You have some nice looking dogs down that way James. Those post sets are a sure fire way to put an end to those cautious pesky educated dogs that come along every now and then.
Some seem to have difficulty with having much success with this type of set. But I can assure you that it can be a very productive set when its use and placement is better understood. I too in my early years didn't quite understand why I wasn't getting the results that I thought that I should.
I believe there is a maturing period and a learning curve that has to be acquired to really take advantage of this set. However once you get on to it you will surely find great rewards and gratification in the results of your new found skill...
Don't be too impatient at first. Experiment with different backings and placements on your line and you will soon begin to see a pattern as to what works well. I prefer vegetation post type backings in agriculture settings (tuffs of outstanding grass in color contrast or size, bean chaff,corn stalks etc ). In wooded areas I lean more towards rocks, trees and branches of sorts for marking spots. In pasture and feedlot areas cow patties work great for natural eye appeal scent markers.
I have used sticks, posts of all types and charred wood. It all works if the set,location and the subtle smell is right for them.
Too many over use lure at these sets.
A big cat couldnt resist a post/rub set on a large laying branch. Got two more cats,2 coyotes, a badger and a skunk here in a 9 days.
Two cats,3 coyotes and a skunk at this post set made against a corner of a round bale.12 days
A close up of the previous cat catch and some of the small branch debris I had used for a marking area in front of the bale.
An outstanding clump of corn stalks above the snow in a field corner made a sure thing scent post. 2 coyotes in 4 days here.
A small pile of dried cow patties with a couple drops of marking scent fooled this old dog at a gateway near a feed lot. My old buddy Seth knows this location well I am sure.:) He helps to cowboy this section I know.
A small pile of bean chaff on a harvested bean field edge along a field road access corner took 3 coyotes 3 days in a row. Turned out to be an exceptional marking/travel way for coyotes. Those kinds of locations can spoil a fella.
A better photo of the previous coyote catch shows the location much better.
Another corner field set up with a scent post of an outstanding corn stalk bent away from the access side.
Caught 3 coyotes, 2 fox, coon and opossum here in a week with 2 traps. I call my favorite post set the two drop set.
Many of these scent post/rub set ups were placed with a dirt hole type or flat set / walk thru type set a few feet away. Many scent posts were placed as a stand alone set at a noted or man made scent post that I planted in that position or used at remakes. They all work once you get on to these placements.
I most always set 2-4 traps per location sometimes many more at known draw stations.