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Post by coonnfoxtrapper on Nov 23, 2013 23:24:54 GMT -6
Well today i went to set out some more coyote sets and You guessed it the Ground is Frozen like rock. I have a hatchet i cut my beds out with But digging my dirt holes is nearly impossible. What are some sets you guys use then the ground becomes UnDiggble? Heres a picture of my nephew with 2 we got this morning.  |
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Post by 4fur on Nov 24, 2013 9:42:17 GMT -6
I am going out now to dig some beds and dirt holes. I use a sharp tile spade to dig a football shaped trap bed and a stainless steel punch to do the dirt holes. I won't set any traps today and maybe not for a couple weeks. I know the frost is going down but I am sure I will not have trouble, especially where there is ground cover like brome. I'll let you know how it goes.
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Post by jlanduyt on Nov 24, 2013 10:22:21 GMT -6
What part of the state are you in? I put two more in today and didn't have too much trouble digging, just the top couple of inches was frozen.
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Post by coonnfoxtrapper on Nov 24, 2013 11:07:10 GMT -6
I live up in The Nw Corner of iowa The ditches arent too bad I can still drive my Pogos pretty easily but in the Bean and alfalfa Feilds Its Like Pounding a stake into Concrete its terrible. I actually opened up a pogo Beating it so hard into the Ground. Its time to get the 8 Pound Sledge out for the year i geuss.
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Post by rugersinglesix on Nov 24, 2013 11:24:47 GMT -6
I use a 18 volt cordless dewalt drill with a 12 inch long 1/2 inch masonry bit for stakes, for dirt hole drill 3 or 4 holes close together then i drive my dirt hole punch in. Takes a while but it works.
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Post by coonnfoxtrapper on Nov 24, 2013 16:02:03 GMT -6
Thats a very good idea With the dirt holes Iv Thought about trying to find the old Bit and Brace wood bits and find a big one 1" or 1 1/2" if i could for my dirt holes I was pretty spoild putting in 3 inch dirt holes with no problem...I have Tried Slamming Holes in with a pick axe too But that dont work worth a hoot!
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Post by 4fur on Nov 24, 2013 18:13:58 GMT -6
I didn't have much problem digging, in fact in some places I needed more frost. I realize it has been a lot colder up there coonnfoxtrapper but I wonder if part of your hard ground problems aren't caused by your continued drought. Last year was a nightmare digging and staking for me. Often I would have to hit a 30" stake 30-40 times or more to get it in and then I could pull it out with 2 fingers. I bent a lot of Pogos and then they wouldn't hold. I took a few pictures which did not turn out very good. Here is a two hole. I lay a MB550 in for size the first few I do. I import dirt to cover and bed the trap so I don't want the bed too large or too small...  Here you can kinda see the angles of the two holes...  Here you can see my punch at a standard dirt hole that I am enlarging the hole with a trowel. 45* angle is how I was taught...  Here you can see a general location of two sets, one standard and one two hole walk through. It is at an intersection of a RR ROW and a long running drainage. A set of coyote tracks showed me where to put my sets which are nearly always facing the W,NW, or North to benefit from prevailing winds...  I suppose I pre-dug 2 or 3 dozen sets today. Dont know if I'll run a predator line or not but if I don't pre-dig before the frost goes down, I know snaring is about my only option. Great idea with the drill, Ruger! I actually have a 110 plug in in the bed of my truck. And I drive right up to nearly everything and set right off my tailgate.  |
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Post by jlanduyt on Nov 24, 2013 18:17:30 GMT -6
Hmmm, looks like I'm doing it wrong. Looks like I'm WAY to close the edge of the fields I'm trapping. Notes taken and thanks.
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Post by TRapper on Nov 24, 2013 18:42:55 GMT -6
generally I think coyotes like to see all around the set however I have caught enough on the very edge to know that is not always the case....coyotes will travel the edge tight many times...especially in crop rows
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Post by jlanduyt on Nov 24, 2013 18:51:26 GMT -6
Well with that said...i'm doing it wrong. I may have to move some sets around.
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Post by billallenisu on Nov 24, 2013 18:54:12 GMT -6
I am up in nw Iowa, too. I dug some today. Some were like concrete and got switched to flat sets . I did have other areas, though, that were on higher ground (higher being a generous term...pretty flat around here) or south facing slopes that I used a 2 inch auger on a cordless drill. I would guess the frost is down about 5 inches around here in the worst places. Even on my flat sets, the stakes went in a lot easier after the first 5 inches or so. Bill Lyon County, Iowa |
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Post by 4fur on Nov 24, 2013 19:07:53 GMT -6
I agree with you TRapper. Often I set out away from the field edge so I can check a farm from the gate hole without driving in. At this location, I will set right up against the weeds because it sees a lot of deer hunting traffic. The deer dorks know better than to mess with my stuff but that doesn't prevent them from accidentally running over a set...  There is some sign at this crossing which had a beaver dam upstream from the culvert. I took the beaver out and fed the lath tails to the predators...  Here is a staked out beav with a nice trail going down to the dam which has been breached and is constantly running open water...  Here is a staked out carcass about a week ago after a night or two. Something covered up the carcass after feeding on it. Any guesses?  This crossing is only several hundred yards from our house and I think it looks like a good spot for my girls to set their Schroeder bobcat cage traps.  |
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Post by imissed on Nov 24, 2013 19:29:11 GMT -6
4fur, I use the same set but I think maybe I have my trap too far out compared to yours.
By the pic it looks like yours is 6" from the holes to the pan. I'd guess mines 8"-9" out. I use 2 stakes in the holes to show me where to set the trap. Where ever the 2 skates cross thats were I put the trap.
Do I have the holes at the wrong angle?
Brad
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Post by rugersinglesix on Nov 24, 2013 19:40:07 GMT -6
Doesnt seem to matter where i make my k9 sets, seems like i get at least one run over by a truck every year. Tractor and chisel plow last year.
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Post by rugersinglesix on Nov 24, 2013 19:43:42 GMT -6
Wish i new how to post cool pictures like u 4fur, dont have a computer just a stupid smart phone
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Post by ~ADC~ on Nov 24, 2013 19:49:02 GMT -6
Good stuff Wayne!
~ADC~
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Post by ~ADC~ on Nov 24, 2013 19:50:02 GMT -6
Wish i new how to post cool pictures like u 4fur, dont have a computer just a stupid smart phone Get the Photobucket App and figure it out. I don't use it but it works for others.... ~ADC~ |
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Post by coonnfoxtrapper on Nov 24, 2013 20:06:44 GMT -6
Turning into a great post Keep it comeing Guys. In the next week i will get my axe out for my trap beds Then im going to try the Nail way of stablizing the trap Might even go to the lumber yard and look for a diffrent bit for my drill. I Figure i will at least have to start Pilot holeing my Pogos just to get then in the hole. But the hard work is worth it to me I Love killing coyotes.
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Post by ~ADC~ on Nov 24, 2013 20:25:54 GMT -6
Here's an old put I made on a kind of modified flat set, may be something there to inspire some ideas... This will be a flat set for k9s using a sun bleached cow bone as backing. Here’s a list of the needed items to make this set… § One trap, of your choice depending on the critter you’re after § Trap stake or two, again your choice § Sun bleached cow bone § Pan cover, of your choice § Dirt sifter § Good gland lure § Good bait My favorite location is at the head of a draw in a picked soybean field. I start off by digging a bed for the trap and poking a small hole above the trap bed with my trap stake…  Next I stake the trap so the loose jaw will lie on the head of the stake and the dog points at the 1:30 position or so when bedded, had I of staked this trap the stake would be where the end swivel is located…  I wad up a piece of waxed paper so it won’t crinkle when stepped on, then open it up to use as my pan cover…  I sift dirt over solidly bedded trap then replace the ground cover so it looks like nothing was done there….  A few drops of gland lure down the hole, a tablespoon of bait into the marrow cavity of the bone and place the bone over the hole…  A wider view of the completed set, that bone sticks out like a turd in a punch bowl, really gets their attention…  ~ADC~ |
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Post by 4fur on Nov 24, 2013 20:38:37 GMT -6
4fur, I use the same set but I think maybe I have my trap too far out compared to yours. By the pic it looks like yours is 6" from the holes to the pan. I'd guess mines 8"-9" out. I use 2 stakes in the holes to show me where to set the trap. Where ever the 2 skates cross thats were I put the trap. Do I have the holes at the wrong angle? Brad Please don't get the impression that I am a coyote trapper. I am a water trapper who hits the dirt holes for something to do while I wait for coon to run in the mid and late season. The two hole I use was shown to me by Tom Miranda (before he went Hollywood) at Trappers college. I crowd my trap close to the holes and guard the dog with an obstacle like a clod, corn cob, turd, etc. This obstacle ideally is about 8-10" from the hole and is where a coyote must step to peek into the holes. I often use a corn stalk root ball to guard the trap opposite of the holes. On a standard dirt hole I set the pan 8" offset 3" from the lip of the hole (fox 4" offset 2"). The obstacle forces the K-9 to walk through the set to investigate the holes, and the only place they can step to look into the holes is on the trap pan. It sounds like your angles are good imissed. Are you using blocking on the front side of your set? Like I said, these are pretty poor pictures. When I actually set traps at the sites, I will spruce them up quite a bit but the idea right now is to get a bed and holes dug before the frost goes down. These holes and beds will freeze like concrete before I use them. I like this because remakes are simply a matter of cleaning out my trap bed, finding and cleaning out my hole and resetting. |
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Post by coonnfoxtrapper on Nov 24, 2013 20:43:32 GMT -6
The bone set works good I set it out and within a couple days had my first coyote of the year.
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Post by 4fur on Nov 24, 2013 20:53:31 GMT -6
Doesnt seem to matter where i make my k9 sets, seems like i get at least one run over by a truck every year. Tractor and chisel plow last year. I know the landowners and communicate with them about their tillage intentions but still expect some run-overs.  With the frost going down, Fall tillage might be over. I often place a pieces of firewood, rocks, etc. to detour traffic around my sets, especially on field roads, river dikes, etc. |
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Post by imissed on Nov 24, 2013 21:03:51 GMT -6
4fur, no I don't use a blocker in front of the trap I put 2 small blockers about where the ends of the levers are closest to the holes. A small rock,1" chunk of corn cob. I hope I describe where I put them at so you can understand.
Brad
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Post by jdrogge on Nov 24, 2013 21:30:09 GMT -6
I strung a few snares and put out a couple hay sets today, seems to be plenty of dogs.
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Post by axeman on Nov 25, 2013 1:21:56 GMT -6
Rule of thumb we use when setting forms & (yes I pound alot stake's durning the summer) Easy in hard out. Hard in easy out!
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Post by coonnfoxtrapper on Nov 25, 2013 5:25:44 GMT -6
I strung a few snares and put out a couple hay sets today, seems to be plenty of dogs. I tried the hay sets Last year and i must not be smart enough to figure it out. They came to it like crazy But Just tore the heck out of the hay and never get caught. Better get to checking Good Luck Guys. |
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cybball
Hyper-Active Trap Talker
Posts: 166
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Post by cybball on Nov 25, 2013 10:54:04 GMT -6
This has been helpful. I'm going out tomorrow to set 1/2 dozen yote sets. Plan to chisel out the beds and use peat to bed them. Anyone have luck with straight peat or do you mix dirt? I don't have any dry dirt, so not sure how it will go. Was going to also try using straw from a straw bail I have. I'll build up some backing with it (like the hay set). I haven't gone after yotes in a few years and see a lot of new tracks in the snow where I'm at.
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Post by jlanduyt on Nov 25, 2013 12:58:40 GMT -6
I tried straight peat opening morning, the next morning all but 2 were dug up. I think it was coons but I don't know for sure, couldn't see any tracks to confirm it. I like it to bed in but even sifted peat just doesn't pack that well, unless I was doing it wrong. I went to a base layer of peat for anti-freeze, dry dirt packed tight to bed in then another layer of peat packed as tight as I could then a thin (1/4")layer of dry dirt to hold it all in place.
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With the frost going down, Fall tillage might be over. 
