386 UNIVEESITY OF CALIFORNIA — EXPERIMENT STATION 



just deep enough so that the set trap will be level with the surface 

 when covered with an eighth of an inch of dirt. Cover the drag with 

 the dirt removed in setting the traps. Dig slight trenches for the 

 chains. Set the traps, turn the springs toward the bases of the pans 

 so that the jaws will lie flat, and bed each trap firmly in its pocket. 

 Then cover the springs and chains with dirt. If a trap springs too 

 easily take a bit of fine straw about three-fourths of an inch long and 

 stand it upright like a pillar, under the pan. Fine dry grass or wool 

 plucked from an old sheepskin, placed loosely under the pan will keep 

 pebbles or clods from rolling under it, since these are liable to hinder 

 or prevent the trap from springing. Another good method is to place. 



Fig. 3. — Diagram of Trail Set. Traps in position but not bedded. 



a sheet of thin paper (orange wrappers are good in dry weather and 

 waxed paper in wet weather) over the spread jaws and pan. Cover 

 the edges of the paper with dirt and then sift dirt through the fingers 

 (to remove clods, sticks and pebbles) over the trap until the paper is 

 covered evenly with about an eighth of an inch of fine dirt. Brush 

 lightly over the trap with a bunch of grass or weeds or with a fresh 

 skunk skin, and then scatter a few dead leaves and grass over the 

 "set" to restore naturalness. The use of both scent and meat bait 

 at the same time is not recommended. Scatter a spoonful of scent in 

 the center of the "set," or, if bait is to be used, scatter a small handful 

 of lard cracklings, or of scorched bacon rinds cut into fine bits, about 

 the traps so as to keep the coyote hunting about until he steps into one 

 of them. Bait should be used sparingly. Coyote trapping is one 

 business where it doesn't pay to advertise too extensively. A jack- 

 rabbit or chicken hung up in a bush over a trap is simply a danger 

 signal to a " wise ' ' coyote. 



Trail Set (See Fig. 3). — ^Wire three traps to a rock drag as de- 

 scribed in previous set. Locate a little opening, backed by a rock 

 or bush at the side of the trail. Dig a hole about twelve inches from, 

 and parallel to, the trail and bury the drag so that the top will be 



