Lures and Baits

[griffondog]

This is the first year that I kept a record on the lures and baits I made catches with. Mound sets caught 4 yotes and 1 fox. So dead skunks caught 5.

Dobbins Bobcat medley got 7 yotes. All dirthole sets with one set getting 4 yotes. This is the most yotes I've caught at one set.

Grawes fat cat 2 yotes and one fox. All dirthole sets.

Grawes Gray Ghost 3 yotes,dirthole and flat sets.

Grawes K -7 5 yotes 1 fox, dirthole and flat sets.

Mark Junes Windwalker 4 yotes and 3 fox in dirthole sets

Lennons Fox 3 1 yote and 1 grey fox. I used this lure at post sets. My post sets didn't do as well as they normally do. I would guess all the rain.

And last my fox gland lure caught 1 yote and 2 fox. One post set and 2 dirtholes.

It surprises me how all the lures and baits produced fairly even results. It just proves that location is the most important thing.


Griffondog

[gunrod]

Not to make you work any harder than you already have but does your log list what time of year your baits took your k9's?

When I browse the baits on websites some list that they work better in the fall and others in winter. I was just curious if you found that some worked some times of year better than others.

Seems you've done pretty well. Congrats.

[griffondog]

Gunrod

These lures and baits are what I use in the fall trapping. With the warm weather I've not switched over to any real loud lures. A lot of people who use Grawes lures use to much and the animals roll on the sets.


Griffondog

[Northcountry]

Thanks for the info, Griff'....thats super generous of you to post personal data like this to help other people.

I think youre right about the "insignificance" of the particular brand of lure or type of bait. I wont be running out to buy anything that you are using, in spite of their great production.

From what I've experienced...its location #1, set quality #2 and lure/bait #3.

You did awesome on the canines! I have no idea how it compares to your historical harvests...but it looks great to me! :D

[FREEPOP]

Thank you for the info and congrats on the success :)

[uptracker]

Just goes to show there's not one magical lure. Good report!

[Northcountry]

Griff'.....

Inspired by your analysis of trapping records, I took a look at my own data from the first three weeks of canine season. So remember, this is strictly early-fall info...

Instead of looking at lures and baits, which you've already done...I looked at yield from different types of sets. Heres what I came up with...


52% of all sets made were dirt holes
45% of all sets made were flat sets
3% of all sets made were post sets

60% of total catches were made at dirt holes
40% of total catches were made at flat sets
0% of total catches were made at post setsAs you can see, I make roughly half my sets as dirt holes and the other half as flat sets.

My dirt holes produced 20% more catches than flat sets. I attribute this to the added eye appeal of the dirt hole itself, and the fact that this set really allows me to make the animal stand where I want him.

On days when the wind is not favorable, I am sure alot of canines walk right past my flat sets without ever knowing they are there. But the eye appeal of a dirt hole can pull them from upwind and swing them around to investigate. Thats my take, anyway.

I dont see anything extremely slanted or surprising in these results, just like your study of different baits and lures.

My opinion: Worry about finding that magic spot on the ground for your set....not the type of set or what lure to use.

[David G Duncan]

Grif and NC,

Thanks for the analysis!

I definitely believe what you have indicated: that location and set construction are the main factors related to trapping success for fox and coyotes and that lure/scent/bait is only the cherry on the sundae.

In fact, over the years I have employed on frequent occasions a dirthole set with absolutely no lure/scent/bait/urine with great results. This blank dirtholes has always proved to be a real killer for those shy and/or digger fox.

In early fall a very good attractor you can use to catch a fox or coyote, believe it or not, is your own ear wax. Try it sometime, just for something different.

Short Story: I had a friend who was have problems with fox. He wanted me to show him how to set a fox trap. So I stopped by his place after work and we walk out back to a likely location. I constructed a dirthole set for him, but he did not have any lure. So I simply took a small stick and rubbed it in my ear to get some ear wax on it.

Unfortunately his cat had also followed us to this location. After completing the set and walking about 20 yard back toward his house, I had his cat in the trap! I released it unharmed.

So if you ever find yourself short on lure or scent, you can always use some ear wax, as an attractor!

[griffondog]

NC

Your setup is just about like mine. After I start catching skunks I start throwing in mound sets. I'm trying to catch a triple on yotes so I keep throwing my arsenal of sets at them. It's interesting how your post sets didn't work real well either.

Dave

Did a old Indian trapper teach you the ear wax trick? When ever I come up with unique idea alcohol is involved. Did your friend and you wake up with a hangover in the morning?

Jim Helfrich was laughing at me one year at a NTA convention, for wearing rubber gloves when I made my fox sets. Jim said the only time he wore gloves was when he filled up the truck with gas. Rub your hands in the dirt and make your set. He also said when he ran out of fox pee he used his own. Tried trapper pee on 4 sets with no fox. If I remember right alcohol was involved in our conversation.


Griffondog

[Northcountry]

It's interesting how your post sets didn't work real well either.

Griff'....there were only 2 post sets, gimme a break! :evil:

[David G Duncan]

Grif,

Hey Man, I won't steer you wrong! The ear wax trick is a good one!

Alcohol? No I only use alcohol to wash my hands after skinning some critters. ;)

In fact bare hand fox trapping is just fine, but you need to rub a little fox urine on them before you rub them with dirt. It makes the dirt stick better. :lol:

For sure any kind of urine would work OK at a Post Set for fox. In fact I once saw a fresh fox turd deposited on some used toilet paper left in the woods by a hunter. But for obvious reason I have never put this information to use on my trapline. :evil:

NC & Grif

As you both probably know the best results for Scent Post set comes during the late winter, when the fox are cruising for a mate. Over the years I have had good luck with Scent Post sets, but like both of you they are not used that often.

[FREEPOP]

Bump TTT

I saved this and just came across it again, good info for newbs (like me)

[griffondog]

Since Freepop brought this up again I thought I would add to it.

I put some different lures in the ground this year and I thought a new report was due.

Mark June gave me some Canine candy to try out on the line. The sets I used this lure on caught lots of coon and one fox. When using this lure at a set location it kept the coons out of my other sets.

Used a lot of Asa Lenons lure this year and it worked great like it always has I don't know why I haven't used more of it. One suprise I got using his lures was how much the canines like his Otter lure. I started using it as a change up like I use mink lure. After multiple catches at sets I put it in rotation with my normal lures.

I've always used fox gland lures and urine at my sets as I thought coyote smells would keep the fox away. This year just used coyote gland lures and urine and I've already caught more fox this year than all of last year. I wonder if they can actually tell the difference between fox and coyote urine?


Griff

[David G Duncan]

Griff,

Thanks for posting such an interesting and informative addition to your Lures and Baits thread.

Got a chance to visit Asa, when I when on my 2007 Fisher trapping excursion. I definitely do like his lures and one of these years,n with some luck, I might even manage to get a Fisher in one of my traps :-).

[HunterHawk]

I remember this thread, I agree with you guys... it is definintley location as the #1 priority because i caught 3 fox at one set location this year and i even felt like that was the best place to set right on a start of a lane going back to a woods in between 2 woods... to me it was the obvious travel route and that it was. I feel like i could have put any lure there and on my remakes i didnt even use a lure or anything... and last year i was using lure and baits at my sets and the only set i used bait at this year was the one the coyote came and checked out and didnt want to observe any farther..... just some more info i guess.... i dunno as soon as the weather stabalizes again you guys have me wanting to put some more sets in the ground.....