



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