Most trappers have probably dreamed about full-time coyote trapping and running a long line. Life usually gets in the way—careers, family, responsibilities—but sometimes the path circles back if you’re willing to chase it.
For me, it did.
A productive check—multiple coyotes from a well-managed line stacked and ready for fur handling.
From Fireline to Trapline
I spent nearly 30 years as a smokejumper with the U.S. Forest Service, much of that time parachuting into remote wildfires across the West and Alaska. It gave me a front-row seat to some of the wildest country this country has to offer—flying low in a plane with no door and a parachute on your back will do that.
Like a lot of folks, I started trapping young—muskrats in my grandparents’ farm pond. As I got older, I dabbled in coyotes and cats, and after high school I picked up my first hound and spent winters chasing bobcats in Montana.
Fire season gave me winters off, and I used every one of them. Some trapping, a lot of hound work, and a whole lot of time outside.
But as retirement started creeping closer, I had to figure out what came next.
Why I Went All-In
At the time, predator numbers were climbing hard. Wolves had just been delisted, coyotes were thick, and it was taking a toll—upland birds, deer fawns, everything I grew up hunting.
That was the push.
If I was going to do this seriously, I needed to get better.
So I went to Broadus, Montana and spent time learning from Craig O’Gorman. That trip lit a fire in me I haven’t been able to put out since and when I committed to full-time coyote trapping, everything changed.
Building a Line from Scratch
That summer, I went all in:
- Bought and prepped gear
- Lined up ground
- Knocked on doors
I focused on large ranches—places I already knew from bird hunting—and had no trouble getting permission. Most landowners were more than willing to have coyotes removed.
Caught working the edge—this coyote was traveling a natural corridor along the water, a prime location for consistent sets.
An old trapper named Doc Sutton helped point me in the right direction. That kind of guidance is worth more than any piece of equipment you’ll ever buy.
By fall, I was ready.
First Season: Proof of Concept
Conditions were about perfect—dry fall, ideal for dirt work.
By season’s end:
- 100+ coyotes
- About half that in fox
- A full bobcat limit
- Two wolves
That told me everything I needed to know—I could do this.
Learning to Be Efficient
Efficiency is everything in full-time coyote trapping.
Here’s what made the biggest difference:
1. Trap Where They Travel
Most of my ground was private ranches, and I set heavily on two-track roads. Coyotes use them like highways—easy travel, less resistance. If you want to make full-time coyote trapping work, you have to stay mobile.
2. Read the Country
Terrain changes, vegetation shifts, anything that stands out—a “salient feature”—is worth attention. Predators key in on those.
3. Gang Set the Right Spots
Bone yards and dead pits are gold.
Multiple sets in one location = multiple catches.
My best check?
Five coyotes in six traps.
That’s how you stack numbers.
4. Keep Moving
Don’t grind one ranch into the dirt.
Catch the cream, then move on.
Fresh ground = uneducated coyotes = higher catch rates.
Simplifying the System
Over time, I stripped things down:
- Set types: Dirt holes and flat sets
- Tools: Auger on a drill for speed
- Traps: Bridger #3s and MB 550s (both 4-coiled, offset)
Each has its place:
- Bridgers for reach in dirt holes
- 550s for flat sets and tight bedding
Anchoring Matters
I run short chains with earth anchors—about 18 inches.
Why?
- Reduces lunging power
- Minimizes pull-outs
- Safer for non-targets like bears and lions
I’ve released plenty of both, and I’ll take a sprung trap over a rodeo in the brush any day.
And like Andy Weiser once told me:
“Coyotes are a lot like women—some just aren’t meant to be held.”
Hard to argue with that.
Using the Catch Circle
Don’t ignore the remake.
The catch circle is a magnet for other predators. I’ll often:
- Rebuild the original set
- Add a blended trap on the edge
That’s how you pick up doubles—and sometimes a “tight double” in both traps.
Sounding off—this coyote’s vocalization is a reminder of how often they travel and communicate along established paths.
The Grind Nobody Talks About
That first year, I hand-skinned 112 coyotes.
Every night went late. Hands shot. Ibuprofen became part of the routine.
Then I built a simple skinning machine using an ATV winch and modified vice grips.
Game changer.
- Faster
- Less wear on the body
- More consistency
If you want to do this long-term, you have to protect your body.
When It All Comes Together
I hit my stride when the fur market was strong:
- High catch numbers
- Efficient line
- Consistent system
Wolf trapping improved too, and eventually led to:
- Teaching
- Guiding “wolf trapline adventures”
That helped offset the reality that full-time trapping isn’t always steady income.
The Reality of Full-Time Trapping
By the end of the season, you’re worn down.
Physically. Mentally.
But it doesn’t take long before you’re back in the shed:
- Fixing gear
- Building more
- Thinking about next season
Because once it gets in your blood, it doesn’t leave.
A season’s work on display—rows of prime coyotes highlight the scale and tradition behind successful coyote trapping.
Fast Facts for Running a Long Line
- Focus on efficiency over perfection
- Target travel routes and high-traffic locations
- Use simple, repeatable sets
- Move often to stay on fresh animals
- Take care of your body and equipment
