Fox Trapping by A.R. Harding

I always enjoy reading trapping books from "the good old days."  It's fascinating to see how methods have evolved, and just as interesting to see what techniques remain the same.  One of the things I like most is the style of writing from a century ago.  There's always a turn of phrase or memorable quote from these old timers.  I recently stumbled on this old fox trapping book by A.R. Harding from 1906.  It is available free online at this link.  Here's just one snippet from page 11 that I find very amusing (click "read the whole story" below).

Foxes Hunt with Magnetic Alignment

Photo Source Link

I'm always amazed at the obscure things people find to research.  Some European scientists did a study on how red foxes hunt and discovered that they may use the earth's magnetic field as a sort of range finder.

It was discovered that foxes tend to prepare to jump at their prey in long vegetation or snow with their body aligned in a north-easterly direction (about 20° clockwise from magnetic north).  Researchers say their findings suggest that foxes may be attacking their prey using magnetic alignment.  Professor Hynek Burda (of Germany) hypothesizes that the fox can sense the magnetic northerly direction as a patch of dark or light.  In the northern hemisphere the magnetic field tilts downwards below the horizontal at an angle of 60-70°, so the fox edges forward until the point at which the angle of the sound from the prey meets the slope of the magnetic field.  At that point the intended target is a fixed jump distance away.

Other animals are known to be able to sense magnetic fields.  Burda’s other research showed that herds of cows and deer tend to align in a north-south direction, except when grazing under high-voltage power lines, which produce strong magnetic fields.

If foxes do in fact have a "sixth sense" for magnetic fields, I wonder if they have any ability to detect a magnetic disturbance from a buried metal object, like a foothold trap?  I swear I've had a few traps dug up that were so solidly bedded and concealed I was sure the guilty critter must have had ESP.

Read the full story here. 

Double-hole Trap Set for Fox

John in PA shares some good pictures and info on this simple set for fox.  Thanks John!

Egg Shells and Bones for Trap Set Eye Appeal

by Tony Hursman

This location is at the top of a ridge were I have seen coyotes digging and scratching around for moles and mice.  This is a step down set where I dug a small pit then placed the dirt hole about 2 inches below the dirt line. In the first pic I show were I have the Montana No. 3 dogless trap with offset jaws placed in the little pit.  I have packed the jaws in dirt and have placed a grass wad under pan to keep dirt from getting under it.  All pics can be enlarged by clicking on them.

In the second pic you can see where I have used the extra dirt from the hole and pit to sift over the trap. When I do this I want the trap pan to be the lowest spot at the set. This should be were the fox or coyote will step when he starts to dig at the hole. Notice the dirt is smooth and no debris is present to get caught in the jaws.

The next pic shows were I have taken half an egg and have seated it at the bottom of the hole, and the rest I have set around the front entrance to the hole. This pit set up imitates a turtle nest that has been dug by another animal.  The egg shells not only add some scent attraction but also some eye appeal into the equation. The egg in the hole and shells scattered around the hole will cause curiosity in any canine. The cow jaw bone adds even more visual aid to the set.

The final pic shows a view of the set from a distance.  Notice how the white bones stand out against the grass and timber. This alone would work on the curiosity factor but with the shells added the animal will swear there is food buried there. This set up is great on fox and cats if set on sign.

Canine Remakes

by Bill Frank from Texas


Remakes are perhaps one of the biggest concerns for canine trappers.  After a day of making fresh sets its agravating to find a possum in your yote sets the next day. That perfect, subtle location is gone, those weed clumps are no longer there, and your perfect set is just a circle in the dirt.  Some people, as a matter of course, just pull that trap and make a fresh set nearby. Others remake the set exactly as it was.  Some remake it into a different type of set, and some pull and use the same trap at the edge of the circle.  Mine are simple. I generally make 2 main types of fresh sets: flat sets and stepdown sets. I also use the trail set a little, but that's just a flat set made in a trail.

The Flat Set

by "Bic" in Central PA

There is no doubt that the Dirt Hole set is the most widely used set on a k9 trapper’s line . It is a highly productive set which can often cause a trapper to develop tunnel vision and overlook other productive set types. One of these overlooked set types the Flat Set.

By definition, a flat set is just that, flat. It has no hole dug into the ground to hide bait or lure. The set isn’t flashy with exposed dirt for eye appeal. All that is required to create this set is an object to be used as a backer. As with any set, it needs to be located where the K9 are traveling.

To make this set, select an object to be used as a backer. It can be a rock, piece of log, root or other natural occurring object of your preference.  (All pics can be clicked to enlarge).

Dig your trap bed so that your pan will be located about 6” from the backer for fox or 10” from the backer for coyote. Be sure, as with any set, that your trap is bedded firmly and has no wobble.

Then cover as you normally would. After you have done this, blend in the dirt pattern so the set looks natural and undisturbed. Be sure to leave the dirt directly over the pan slightly lower than the surrounding area. A little bit of guiding will help him place his foot where YOU want it.

The next step is to apply your lure. Because this is a curiosity type set, use a gland based lure formulated for your targeted species. Apply the gland lure to the base of the backer on the side that the trap is bedded on and just above ground level.

Flat sets are great to use in conjunction with other set types. When I find sign that is worthy of setting, I prefer to make at least two sets that that location. One set may be a typical Dirt hole set. I’ll call this set the “primary set.” Paying close attention to the prevailing wind direction, I will move 8 to 10 feet downwind from the “primary set” and locate my secondary set. This “secondary location” can be a great spot to install your Flat set. Often when a K9 comes into the “primary set” he will cautiously circle down wind of the set to better survey the area before committing to the set. During this circling ritual, he will pass near the less suspicious, more subtle Flat set. A Urine post is another great set to use in this situation as a secondary set type. Often, this is where the trapper will find his catch while running his line the next morning.

So, remember to keep some of these other set types in mind when you're laying steel. You just might increase your catch rates and pick up a few doubles in the process.

Gray Fox Techniques

by Patrick Dupree, Southeast Georgia

Lots of gray fox here in SE GA. Seems to be a pair behind every bush.

No set will out-produce the standard dirthole, although I do not use near the larger "gawdy" blocking/fencing as some do. I have always kept the foot guidance somewhat subtle. Most grays seem to work the set hard. When there is a miss it is not a track or two on the pattern as with coyotes, the pattern is usually stomped all over and the fox was very lucky to miss the pan. The curiosity of the good smells coming from a hole in the ground is the key to keeping them working the set a little longer. I have experienced a lot of rubbing on flat sets by grays.

Castor-based lures, sweet(mild) skunk odors, fishy smells, all work great. I never spend money on grey fox urine or grey fox gland lure. I use only red fox & a little cat pee.

Some seasons I will "hit" three or four gray fox "pockets." These small areas (usually less than 200 acres) have produced 10 to 25 grays in a few nights with about 6 or 8 traps/sets. Most grays I've caught in the same trap/set is seven in eight nights. Only found one of these fox pockets this past season.....15 grays/100 acre property/10 nights. Most locations here will produce a pair or two every season. With the grays smaller home range, most of my larger tracts produce dozens of grays annually. We have few reds, usually catch one red to ten grays.

The most important factor in gray fox trapping is location, especially if you do not have a large population of 'em. Here everywhere is "brushy/woody", hence the good grey population.

Here is slightly over 100 finished grays (& other fur) from a couple years ago. Had good weather for several weeks that season so I could access some good properties.

 

 A frosty double

Modern Gray Fox Trapping

by Tracy Truman

     Perhaps the only trapping book focused exclusively on gray fox, this 69 page work is dedicated to helping trappers understand the biological make-up of the gray fox and how to use that information to take more fur. With over 30 years of trapping experience, the author highlights the unique characteristics of this interesting furbearer. Tracy covers fox trapping equipment and set location, and also discusses the best lures and baits. He also provides a wealth of lure and bait formulas that have been tried and tested to appeal to grays. Tracy was one of the first trappers to test lures, baits and set construction with trail cameras, so he could see for himself which odors were most attractive, and what type of set construction cut down on misses. The book is a total of 69 pages, and uses dozens of full color photos to show set location, construction and equipment. Many of the photos are from trail cameras and show exactly how grays approach and work a set. (Tracy also produced a DVD with the same title, using actual video footage of fox working sets, lures and baits).

     This book also includes a host of scientific studies and references to flesh out gray fox densities in different geographical regions, as well as home range, Fall dispersal issues and family size groups. All of this information can greatly help you on the trapline to connect with more fox in a shorter period of time.

     Tracy is a native of Nevada but has trapped much of the West. He started trapping as a young boy and paid for most of his college education as a trapper, working on coyotes during the summer for sheepmen, and trapping bobcats, fox, coyotes and badgers during the winter fur season. He is an attorney by profession and still manages to make triple digit gray fox catches every year, as well as getting his share of those high-priced Nevada bobcats.

You can find his website here: Modern Gray Fox Trapping