Post by Randy Wieland on Jan 31, 2007 8:59:00 GMT -5
Late Season Ditches for Coyotes
For me, frozen ditches have become a late season-hot ticket for fox and coyotes. Many of the fields I trap have these long narrow drainage ditches running through them. I start the year off hitting coon and K9s on the top ridgeline of these creeks while taking rats and mink in the water. When they freeze up usually by late December, the K9s hunt these hard for bunnies and other little critters.
For a number of years I passed these locations up to trap the traditional locations at intersecting fence lines and windrows. I took a fare number of coyotes in these traditional locations; but noticed the heavy traffic of the coyotes I didn’t even had a chance at. They had entered the property I had permission for by means of the ditch, and exited the same way – down in the ditch.
Being a stubborn fart that I am, I wouldn’t change my ways. I continued to make sets along the top of the ditch and continued to vary the lures and baits. Little to no success became of this. I would see daily tracks of coyotes that stopped, turned towards my set, and walked on.
On the flip side of that, I would find shreds of what once was a rabbit or what was left of a rat on the edge of the ice. By this time most of my rat sets were so frozen, I had begun to give up on these ditches.
In 2000, I relocated within the state and had very similar land to trap with an abundance of drainage ditches. Feeling I was right at home, I acquired permission for a number of farms and began a new line. In the first year around here, I saw first hand history repeats itself. After freeze up, song-dogs ran these ditches.
Because of my lack of preparation, in the past, I had not made many sets for these coyotes. First issue I had was anchoring a trap. Due to location and other circumstances, drags were not an option. The bottoms of these ditches are all soft silt. Even cross-staking with 30” rebar would never hold an adult coyote pumping on the chain.
Standing in the middle of the creek looking at bottle necks for rats at the beginning of the season – I had a brainstorm. I would pre-anchor locations with bricks & aircraft cable for a dual purpose. One, to serve as rat stools in open water with small drowning sets. Two, serve as an anchor once the creek was frozen.
I was able to drive my truck along most of the ditches with made this easy. I would stand in the water looking at the “future frozen locations I wanted”. Staked a flag and rolled a couple of bricks down the hill. With two ditches set with rat traps, I was able to easily change over after ice-up. I wired a loop of aircraft cable sticking up from the brick so that it remained above ice. Simply connected a swivel to the trap chain and to the aircraft cable and I was in business.
Because snow often drifts so much in these ditches, it took some time to learn the good banks from the bad banks before it snows. Hint – understand prevailing winter winds! I keep sets simple, as I do need to make a number of re-sets. Melting ice/snow, snowstorm, and other factors will dictate that to you.
I found setting on top of the ice over previously used pocket sets; mink holes in the brush, and bunny trails are all hot tickets. I also look for isolated sticks that will serve as a post set for urine. Much like trapping in a field that is 2 – 10 feet wide. Very easy to find premium sets in a minimal amount of area.
While thumbing through some old photographs, I had another idea that would increase my catch. Cable restraints in those tight brushy little openings. Set up the identical way, I sink a brick or two in open water and let them freeze up. I swivel my restraint to the aircraft cable – careful not to exceed to maximum length per Wisconsin laws. I pre-set a stick in the ground for my support wire. When I set the restraints, I am only spending a few minutes at each set.
Hopefully this will help give a bit of an insight to a new way of doing old tricks!
_________________________
The only thing worse than losing........Is QUITTING!!!!!!!
Lifetime Member WTA
For me, frozen ditches have become a late season-hot ticket for fox and coyotes. Many of the fields I trap have these long narrow drainage ditches running through them. I start the year off hitting coon and K9s on the top ridgeline of these creeks while taking rats and mink in the water. When they freeze up usually by late December, the K9s hunt these hard for bunnies and other little critters.
For a number of years I passed these locations up to trap the traditional locations at intersecting fence lines and windrows. I took a fare number of coyotes in these traditional locations; but noticed the heavy traffic of the coyotes I didn’t even had a chance at. They had entered the property I had permission for by means of the ditch, and exited the same way – down in the ditch.
Being a stubborn fart that I am, I wouldn’t change my ways. I continued to make sets along the top of the ditch and continued to vary the lures and baits. Little to no success became of this. I would see daily tracks of coyotes that stopped, turned towards my set, and walked on.
On the flip side of that, I would find shreds of what once was a rabbit or what was left of a rat on the edge of the ice. By this time most of my rat sets were so frozen, I had begun to give up on these ditches.
In 2000, I relocated within the state and had very similar land to trap with an abundance of drainage ditches. Feeling I was right at home, I acquired permission for a number of farms and began a new line. In the first year around here, I saw first hand history repeats itself. After freeze up, song-dogs ran these ditches.
Because of my lack of preparation, in the past, I had not made many sets for these coyotes. First issue I had was anchoring a trap. Due to location and other circumstances, drags were not an option. The bottoms of these ditches are all soft silt. Even cross-staking with 30” rebar would never hold an adult coyote pumping on the chain.
Standing in the middle of the creek looking at bottle necks for rats at the beginning of the season – I had a brainstorm. I would pre-anchor locations with bricks & aircraft cable for a dual purpose. One, to serve as rat stools in open water with small drowning sets. Two, serve as an anchor once the creek was frozen.
I was able to drive my truck along most of the ditches with made this easy. I would stand in the water looking at the “future frozen locations I wanted”. Staked a flag and rolled a couple of bricks down the hill. With two ditches set with rat traps, I was able to easily change over after ice-up. I wired a loop of aircraft cable sticking up from the brick so that it remained above ice. Simply connected a swivel to the trap chain and to the aircraft cable and I was in business.
Because snow often drifts so much in these ditches, it took some time to learn the good banks from the bad banks before it snows. Hint – understand prevailing winter winds! I keep sets simple, as I do need to make a number of re-sets. Melting ice/snow, snowstorm, and other factors will dictate that to you.
I found setting on top of the ice over previously used pocket sets; mink holes in the brush, and bunny trails are all hot tickets. I also look for isolated sticks that will serve as a post set for urine. Much like trapping in a field that is 2 – 10 feet wide. Very easy to find premium sets in a minimal amount of area.
While thumbing through some old photographs, I had another idea that would increase my catch. Cable restraints in those tight brushy little openings. Set up the identical way, I sink a brick or two in open water and let them freeze up. I swivel my restraint to the aircraft cable – careful not to exceed to maximum length per Wisconsin laws. I pre-set a stick in the ground for my support wire. When I set the restraints, I am only spending a few minutes at each set.
Hopefully this will help give a bit of an insight to a new way of doing old tricks!
_________________________
The only thing worse than losing........Is QUITTING!!!!!!!
Lifetime Member WTA