HH,
The first thing that comes to mind is it could the one that broke away from you last week. You may never catch that dog in a snare again!!!
It likely seen, or smelled something not right. If thats the case, you will more than likely NOT catch that same yap there. You may catch a different one though. Instead of moving the set, leave it there, so it is not looking for it. Put another one in a short distance away. Be very careful of scent, and really camo it up with weeds/brush and I bet you have him! I do the same thing with traps when one finds me out. It works most of the time.
Got a few questions:
Was it a fence, or trail run?
How long after you set the snare did you notice the coyote was not committing?
Do you have to walk right up to the snare to see if one is caught.
Bean, I will have to read through that post when I'm not so tired. Bet it has some good info. THX.
I do some little things that I think help with them not committing. I don't get very many refusals. I have figured out that there are "holes" /trails that a single coyote will use. When I catch him, the new snare will hang there the rest of the year, and not so much as a track even close. That tells me only that one yote was using it. Then there are the "holes" that every coyote in the whole section knows about, and can catch one or more a week in that hole throughout the season.
Not an expert, but describe the set, and the location to me, and I might be able to pick up on something. I'm getting started this weekend. Had my Vet over tonite, and he is already telling me stories of how bad the yotes are. Lots of calves being lost right now. I'm sure the deep snow has them hungry, and they are willing to take the risk right now!