Page 28 - Kansas Sportsman

bear, African lion, and elephant, there is a size and design of dogs. When traps and snares are used, either the dogs need to
foothold trap for nearly any mammal. Sizes #3 and #4 are most be trained to stay away from the trap sets, or the dogs need to
efficient for coyotes. be locked up through the use period. Also, set foothold traps
where non-target animals can’t get into them.
The basic design has not changed for over 600 years. Many
refinements have been made, like smooth wide-surfaced and When I contract to control coyotes on large-scale operations,
offset jaws, coil-spring power, dogless trigger systems, and foothold traps are my 4th choice following M-44s, snares, and
more effective swivels and chains. Basically, springs power two calling and shooting. In some circumstances, they are my first
opposing jaws to close when triggered, holding a predator’s choice. I usually hold them in reserve to be used on the coyotes
foot and restraining it until the trapper arrives to kill it. I can’t get with other tools.

Anyone needing to control coyotes should have six to twelve
The science and art of modern trapping has been very well
#3 coil-spring-powered coyote traps with setting tools, coyote
documented and is readily available. Traps and equipment
urine, and lures always ready to use as preventive control or
supporting their effective uses are readily available through
reactive control to predators. Traps last for decades, are very
mail-order companies and some local supply stores. Tremen-
versatile, and have no equal.
dous advances have been made in the efficiency of trap usage
for fur collection and predator control. Placement of traps,
Traps set for coyotes should be checked every 24 hours.
bedding techniques (placing and hiding traps in the soil),
placement of baits and luring materials, setting techniques to
It does not take a brain surgeon to successfully use foothold
adapt to weather conditions, and techniques to avoid non-
traps: check on YouTube for video instructions.
target species, have all been significantly improved since the
1970s, primarily by private trappers motivated by the 1977-87
fur fashion boom and high pelt prices.

Steel trap use by the USDA trappers has declined since the
1940s to 1960s because of the high labor input it takes to use
steel traps. As a result of required time and cost to use, M-44s,
snares, denning, aerial gunning, and calling and shooting are
often more useful than the foothold traps and generally require
additional training.

Frankly, to effectively keep coyotes in check, all of these tools
are needed and applied when they will be most efficient.

I have published three books, Catch’N•Coyotes and Other Cri-
trs, Snaring Coyotes, and Crit’R•Calling With The Major, which
cover the basic methods to efficiently use foothold traps,
Where there are woven wire fences, snares are dynamite
snares, and predator calls. Check our ad in this issue.
predator control tools.
Foothold traps and snares work 24 hours per day, 365 days
per year, and are very effective in controlling coyotes, red fox, SNARES
feral dogs, bobcats, black bear, and mountain lions, when
skillfully used. Snares have been used by man for 30,000+ years to catch
food and fur. Snares are excellent and deadly efficient if used
Care needs to be taken when used around sheep and guard properly.

28 THE KANSAS SPORTSMAN | SPRING 2024