from 50-200yds, and in sight of, my house!

Got another one today!
This one was walking an old road and crossing a creek about 400yds frommy Dad's house and barns.

Gettin' it done Danny !

Thanks, man!

But, you know I am cheating.......I have been getting a lot of great advice from folks like yourself that have been doing this a while. And, I am really lucky to have a good friend that spent a lot of years trapping for the USDA. He has been a huge asset!

The cat and this yote both came from trench sets.
Used a 'sweeter' bait and a lure with no skunk (we have none here). The visual effect of the trench and mound was the biggest attractant.