Timing is critical under these circumstances, as jackals will avoid an area where they have seen human activity. If unprofessional attempts have been made to capture jackals in the area using foot-hold traps, then it is likely that even the most careful trapper will have limited success. Jackals in wilderness areas may be more easily trapped, but should not be allowed to learn from amateurish trapping methods. No effort must be spared to locate visible evidence of the jackals' presence. Tracks and territorial marks will help in deciding how many traps should be set and which are the most likely sites for a successful trapping attempt.
Jackals behave very differently under different conditions.
Talking to local farmers and workers will provide valuable information on where the jackals can be found, what their response is to humans, what their favourite foods are, etc. Selectivity vs effectivity. Some trap sets are more effective than others. However, some of the more effective sets are less selective. The jackal is particularly wary of traps, and special attention should be paid to the aspects listed below.