Coyote Trapping Methods in Pennsylvania

In recent years the coyote population in Pennsylvania has grown, and it is still increasing. Many licensed trappers set traps specifically to capture coyotes during the open trapping season. Some trap to control the predator's numbers. Some trap because of the challenge of outsmarting this intelligent animal in its own environment. Still others trap for the value of the coyote's pelt, a popular fur used in both fashionable and utilitarian winter wear. There are several types of traps legal to use to capture Pennsylvania coyotes.

  1. Long Spring Traps

    • When coyote numbers began to escalate in Pennsylvania, many were caught in fox traps, but fox traps proved to be too small and too light to restrain many coyotes. Many avid trappers owned large-sized long spring traps often used to catch and restrain beavers, and adapted these traps for use on land as coyote traps.

    Coil Spring Traps

    • The jaws that snap shut across the paw of a coyote to restrain it on both long spring and coil spring foot-hold traps look and work similarly. The springs that power the two types of traps are far different. Traps made with coil spring powered jaws are less expensive to build, have stronger springs and are less bulky. Most Pennsylvania trappers purchase and use coil spring traps on their coyote trap lines.

    Cable Restraints

    • Cable restraints, often called snares, are a popular way of trapping Pennsylvania coyotes. They are inexpensive and nearly immune to failure because of cold or other weather events. Cable restraints are wire nooses suspended on a trail the trapper expects a coyote to travel. As the animal runs the trail, it's head slips through the noose and it slides closed, similar to how a cowboy's lariat closes when roping a horse. Cable restraints with relaxing locks can be used where the chance of accidentally catching a dog exists. Most dogs are used to being leashed or tied up by the neck, so when the cable closes on its neck, it just stops and waits for the trapper to release it.

    Locking Cables

    • Where the chance of encountering a dog is extremely small, some trappers use cables with locking noose mechanisms. The mechanics of catching the coyote are similar, but when it pulls the noose tight, it won't slip loose. Feeling the restraint on its neck causes the coyote to lunge attempting to break free, further tightening the noose to the point its airway is closed and it quickly dies from asphyxiation.