Produced by Linda M. Everhart, Blairstown, Missouri
Wolf and Coyote
Trapping
An Up-to-Date Wolf Hunter's Guide, Giving the
Most Successful Methods of Experienced
"Wolfers" for Hunting and Trapping
These Animals, Also Gives
Their Habits in Detail.
BY
A. R. HARDING
Published by
A. R. HARDING PUB. CO.
COLUMBUS, OHIO
Copyright 1909
By A. R. HARDING PUB. CO.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
I. The Timber Wolf
II. The Coyote
III. Killing of Stock and Game by Wolves
IV. Bounties
V. Hunting Young Wolves and Coyotes
VI. Hunting Wolves with Dogs
VII. Still Hunting Wolves and Coyotes
VIII. Poisoning Wolves
IX. Trapping Wolves
X. Scents and Baits
XI. Scent Methods
XII. Bait Methods for Wolves
XIII. Southern Bait Methods for Coyotes
XIV. Northern Bait Methods for Coyotes
XV. Blind Set Methods
XVI. Snow Set Methods
XVII. Some Rules and Things to Remember
XVIII. The Treacherous Grey Wolf
XIX. Wolf Catching
XX. With the Coyotes
XXI. Wolf Trapping an Art
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Map Showing the Range of the Timber Wolf
Western Grey Wolf in a Trap
Track of the Grey Wolf
Coyote and Badger Killed in Texas
A Trapped Coyote
Track of the Coyote
Wolves Killing a Deer
Remains of Deer Killed by Wolves
Grey Wolf
Diagrams showing Difference in Size of Wolves and Coyotes
A Wyoming Wolf Den
A Near View of the Den
Young Wolves at Entrance of Den
The Hunter's Outfit
An Oklahoma Hunter with Young Coyotes
Catch of a Canadian Hunter
A Still Hunter and His Outfit
Killed by the Still Hunt
Method of Preparing Poison Baits
The Newhouse Wolf Trap
The Two-Pronged Drag
Method of Attaching an Oblong Stone
Method of Attaching a Triangular Stone
Iron Stakes for Traps
Trap Set and Ready for Covering
Wyoming Wolf Trapper
Caught in a Scent Set
Trail Bait Set
The Square Setting
Coyote Caught at a Bank Set
Wolf Water Set
A Trapped Wolf
A Trapped Texas Coyote
A Northern Coyote
An Idaho Coyote
A Trail Set
Traps Set at Badger Den
A Good Catch
A Snow Set
A Large Wisconsin Wolf
Mr. Davis with the Big Wolf Skins
A Texas Specimen
Caught at Last
A Northern Wolf
[Illustration: A. R. Harding.]
INTRODUCTION.
There are certain wild animals which when hard pressed by severe cold
and hunger, will raid the farmers and ranchmen's yards, killing fowls
and stock. There however, are no animals that destroy so much stock
as wolves and coyotes as they largely live upon the property of
farmers, settlers and ranchmen to which they add game as they can get
it.
While these animals are trapped, shot, poisoned, hunted with dogs,
etc., their numbers, in some states, seem to be on the increase
rather than the decrease in face of the fact that heavy bounties are
offered.
The fact that wolf and coyote scalps command a bounty, in many
states, and in addition their pelts are valuable, makes the hunting
and trapping of these animals of no little importance.
One thing that has helped to keep the members of these "howlers" so
numerous is the fact that they are among the shrewdest animal in
America. The day of their extermination is, no doubt, far in the
distance.
This book contains much of value to those who expect to follow the
business of catching wolves and coyotes. A great deal of the habits
and many of the methods were written by Mr. E. Kreps, who has had
experience with these animals upon the Western Plains, in Canada, and
the South. Additional information has been secured from Government
Bulletins and experienced "wolfers" from various parts of America.
A. R. Harding.
WOLF AND COYOTE TRAPPING
CHAPTER I.
THE TIMBER WOLF.
Wolves of all species belong to that class of animals known as the
dog family, the members of which are considered to be the most
intelligent of brute animals. They are found, in one species or
another, in almost every part of the world. They are strictly
carnivorous and are beyond all doubt the most destructive of all wild
animals.
In general appearance the wolf resembles a large dog having erect
ears, elongated muzzle, long heavy fur and bushy tail. The size and
color varies considerably as there are many varieties.
The wolves of North America may be divided into two distinct groups,
namely, the large timber wolves, and the prairie wolves or coyotes
(ki'-yote). Of the timber wolves there are a number of varieties,
perhaps species, for there is considerable difference in size and
color. For instance there is the small black wolf which is still
found in Florida, and the large Arctic wolf which is found in far
Northern Canada and Alaska, the color of which is a pure white with a
black tip to the tail. Then there is that intermediate variety known
as the Grey Wolf, also called "Timber Wolf," "Lobo" and "Wolf," the
latter indefinite name being used throughout the West to distinguish
the animal from the prairie species. It is the most common of the
American wolves, the numbers of this variety being in excess of all
of the others combined. In addition to those mentioned, there are
others such as the Red Wolf of Texas and the Brindled Wolf of Mexico.
All of these, however, belong to the group known to naturalists as
the Timber Wolves. Just how many species and how many distinct
varieties there are is not known.
As a rule, the largest wolves are found in the North; the Gray Wolves
of the western plains being slightly smaller than the white and Dusky
Wolves of Northern Canada and Alaska, specimens of which, it is said,
sometimes weigh as much as one hundred and fifty pounds. Again the
wolves of the southern part of the United States and of Mexico are
smaller than the gray variety.
[Illustration: The Range of the Timber Wolf.]
The average full grown wolf will measure about five feet in length,
from the end of the nose to the tip of the tail, and will weigh from
eighty to one hundred pounds, but specimens have been killed which
far exceeded these figures. The prevailing color is gray, being
darkest on the back and dusky on the shoulders and hips. The tail is
very bushy and the fur of the body is long and shaggy. The ears are
erect and pointed, the muzzle long and heavy, the eyes brown and
considering the fierce, bloodthirsty nature of the animal, have a
very gentle expression.
In early days wolves were found in all parts of the country but they
have been exterminated or driven out of the thickly settled portions
and their present distribution in the United States is shown by the
accompanying map. As will be noted they are found in only a small
portion of Nevada and none are found in California, but they are to
be met with in all other states west of the Missouri and the lower
Mississippi, also all of the most southern tier of states, as well as
those parts bordering on Lake Superior. A few are yet found in the
Smokey Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee. They are probably
most abundant in Northern Michigan and Northern Minnesota, Western
Wyoming, Montana and New Mexico.
Wyoming is the center of the wolf infested country and they are found
in greatest numbers in that state, on the headwaters of the Green
River. As to the numbers still found the report of the Biological
Survey for the years 1895 to 1906, inclusive, but not including the
year 1898, shows that bounties were paid on 20,819 wolves in that
state.
In Northern Michigan they are also abundant. In the year 1907,
thirty-four wolves were killed in Ontonagon County; in Luce County
fifty-four were killed up to November 10th, '07, and in Schoolcraft
Co., thirty were killed from October 1st, '07 to April 29th, '08.
This gives a total of one hundred and eighteen wolves killed in three
out of the sixteen counties of the Upper Peninsula. These statistics
are from a pamphlet issued by the Department of Agriculture.
The breeding season of the timber wolves is not as definite as that
of many of the furbearing animals, for the young make their
appearance from early in March until in May, and an occasional litter
will be born during the summer, even as late as August. The mating
season of course varies, but is mainly in January and February, the
period of gestation being nine weeks. The number in a litter varies
from five to thirteen, the usual number being eight or ten.
In early days the wolves of the western plains followed the great
buffalo herds and preyed on the young animals, also the old and
feeble. After the extermination of that animal they turned their
attention to the herds of cattle which soon covered the great western
range and their depredations have become a positive nuisance. In the
Northern States and throughout Canada they subsist almost entirely on
wild game.
[Illustration: Western Grey Wolf in a Trap.]
Wolves den in the ground or rocks in natural dens if such can be
found, but in case natural excavations are rare as in northern
portions of the country, they appropriate and enlarge the homes of
other animals. In the heavily timbered country they sometimes den in
hollow logs.
The wolf is both cowardly and courageous, depending on circumstances.
When found singly, and especially in daylight the animal is as much
of a coward as any creature could possibly be, and especially does it
fear man. But when suffering from the pangs of hunger and when
traveling in bands as they usually do, they are bold, fierce and
bloodthirsty creatures. In such cases they have been known to attack
man.
When hunting large game, wolves always go in bands, usually of three
to five but often a larger number. They invariably kill animals by
springing on from behind and hamstringing the victim. Small game is
hunted by lone animals.
The great losses suffered by stockmen in the West led the Biological
Survey, in connection with the Forest Service of the Department of
Agriculture, to make a special investigation, and later a general
campaign against the wolves of the National Forests began. During the
year 1907 a large number of wolves and coyotes were captured in and
near the forest reserves: the number from the various states being as
follows:
STATE. WOLVES. COYOTES.
Wyoming 1,009 1,983
Montana 261 2.629
Idaho 14 3,881
Washington 10 675
Colorado 65 2,362
Oklahoma 3 15
New Mexico 232 544
Arizona 127 1,424
Utah 5,001
Nevada 500
California 224
Oregon 2 3,290
------ ------
Total 1,723 22,528
Many of these animals were captured by the forest guards but in
addition the government employed a number of expert trappers.
On the Gila National Forest 36 wolves and 30 coyotes were killed by
one forest guard, who sent the skulls to the Biological Survey for
identification, as well as the skulls of 9 bears, 7 mountain lions,
17 bobcats, and 46 grey foxes. One den of 8 very young wolf pups was
taken March 13. These statistics are from Circular 63, issued by the
U. S. Department of Agriculture.
Wolves are great ramblers, traveling over a large section of country.
Like almost all other animals of rambling habits, they have their
regular routes of travel. By this, we mean they follow the same
valleys, passes, water courses, etc., but when in pursuit of game
they sometimes stray quite a long distance out of their course.
[Illustration: Track of the Grey Wolf, Compared With That of a
Dog.]
The track of the wolf resembles that of a dog, but is a trifle
narrower in proportion to its length. The difference is in the two
middle toes, which are somewhat longer on the wolf, however, the
difference is so slight that it could easily pass unnoticed. When the
wolf is running these toes are spread well apart. The length of step
when the animal is walking will be from 18 to 24 inches, and the
average footprint will measure about 2 3/4 or 3 inches in width by
about 3 1/2 or 4 inches in length. Ernest Thompson Seton, the
naturalist claims that he can judge with fair accuracy, the weight of
a wolf by the size of the track. He allows twenty pounds for each
inch in length, of the foot print.