This chilly weather had all of the critters running around, saw a lot of deer moving.

Here is the live and learn part!
While I am driving down the county road I noticed something thrashing on the fence line about 100 yards ahead of me, first thought was it might be a young deer stuck in the barbwire? As I got closer it was a Coyote trapped in a snare, he was thrashing around until I pulled right up next to him and came to a stop, all of the sudden he stopped thrashing and just sat down perfectly still and stayed that way for a couple of minutes until I slowly drove off and then he started thrashing again.
Did not have my gun on me at the time or I would have put him down.

That was wild I have never seen that or heard anyone else mention that behavior. Any clue what animal instinct causes them to do that??

Beautiful.

Beautiful pics sir

I’ve seen them do that. When they figure they’re not getting away, they wait to see what you’re going to do.

I trapped quite a bit with my dad when I was younger. We used snares and foot traps both and saw this behavior with both types of traps. I've seen this happen with coyotes but not really other animals as much. I agree with QuitShooting and think they are just waiting to see the outcome of what you're doing.

Yep. Snared pigs don't act that way, LOL.

Great pics Stub.

Hey Stub. We’re you in Jack county?

Yes sir.

I knew I recognized that gate. Our place is on the same road. Glad to see someone trapping coyotes. We have WAY too many

Where on Post Oak Rd are you?

We’re about a mile south of 2127.

270Sendero

Are you North or South of Puddin Valley rd and on which side of the road East or West?

We are north of Puddin Valley on the east side. We are just north of the last high fence

"Any clue what animal instinct causes them to do that??

Probably a member of AAA and waiting on Road Side Assistance.

Nice photos!

I know the instinct is to "put down" an animal one finds in a trap. But I'm glad you didn't.

It's a criminal offense to mess with someone else's trap line. Shoot, release, or otherwise disturb another's trap or snare. The animal in the trap belongs to the trapper.

By the same token, trappers are bound by law to run their traps every 36 hours. If they don't, they are breaking the law. But I've not seen much of that. In fact, I see trappers checking closer to every 24 hours.

Coyotes or other animals get still like that a lot of times when approached. Natural defense instinct I guess.

The coyote probably hadn't been in the snare long. They can die pretty quickly in a snare.

NO THEY DON'T!!

Thanks for the heads up on messing with someone else's trap

I have seen that behavior several times while hunting quail in the desert. (wide open areas with very little substantial cover)
When stepping up to the edge of small but deep washes, I've found myself within feet of javelina, mule deer and coyotes down in the wash.
I think they were unable to hear me approach and were just as surprised as I was.
Their reaction is to stand perfectly still. Not to run off. Seems like they know that they are basically "trapped".
Consider their predators. If a mountain lion is suddenly 10 feet from you, running probably isnt a good idea.
Staying perfectly still in hopes of not being seen or to be considered already dead might be your only chance.
Now if they see me at 100yds, they're out of there.

Just my own thoughts. Not a animal psychologist.