how to make a wolf set

[Rick Matley]

Looking for information on how to make a wolf set, any tips would be appreciated. The Do's and don'ts?

Thanks in advance.

[BlacktailStalker]

Snares?
Leg holds?
Around bait, trails or piss posts ?

Lotsa trapper forums online... I'd check there, hours and hours of reading.

[Rick Matley]

Thanks for reply, was hoping to get a quick hit without having to spend much time on the topic.

[kolob2034]

Simply place a trap so that when the wolf's nose is smelling the attractant his right foot is placed on the pan of the trap. Wolves are big strong animals and you need enoug trap for the job. Next would be at least 8 or 9 feet of good strong chain and a good heavy grapple or drag. Trap placement should be approx 12 inches back from the attractor and offset 3 to 5 inches to the right of the attractor. The trap must be bedded solid and covered with 3/8 to 1/2 inch of dirt. I use a heavy window screen for a pan cover. A good flat set will take any predator in North America. I first drive a half inch smooth stake into the ground for my reference point and bury the trap out in front of the stake to the dimensioins stated above. After bedding and covering the trap I wallow the stake around a bit and place the attractor onto a small stick that I have twisted some sheep's wool onto the top resembling an oversize Q tip. Any good coyote scent will work for a wolf. Some scents work better at different times of the year than others. I then place this stick down into the hole. I like to keep this hole small so that the animal has to work the hole to get it out. I like to set in the tops of saddles, at the head of cut bank washes,and where two draws meet etc. Try to visualize water running down hill over the landscape and anywhere two drainages meet will be good set locations. For a set backing choose any feature that attracts your eye when you first walk into the location. I like a backing that the animal can see over as it gives them confidence top be able to see all around. Make your sets so that the scent will be carried on the dominate breezes and the animal will travel downwind until he travels to investigate the smell. Make the set area very smooth but yet blended into what ever is there to make it look natural. You can't force a wolf at the set like you can a bobcat. Gang set, meaning at least two or three sets on the good locations. Wolves are pack animals and the chance of a double or triple is very good. Sometimes I believe the best trap attractant is another animal in a trap.

[Brent Sinclair]

One of the best wolf sets you can make is where you have unloaded your hounds from the box...
If you have wolves in the area your hunting load your hounds up early in the morning BEFORE they get a chance to have a piss...
Go to where you have seen wolf sign and take one of the hounds to a good looking tree and he'll mark that tree guarenteed...
if theres a bit of straw form the bedding in the box that spills out that much the better...wolves are very territorial and will tear the area up when they come through.

Take a clean trap and drag in the location you have let your hound piss on the tree and make a good set.
14 -16" back from the tree at a 45 degree angle try to find a good fir or something that makes bedding the trap easy.
I use produce bags from the grocery store to slid my traps into , it really help them from freezing down and nothing gets under the pad..


Go down the road 3-400 yds and let the other hounds out for a bit try not to let them make a real mess just enough to make it interesting.

If your in an area where you do not have road access, take a pail with some urine and snow from your kennel and do the same where you know wolves will travel a road or open flat..

Use cotton gloves and keep things a clean as you can handling the trap and drag...
I find it's a sure fire way to catch then.
Be patient sometimes it's weeks before the return or pass throug, keep tabs on the traps to make sure they don't freez down and replenish the dog urine on occation..
Workum over as good as you can when you have the chance.
Both of these wolves were caught in MB750 Wolf traps using the method I discribed above..
Good Luck

[007pennpal]

Brent,
That is one of the best looking wolves. Nice coat. How much did you get for it?
sean

[Brent Sinclair]

Brent,
That is one of the best looking wolves. Nice coat. How much did you get for it?
sean

I just caught the big male I'm holding up a couple days ago so have not sold him...the other is a smaller female.I get them tanned and give them to some of the landowners where I trap.
A good well furred male from northern B.C. or Alaksa may fetch somewhere between $500 - $800 "IF" he's big ,prime and done up right for a lifesize...these wolves are worth about $200 before tanning costs.
Here's another one I caught today...100 lb male....they still hav'nt figured out it's not a good idea to piss right where my hounds have...!!!!!!

[BlacktailStalker]

Nice to see, keep killing those land sharks.
Do you use the piss/shit sacks from each wolf you catch to pick off more from the same pack ?
I've got my trappers license and a bunch of custom built leg holds from a top notch fabricator that are burning a hole on my shelf but have yet to find a line or one to get permission on.
Keep 'em coming!

[Brent Sinclair]

Nice to see, keep killing those land sharks.
Do you use the piss/shit sacks from each wolf you catch to pick off more from the same pack ?
I've got my trappers license and a bunch of custom built leg holds from a top notch fabricator that are burning a hole on my shelf but have yet to find a line or one to get permission on.
Keep 'em coming!

I take the sacs and make a gland lure, but I have found the dog urine works so well I have not yet needed to use it, may come a time with different pack that I will put it to use....
Another one with a piss post set..
Send me a photo of the custom traps you have ,,,I am using a few custom built ones myself, here's another good wolf....the custom trap I am using is in the previous photo of the wolf on the sled trailer....

[BlacktailStalker]

I'll try and get a pic in the next few days, they're buried somewhere.
The guy makes them locally here (vancouver Island, BC) and they are either $110 or $120 each I forget but the guys I know that use them say they're 10x better than anything you can buy. I picked up three to start.

[chilcotin hillbilly]

I love seeing those pictures Brent. This is one thing I have not done personally, and am going to take a trapper course and trap the private land around here. I good friend has take 37 this year but he live about an hour away so not much effect on the local packs.

[Brent Sinclair]

I love seeing those pictures Brent. This is one thing I have not done personally, and am going to take a trapper course and trap the private land around here. I good friend has take 37 this year but he live about an hour away so not much effect on the local packs.

Doug
Gordy Klassen out of DeBolt Ab. 780 831-0616 email is gordy@trappergord.com

He puts on a real good seminar, I took it last Feb and boy did I learn alot...
The piss post set I found is the best set up here but there are countless meotheds.
I an using a few different types of traps Alaska #9 Bridger Braun #9 some custom ones a trapping partner of mine built and MB 750's all have done the job.
When you make a set do it where you can also hang a dozen or so snares and use two traps.
The best wolf bait is the Alpha male or female in a trap or snare but any wolf caught will keep the others milling around for awhile and the more snares in the woods the better chance of killing more wolves.
If you catch a wolf in a leg hold replace the trap with a clean one in the same spot, you'll get more, paitence is the key...GOOD LUCK!!!

[Brent Sinclair]

Nice to see, keep killing those land sharks.
Do you use the piss/shit sacks from each wolf you catch to pick off more from the same pack ?
I've got my trappers license and a bunch of custom built leg holds from a top notch fabricator that are burning a hole on my shelf but have yet to find a line or one to get permission on.
Keep 'em coming!

The weather has warmed up a bit but the pee post sets are still effective..
80# female from the other day

[chilcotin hillbilly]

Thanks Brent for the info.
Keep it up

[Brent Sinclair]

The last couple of weeks the weather has been poor for keeping traps working, freezing in and wind drifting them over making them useless.
Wolves must have went on a Walk About for a while, nothing for sign for the last three weeks.
Temperatures dropped and snow came in a few days ago and the wolcves showed up again as usual.
-36 C late this after noon with the wind chill , but the trip to check sets was worth the cool ride.
Caught a breeding pair right beside one and other in the only 2 snares that were in working conditin from the deep snow fall the last 24 hrs.
"LUCKY"