Coyote trapping near deer stand

[Kyle S.]

I've seen 2 coyotes while in the stand since bow season started. I was curious if setting a foothold coyote trap near my deer stand and possibly catching one would deter deer from coming around it because of a heavy presence of coyote scent and disturbances. Some yotes from the NAFA auction in July were going for as much as $90 so thats got me pretty stoked for trapping. Just curious if anyone had any experience with trapping or having traps near deer stands. Thanks.

 

[FL-NC]

Yotes run deer off )along with anything else that's not a yote). If you trap one near your stand, it doesn't even have the option of leaving. I would say it would be detrimental to your deer hunting.

 

[entropy]

Why not just shoot it with the bow? I've shot just about everything but deer while bow hunting deer. Pheasant, grouse, squirrel, rabbit. Pelt damage might cost you a little $, but the joy is in ridding the world of one more 'yote....

 

[Sav .250]

Bad move! J s/n.

 

[Varminterror]

I've ran a trapline for over 25yrs. If there are deer in an area, there are coyotes, and most frequently, the reverse is also true. If there's a coyote CURRENTLY PRESENT in the trap, of course a deer will steer clear, but only at a comfortable distance - in other words, there won't be nuclear fall out where no deer will step within a mile of a location where a coyote was caught a few days prior.

I've had traplines within a hundred yards of my deer stands for decades. The only real downside is NOT the coyote scent, but rather the HUMAN foot traffic you're required to put into your area for the traps. If you're setting 6 traps, don't bother, you're not going to catch much anyway, but if you're actively trapping, you're making a lot of contact on that area which can be detrimental to deer hunting. If you're walking your lines daily (as required in most states), then you're laying human scent all along your trapline, where you might be deer hunting, every day. I plan my trap lines so I can access them without blowing up the travel lanes my deer use, and then when I'm near or in rifle season, I might not set some of my traps (or pull the sets entirely) so I don't blow up my area. Another good option, in your case, is to use deer-safe snares, so you don't have quite as much ruckus from the live coyote in the trap. I have placed game cameras over some of my trap lines, and have had deer walk right past within a handful of yards a dead coyote in a snare or conibear.

Not sure how many of the guys above have ever trapped coyotes in deer woods, but I'll say from experience, it's not rocket science, and it's not nearly as much of a "deer deterrent" as many guys might think.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Trap it or shoot it, the deer won't pay any attention to it. The deer are much more concerned about you than they are about any yote that may be in the area...alive or dead.

 

[Patocazador]

I've shot 2 coyotes with my bow from my deer stand. I still saw deer afterwards.
When hit with an arrow, they usually run off and die away from the stand. Shooting them close with a gun might leave more scent to bother the deer. I shoot them every chance I get. Down here their fur is thin so I toss them.

However, the place where I shot most of the yotes was a real good deer lease. I hunt public land now and usually only see squirrels and birds.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

 

[1976B.L.Johns.]

Hate canines up here, few 'yotes to shoot and can not shoot the timberdogs!

 

[Charliefrank]

After deer season, try predator hunting. It's addicting. There's a certain adrenaline rush when you're making yourself sound like a meal and a coyote comes charging in. I enjoy it more than deer hunting sometimes.

 

[buck460XVR]

Like the photo above, I too have seen coyotes and deer out and active in realitvely close proximity of each other without the deer being overly alarmed. I have also watched deer follow a coyote out into a field, and wondered if they were using the song-dog as a scout for danger. I have shot 'yotes while on deer stand and had deer within a hour or two walk right by the dead animal. I doubt if an healthy adult deer has any real fear of a single or even a pair of 'yotes, unless it is hindered by deep snow. Seems they are at ease with them as long as they know where they are. What would probably disturb them more is the daily trek you make to the trap to check/reset it, or the commotion a trapped 'yote make when trapped.

 

[Captcurt]

Though coyotes are predators of deer at times, the deer are used to their scent. As long as it isn't inside their comfort zone everything is cool. But a lot will depend on your location. Where I hunt we have plenty of deer and yotes. The deer pay little mind to yote scent and are conditioned to human traffic in the area. Across the river is 170,000 acres of National Forest with far less human traffic. Deer are used to yote scent but will leave at a hint of human scent. It is like hunting to different animals.