Well, first off, welcome to the board, Schoolmaster. I don't know much on the trapping topic, but someone will come along and give ya some info, I'm sure. But as far as determining if there are coyote's in your area, you could start by listening at dusk for howls. Just drive the roads around the area, park and get out and listen awhile, and often you can get them to howl by using a howler yourself, they may respond, not always, but often. Also, if there are cow paths, with loose dirt or mud, check them for tracks, often times the coyotes will use them to travel, also check creek bottoms or dry ditch bottoms for tracks, they use them to travel too. Might look for scat around corner posts or gates too, they often use these areas as sign posts. One last thing, talk to the area landowners/ranchers, they will usually have a pretty good idea if they are there and about how many, although, many times they see a couple, and they think that there are a bunch. Good Luck! MAN, I HOPE I DIDN'T MISSPELL ANY WORDS!