Kevin Steffey, Author at Deer Hunting Field

Coyote Trapping – Best Coyote Trap: A Guide to the 4 Best Varieties of Coyote Traps

There are a number of different traps to choose from, and the debate rages heavily as trappers try to decide which of them deserve the title of the best coyote traps. We’ve put together a short listing of the different types of traps available to the modern hunter and compared them, so that you can figure out which works best for you.

Top 4 Best Coyote Trap

1.) Foothold Traps

Source: http://one-eyedhillbilly.blogspot.com

Foothold traps have long been the gold standard for those who are hunting any furbearing mammal. Their mechanical design lends them to a wide variety of different configurations and sets, each of them with their own advantage.

In general, a #2 size is considered to be the best for coyote. Different hunters will recommend different brands, tactics, and modifications that work for them but if you opt to use them yourself you’ll have to figure out which works best for you.

They’re also rather expensive and heavy, which makes hauling them out a lot of work. Even worse, you really will need some mechanical abilities to make sure they work well. They’re not quite as easy to work with as Saturday morning cartoons make them look. Many people have had a lot of success with them however.

There are also a lot of restrictions on their usage in place, and many will find they don’t even have the option to use them locally. Be sure to double check regulations in your area before you decide to use them, as the fines and penalties can be quite costly.

Pros

Good holding power
Variety of sets
Most easily disguised
Customizable

Cons

Require mechanical aptitude
Subject to a lot of regulation

2.) Conibear Traps

Source: http://trappingsupplies.blogspot.com

In places where they’re legal, Conibear traps can be used for coyote and some trappers report back that they’ve had great success with them. They’re a variation of the mechanical trap which is intended to close over the neck of the coyote which triggers it with sufficient force to kill it instantly.

In general, they’re only usable in some specific areas and even then they should be used with caution. Trappers use a 330 sized trap for coyote and bobcats, and they definitely have sufficient force to kill a dog or cat.

When used properly, they’re highly effective and those who can use them safely and efficiently definitely like them but they should be avoided by anyone who happens to live in an area where there may be domestic animals present.

In most of the United States their usage is heavily restricted, even more-so than leg-hold traps. This makes them an unattractive option for most trappers and only those who are confident that they can avoid harming pets and know how to set them properly should use them.

Pros

Instant kill when set properly
Not as hard to disguise as box traps
Most sets are fairly easy

Cons

Kill indiscriminately
Highly illegal in most areas
Expensive

3.) Snare Traps

Snares are less regulated than many types of traps, which makes them ideal for a lot of trappers on a budget. They can vary from spring-loaded snares which will strangle the animal to simpler affairs which will restrain the coyote until you come back to check on them.

They’ve been used for centuries by people around the globe, and their ease of use and cheap costs makes them favorable for a lot of trappers. In addition to that, they’re usually quite light and you’ll be able to hike out with a lot more of them to set up your traps than with any other type.

There are usually some restrictions on their usage, depending on where you’re currently residing. These can range from an outright ban to having to use specific sets to make sure you don’t target animals outside of what you’re looking for. In some places there have to be stops, be sure to look at the legality in your area before you decide on them.

They’re one of the two methods currently favored by most trappers, however, and there’s definitely some advantages to using them in the field. You’ll also want to make sure there are no pets in the area, but that should be a precaution you take with nearly any kind of trap.

Pros

Simple to use
Cheap and effective
Very light
Can be setup for hold or kill

Cons

Regulated in most areas
Killing snares can target indiscriminately

4.) Box and Cage Traps

Cage traps are the only option that many people will be allowed to use, after all traps are unsupervised and have a tendency to catch other animals than the one you’re targeting.

The truth is, coyote can be hard to catch in cage and box traps, however, and that dissuades many hunters from using this method. It can definitely be done, however, but it’s a tedious and time consuming process.

The best way to set them up is to hide the trap as much as possible and use a lure. The coyote should be in the trap before they realize the cage is there. It can definitely be done, but it requires a different skill set than many other types of trap.

The best thing about them is that you don’t have to worry about killing someone’s hunting dog or cat if they happen to get caught in the trap, you can just let them go free. This makes them ideal if there is any chance of a domestic animal passing by.

If you take the time to learn they can be effective, but the truth is that a lot of coyote are going to avoid them.

Pros

Captures the animal without harming them
Least regulated type of trap
Most humane

Cons

Bulky
Hard to use
Not as effective as many types of trap

Conclusion

It really can be hard to figure out which are the best coyote traps for you. Due to regulations and the inherent nature of traps it will vary from area to area, but all of the above are certainly viable methods for those who are seeking to collect some fur in the next season.

Did we leave out your favorite trap? Have any questions? Let us know below!

What Might Cause A Shotgun To Explode? (The Answers Will Make You Amazed)

Our lives are filled with shocks — most of which occur when we least expect them. There are just those occurrences, despite their warranties, which leaves us with questions hanging. And for the most unfortunate, these answers may no longer be accessible. In case you’re wondering what I am alluding to, it is the perennial question that still permeates the hunting world: what might cause a shotgun to explode?

Today, we’ll just about to expose some of the neatest theories as to why this phenomenon occurs. More importantly, we’ll also look into ways in which you can use your shotgun safely and correctly — approaches that won’t save your life but should also veer you away from these preventable scenarios.

More…

Quick NavigationWhat Might Cause A Shotgun To Explode?#1 Overloaded Shell #2 The Barrel Obstruction #3 Too Much Mercury #4 The wrong cartridge How To Use Your Shotgun (And Other Weapons) Safely Final thoughts

What Might Cause A Shotgun To Explode?

Commonly known as a “catastrophic failure,” exploding shotguns can be caused by the following:

#1 Overloaded Shell

Accordingly, if your shotgun has an overloaded shell, chances are it should result in detonation. This happens as shotgun powders are “fast” and highly volatile in nature. They are also equipped with a doubled charge or even more. As such, this can ignite the powder which eventuates to an explosion, impacting the gun as a result.

So, once you load your shells, ensure that the loads are set on a “safe” level. Now, if that is still obscure to you, always try to purchase your ammo from your trusted retails stores as all of these crucial to your safety.

#2 The Barrel Obstruction

Contrary to what most users think, the term barrel obstruction doesn’t necessarily entail any impedance to your weapon. Some obstructions like mud may cause cracks, but these don’t result in an explosion. What we mean to is the occurrence in which we may be putting an incorrect ammunition right to your shotgun.

One of the more common scenarios today is the oblivious insertion of a 20-gauge shell in a 12-gauge gun. Once the 20-gauge shell falls into the barrel, allowing a 12-gauge shell in the chamber to be fired, catastrophe may ensue.

#3 Too Much Mercury

Another possible reason is that the primers may have too much mercury. This component could go against the case of your shotguns once it is both reloaded and fired. On the other hand, black powder can serve an “unwelcome” element as it contains low pressure while the cases were washed of loadings during certain occasions. This very action can diminish your priming mixture.

#4 The Wrong Cartridge

While this won’t necessarily explode your shotgun, a wrong cartridge can destroy the weapon’s magazine since the resulting gases should need to go somewhere. One primary example is the shooting of the 8X57 in the 30 to 06. You serve two misfires in this respect: the shooting of an 8mm bullet down a 30-caliber barrel is not the right way to do it since the case is not that long. As such, the head won’t also be supported.

Another example is the usage of a 358 Winchester into a 270 or 30 to 06. This scenario encourages us always to use the correct ammunition in any given weapon.

Now that we’ve tackled the possible ways in which a shotgun may explode, we’ll look into some of the safest ways to use a shotgun or any weapon for that matter.

How To Use Your Shotgun (And Other Weapons) Safely

Essentially, guns are very much safe to use. But once you’re not equipped with the right knowledge on how to use it, things can go awry. So, here are some of the tested and proven ways on how to use your shotgun safely and properly:

1.) The muzzle of your gun should point in a safe area at all times. Considered as the most primary of all the most reliable ways to deal with it, this should remove any fear of an accidental discharge. Probably an ideal space is where no humans or animals are present.

2.) Instill a mentality that your weapon is always loaded. With this in mind, your gun is always treated with safety and delicateness, if you will. This goes the same when your gun is technically unloaded. You can’t just go around pointing your weapon at someone even if doesn’t have ammo.

3.) Your fingers should never be placed right beside the gun’s trigger when you’re just casually using it. This safety precaution can veer you away from accidental discharges which can eventuate to fatal injuries.

With your handgun, you may place or rest your fingers on the top of the trigger. Whenever you’re using a rifle or a shotgun, simply avoid touching the trigger area with your fingers.

We just can’t reiterate enough the importance of treating your gun as always loaded as mechanical and human errors are bound to happen even when everything is technically safe. One relevant example of this unfortunate chance is the failure of the gun’s safety switch.

4.) Whenever there are spectators nearby, or you’re surrounded by live objects or things, always ensure that you pay attention to your target. Your target should always be within your range and that you should always aim to hit your target as much as possible. Failure to do this may result to the changing of the bullet’s direction and in another circumstance, may bounce off to other things which all the more dangerous.

Watch this video for a quick guide on how to use your shotgun.

Final thoughts

Although shotguns are designed decidedly for protection and hunting, this weapon is still bound to explode. Misfires (no pun here!) have already been reported and sparked controversies among their manufacturers. However, most of these incidents can be prevented given that you follow all the safety measures that are either affixed on the manual or are simply passed on from the seasoned users in your family or your circle of friends.

And while these guns can indeed potentially explode, it is always a must that you follow the safety measure more than religiously. These will lessen the human and mechanical errors that are often inevitable in the hunting universe.

How High Can a Deer Jump? Who Cares With the Right Fence

Whitetail deer are surprisingly agile animals, as most of us know. Since they’re not exactly tame, it can be hard to know their exact athletic abilities but it’s something to consider if you’re living in deer country.

Many of us grow vegetables and we know the pain when the whitetail population starts getting high. Fences are definitely an option, but the real question for most of us is how high can a deer jump?

How High Can a Deer Jump: Theory vs. Practice

In sheer theory, deer can jump seriously high. Depending on who you ask, you’ll see numbers ranging from six to twelve feet with some sources even claiming fifteen feet is attainable for particularly athletic deer.

It’s definitely not hard to find footage of them being able to clear fences six or eight feet in height, and footage exists of some even higher as well.

In practice, however, deer rarely jump over things which are more than eight feet in height. This is for a pretty simple reason: the consequences of falling when clipping an obstacle that high are pretty severe and usually it’s easier to go around or under objects such as deer fences.

A deer who’s not terrified likely isn’t going to be jumping over anything six feet or higher. Think of it this way: you could probably jump off of a second story building and remain mostly unharmed if you’re in good shape and were in control during the leap… but it’s still risky and it’s still going to hurt when you hit the ground.

The deer is going to feel the same way, they don’t want to risk getting hurt just to get a snack. They’ll take the easiest route and if things seem too hard for a bite to eat they’re not going to bother.

On the other hand, a deer who’s running from a predatory animal or hunter is going to virtually soar across any non-specialized fencing without a second thought.

How High Can a Deer Jump: Building Deer Fences

Since deer can be pest animals in some areas, a lot of people worry about how high to build their fence. They leave out one crucial detail in their worrying, however, which is the fact that it’s not really about how high it is so much as what kind of fence you’re working with.

If you’re looking to keep deer off of your property, then you’ll need to make sure that you build a fence the right way. If they’re not a serious issue a six to eight foot high fence can normally keep them off but in places with heavy populations that’s just not going to be enough.

Some people will just build a higher fence, but that’s not always the right way to go about things.

Building a fence that is ten feet or more high gets expensive in a hurry, and not everyone can afford to do so. Even then there are cases where an especially spooked animal might take the leap and end up where it shouldn’t be. Height isn’t the key to making sure they stay out, instead you can manipulate their perception.

What you do is take advantage of the lack of depth perception that deer possess As prey animals, they have their eyes on the sides of their head which makes it harder for them to focus exactly where they’re going.

This naturally means there are a few ways to discourage them.

You have two options at the end of the day, and both of them come with their own pros and cons.

The Double Fence

By setting up a double fence you can greatly discourage deer from taking advantage of your vegetable garden. It’s also a lot simpler to construct than an angled fence.

All you’ll need to do is build a second perimeter fence around the first one. You could, for instance, make a four foot high wall or fence a few feet from the outside of the primary fencing which will likely be six or eight feet high.

You can get away with constructing one pretty easily if you opt to use scrap wood for the second fence. Remember that you’re just increasing the perceived height of the fence it’s not an actual physical barrier for the deer.

Only the most desperate of deer will even attempt to make the jump if you’ve set things up properly, but it comes with the disadvantage of consuming a lot more materials than you’d have to use with a single fence.

Pros

Super simple construction, just build a second fence
Will keep deer from jumping and doesn’t look out of place

Cons

Time consuming
Uses a lot more materials

Angled Fence

By angling a fence at 45° you can create an almost perfect defence against deer. This is a lot more time consuming to produce and takes a little bit more skill than just making a ramshackle outer fence to go around the one you already have but it will confuse deer and they won’t dare to jump over it.

If you angle things outwards it has the added advantage of keeping other pests from invading as well, including animals like raccoon and tree squirrel.

This works by confusing the deer’s perception and you need to keep it at 45°, any greater or smaller of an angle and they may be able to perceive the proper height and you’ve lost the advantage.

This addition is also nice since it won’t cut off the view of your land since it doesn’t need to be particularly high. Many people find that just four feet or so will do it.

Pros

Increased visibility
Not many materials needed
Keeps out climbing pests like raccoon

Cons

Takes more skill to build
Not suitable for all areas

Conclusion

Whether you’re just curious or want to keep deer off your delicious vegetable garden, knowing how high can deer jump is important. The truth is, they can jump high enough to handle pretty much any fencing but with some clever fencing manipulation you’ll be in good hands at the end of the day.

Top 4 Best Coyote Trap

1.) Foothold Traps

2.) Conibear Traps

3.) Snare Traps

4.) Box and Cage Traps

Conclusion

What Might Cause A Shotgun To Explode?​

#1 Overloaded Shell

#2 The Barrel Obstruction

#3 Too Much Mercury

#4 The Wrong Cartridge

How To Use Your Shotgun (And Other Weapons) Safely

Final thoughts

How High Can a Deer Jump: Theory vs. Practice

How High Can a Deer Jump: Building Deer Fences

The Double Fence

Angled Fence

Conclusion

What Might Cause A Shotgun To Explode?