Yeah that was my experience too. He sat still. Bit the release stick I had around his neck a bit, but it was pretty easy releasing him.. That said, I still placed him in the open, pulled the release stick and jumped behind a tree for protection just in case. Momma didn't raise no fool.
Good job on trapping the coyote. They are a worthy adversary on the trap line. Here is a coyote my #2 son and I called up yesterday. Only taker we had in 3 stands. Came in from straight behind me and passed me about 10 ft away. I was leaned up against a 6" oak tree on the side of a pasture. Couldn't believe I wasn't spotted. I missed him on the first running shot after I could not squeak him to a stop and then the son blew his back leg apart and I rolled him up on my second shot at about 50 yrds. First miss had to be 15 yrds or so. He was mangy.
I guess I'd better weigh in on this thread. I did my trapping in December. I went from 100% live traps, to 100% steel. I hate taking skunks from a trap. I didn't have to do a single one this year.
Trapped 7 cats. 3 in one night. I don't have a pic of #7. My buddy had to run my line on the last day and didn't take one.