Have any of you watched a coyote play with a set that they knew something wasn't right? They do as trapper1954 said crawl up to it on their belly and paw at it gently, it's interesting to see. Another time when it pays to watch instead of shoot first, they really are your best teachers about themselves. Time isn't something that they worry about. I've never found one wearing a watch.
Ramblings and Such From Hunting Coyote
- Thread starter DSheetz
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I changed the angle that the blade was fastened to the hammer that Crag O'Gorman designed so that it dug in better and didn't throw as much dirt towards me. I wouldn't even want to think about bedding 4 long spring traps at a set even with the old matax that I used before the hammer digging tool. Wow just thinking about how the equipment has changed for the better in just the time from 1960 to the early 90's almost boggles my mind. But then it is easy for me to be fascinated by somethings and study them.
Donneric
Well-Known Member
Did you make it parallel to the top of the hammer instead of the peen angle?
No, I made it at just about half of the angle that it was, they started out with machinist hammer that put the angle at close to a 45-degree angle. so I just cut it off and added a wedge to it, so it was at an angle but not as sharp an angle, I wanted it angled so that it dug in but not as hard an angle so it wasn't pointed toward me as much that way, I could lift up on the handle to loosen the dirt.
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Another trapper I know made his own digging tool using a 4lb sledge and welding a "blade" on it that was very slightly bent, probably 20 degrees or so to cut down on the dirt thrown back and to help dig in caliche and other hard, difficult soils.
4+ lbs makes driving stakes and earth anchors much easier.
Myself, I use a cut down 6# sledge for driving them. It has an 18" long handle so I can use it one-handed or two-handed if I really need the impact.
Ed
4+ lbs makes driving stakes and earth anchors much easier.
Myself, I use a cut down 6# sledge for driving them. It has an 18" long handle so I can use it one-handed or two-handed if I really need the impact.
Ed
A six-pound hammer would work well with the hard clay types of soil. Changing the angle made it dig in better as well when I put it back together, I used a piece of broken leaf spring so that it was tougher also they are made of 5160 steel, a little bit tougher than mild steel flat stock.
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Old truck leaf spring was what he used. He has his own welder and forge, so he heat- treated and tempered the "blade" so it would be tough, but not brittle.
Ed
Tools that fit you feel and handle better making working with them so much more comfortable, you can then accomplish more in less time as well as work longer with them. A well-balanced hammer just works better, as you can let it do the work without fighting it to get it to do the job.
trapper1954
Well-Known Member
I use a shortened sharp shooter shovel (handle welded to the Head), regular masons rock hammer, a 3# sledge with a straight cutter attached and lastly the never fails crow bar. What ever it takes.
Ive got 6 cameras that I run when snares getting messed with or a trap. Exotics are the worst. Fallow deer come 15 minutes after you reset and trip it again then come night they knock the camera down. Fact
Donneric
Well-Known Member
I just had mules break the antenna off one of my SpyPoint Flex cameras covering a dead mule carcass. Last picture was a selfie. Why are they attracted to the cameras? I have had cow elk do selfies in my yard but leave the antenna intact.
I have whitetails and coons do the same thing here. Kinda funny pics sometimes. Even had a couple of those disturbing tongue pics lol. I think this could be for several reasons.
1 is our own residual scent left on them when we set them.
2 it's possible that even though we may not here it, it may be that they make sounds when they go off and that gets thier attention.
3 It's been proven that most animals can pick up on minute changes in the electrical field around them. 6th sense have you. May also be able.to see the IR flash at night too.
4 Also been proven that animals have somewhat of a photographic memory. If it happens to see it and know it's not usually there or wasn't the last time.
5 Could be I have no idea and they're just animals being animals lol.
Either way, something definately gets thier attention and as any of us that have been busted by game before, know that they will usually exhaust all efforts to decide what you/that was.
Like all other electronic equipment, it has an EMF, when it's transmitting it is sending out signals that are a certain frequency. It emits IR light at times as well as sounds when it is functioning that we may not see or hear in our ranges, but they are present most of them will also have a blinking light at times. Animals are more attuned to their environment than we are because if they aren't they die, they notice sounds, smells, and other things in their world that we tend to ignore simply because of our lifestyles that they can't afford not to pay attention to.
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Feral horses and donkeys are some of the most destructive animals out there.
Don't get me started on how wrong the idea of "protecting" and "preserving" these animals is.
They are not to be considered through emotional processing, but rather through observation of the destructive effects they have on the environment and the detrimental effects they have to the native species.
OK, off my soapbox now…
Ed
Don't get me started on how wrong the idea of "protecting" and "preserving" these animals is.
They are not to be considered through emotional processing, but rather through observation of the destructive effects they have on the environment and the detrimental effects they have to the native species.
OK, off my soapbox now…
Ed
