I see a lot of topics and responses of multiple sets at a location. I understand the concept, but would love to see or hear exactly what you mean. As in how close? Dirtholes or flat sets? Or combination? I know this probably sounds stupid, but just trying to learn.

For me it varies from location to location. Could be 2 or 3 of the same set or 3 different sets and could be as close as 5 yards of as far as 20+

Find a reason for the second set to go where you put it. Some people just put the second set in because your "supposed" to put two traps at each location and dont think about the animal when putting the second set it.

The reason for more then one set Is the chance you may catch a non target critter In your only trap.
If a location Is good for one trap It's good for at least 2. Keep your sets far enough apart so the caught critters can't reach one another. And make some change ups with different sets and different smells.

Excellent advice! I agree completely!

The second set should be as important and just as good as the first. Double on ‘possums.

Maybe the second set could be for the second most common prevailing wind. Catch a ‘possum from a different direction.

That's what I'm referring to.

That second set if you put it in based solely on that reason is going to be a half butted set you may be lucky to catch a possum in.

That is our rule of thumb...if a location is good for one set, it's good for two or three sets. We have a ton of skunks and possums to Wade through and I've caught a lot of coyote/skunk or coyote possum doubles but not many coyote/coyote doubles here. Coon too, lots of coon in our area.
Sometime we miss too. A snapped trap catches nothing and if another critter comes by the snapped trap does nothing but another set may.
Also, the variety of sets seems to matter. We've seen in snow where they went right past one set to be caught in the next set nearby.
Sometimes bait set isn't interesting but a post or lured flat set is.
Also, if one set gets frozen down the next one may fire correctly.
We just like to up our odds using multiple sets if this all makes sense.
Jim

Like I said If the location Is good for one set It's good for more then one set. A location Isn't just a little spot of ground you place a trap In. It covers a pretty large area. So multiple sets are going to cover all parts of the location.
And when You make a set you make It for the target animal your not making It just to put steel In the ground.

I set a location In MS that caught 5 coyotes In one day. You could only see 3 at once but the other two were just around the corner. That was a hot location so I set all approaches to It.

Its all about efficiency on the line.And having working sets on multiple day checks.

You can target several of the same species or several different species at the same location with multiple sets.
I am a huge fan of gang setting snares and bodygrips in blind locations as well as at baited draws.Keeps the location producing fur after catches on extended checks.

Im agreeing with you on that Beav, but that's not what a lot of people do when they talk about two or more sets per location.

Actually that's a very good question.. Ask yourself 2 questions at the location. what are they here for? How big is the population you have? If its a food spot use a food type attractor in a hole. If it's a travel spot and you find scat or scratch kicks then scent posts with gland/urine or curiosity type lures. If it's both then a mix is in order. Whatever hits first add another set of the same type. I always start with at least 3 to cover the prevailing wind plus the thermal wind of the night. One set is always a scent post because, Dogs have to pee to let the world know they've been there. If I was trapping where there's alot of yotes I'd double the number of sets. 2 sets are close and 1 is most of the time 20 to 30 yards away.
In other words I set the location for what it offers, then adapt after that.. It's more of a gut feeling after years of observing coyotes and how they react, or not..

I have never used multiple sets but seeing what happens after a coyote catch last season showed, I will be putting a few multiples in the fall.

Good post. I went to Ed Schneider's canine school and asked the instructors this very question. Given 50 traps, which is better. One trap in 50 locations or 2 traps in 25 locations. Overwhelmingly they said 2 traps per spot. Will be setting multiple sets this fall.

I just love coming up to a location and seeing those doubles. You can't do that with a single trap location.

I typically make 3 sets per location - DH, Flat Set, and Urine Post Set - I use a variety of lures/baits - I pay close attention to prevailing wind direction - I also pay attention to elevation. I use sight attractors such as charred wood or bones - I typically make sets in open areas and out from hedge rows at least 20 yrds.

I like to use at least two types of sets at every location. I first look at the wind and try to cover the travelway with scent from one of the sets no matter the wind direction. I also try to appeal to two different moods. I'll use a set with food appeal only, and another with either urine/gland lure only or a curiosity type lure, depending on the time of year.

Typically the sets are at least 20 feet apart, with the more subtle set downwind of the flashier. Often it's the subtle set that catches, even if the prevailing wind favored the other. I believe it is because they circle downwind of it, and find their way to the subtle set.

In good 'possum country you'll need more than two traps per location.

It is often stated that when remaking after a catch one should set a trap outside the catch circle as a back up; I say that if you set 4-5- or more traps at a good location on the first day any dissipation of your scent will take place equally and any "air out" time will already be over for your back up sets; the remake won't also involve time spent on new construction and the associated affect of your presence at the set location.
Set as many traps at one site as you think target animals may visit during your week or month at that site. If you only plan to trap that site for a week set 3-5 traps, if you plan to trap that site for a month set 6-10 or more: it will make your line maintenance faster and very likely produce more because there will always be ready to work backups made.
If you want to limit the the lure smells in the area, simply don't use any lure at some sets initially and as time goes by add lure or bait to the already set traps, though I'm apt to use a few lures and lure each set as constructed.

Russ Carman mentions in one of his books about setting multiple traps at a location. Its for various reasons. Multiple sets allow you to....

1) Use a different lure or bait at each set so the animal has an option (which ever lure starts out producing, switch all sets to the best lure).
2) Opportunity to catch doubles or triples on target animal
3) Keeps a trap open in case of a non-target clogging one set

One that he mentions that is not often discussed is: 4) Letting the animal build comfort and confidence

He figures that sometimes a fox or coyote will come in, visiting and circling one set (but not working it), satisfy their curiosity and potential weariness at that trap site and head to the next set and walk right into it and get caught. They were unharmed at the first, so enter more boldly at the 2nd set.

Just someone else's thought on reasons for multiple sets.

Excellent post Carolina foxer.

Sets without traps in the gang sets work well for this theory..

There have been times when I will make 4 or 5 sets at a location. 2 will be lured In some way or another. 3 will be dummied up no lure no hole no nothing but a blended In trap.
I would Never make a set with out a trap placed and bedded.

Make a catch In 1 or 2 of the first sets. Then lure and bait or what ever the next 3 or maybe just one of Them. With a drift pin you can create scent holes at those dummied sets and be on your way In seconds. The less disturbance the better. The catch circles are your main attraction.

Lots of times you will find that some coyotes even fox and cats won't enter a catch circle. But they will investigate a catch circle. So now you are ready to go for those shy ones. Or there will be times that you won't be able to reset a set that has taken an animal.
Of coarse you can also re do the sets that have taken a critter. Or pick up those traps and move them to new locations or clean them.
If you decide to re use a dirty trap at a NEW set. Just haul a small amount of that catch circle dirt along with you. Now when you make that NEW set with a dirty trap the whole set will smell like the trap And you won't be creating a HOT spot with a dirty trap at a NEW set. Trust me It works.

Setting like this will save you time In the long run and catch you more critters. That Is If you have a good population of that target animal. And If your on location.

Thanks guys. Found several tracks on one of the roads yesterday and fresh tracks from last night. I went back and found a small bare limbed pine right near the edge and placed a trap in front (just looked like the perfect spot to rub or urinate). About 20-25ft down I placed a dirthole set. Across the road from these is a cleared out area where a logging deck was made for thinning trees this past Spring. Found what just jumped out at me about 15-20 off the road, but in the wide open, as a perfect spot for a pipe set. I know it sounds stupid but I have more confidence in this particular set than any I’ve put in before. Then again, the ones before I thought I wouldn’t catch anything is where I caught something, lol. But, this is my first time putting multiple traps at one location. I was just spacing them down the roads hoping and praying.
Since I started this thread I set up a camera just for fun on a flattened pinecone I squirted a little coyote urine on. Based on the pics, the coyote never went up to it but circled it numerous times. I mean as in left the road and circled in the brush. I realize they do that, but it made me realize that just because I set a trap and don’t catch anything the next day doesn’t mean they aren’t interested.
Thanks for everyone’s help and knowledge. I’m still learning!

Think about it like this youre going down a two track road and see a set of tracks heading east another comeing off a cow trail.heading west and another set of tracks heading south you have three diffrent coyotes heading diffrent directions within a area about 40 yards either an intersection of two track roads with several cattle trails heading to a stock tank a thicket etc why would you only set one? Lets say these coyotes are doing diffrent things ones hungry ones thirsty one wants a good fight ones just running his country one is going somewhere and wint stop till he or she gets there you have 4 coyotes at a natural intersection that you can set up to catch why just set one? Or just two? Take a look at youre location take the time judge your set bye location and sighn id have no problem setting 4 or 5 at an area like this

On the other spectrum a family unit nale fenale and a few pups why not try to catch them all?
Its rare i set a series of sets as just a series of sets if you realy watch coyote sighn and bobcat sighn you can kinda gauge what there intrest may be theres times where ive put 7 scent posts or 2 holes a scent post and a cat scrape basicaly as a scent post to catch a coyote that didnt seem like ge wants to stop nake them go what the heck?
Point is like most have said judge set types amount bye location and sighn
Ill ad this. Im a scent post guy many variations of it but just because i like scent posts doesnt mean its always tge right choice tge sighn and location will tell a diffrent story and the catches will prove it
So dont get stuck on one thing judge bye location and sighn realy backtrack and learn something

Well put Trav!!

Where's that picture Of the 12 coyotes caught by BW.
Must have had at least 12 sets at that location.

TravC, what you described sounds like a dream location, lol. Unfortunately I’m trapping a Quail Plantation in SW Georgia. Some of the “roads” I can see tracks on, most I can’t. There are deer trails everywhere. It’s not uncommon to see 20-30 deer just riding checking traps. It’s 2700ac of plantation pines with a couple thick creek drainages through it and one thick hardwood bottom on the South border that also has a huge swamp area on the extreme SE corner. All throughout the pines are feed trails. They feed the quail year round. These are just tractor trails basically. We burn half the plantation in blocks every year, what’s burned this year won’t get burned next year. So, what wasn’t burned is thick cover and what is burned still comes back fairly thick.
Finding just trails that coyotes or cats use is just about impossible. I just have to wait after rains and check the only roads that I can actually check for tracks and be the first one on the road. It’s a year round working plantation. It has been trapped for the last 15 years with live traps year round and every year for a few weeks or more by a trapper with footholds. The trapper that used to trap before I started my attempt at it got to “big” and “busy” for the smaller plantations so here I am.
I don’t believe there is an established resident large predator population. The manager and workers shoot any and everyone they see while feeding/mowing/or harrowing.
Speaking of harrowing, we do have fields scattered throughout. These aren’t planted just mowed and harrowed under every year only to grow back in thick stands of ragweed. These may be an option as well if I could keep the deer out. Right now there is a food source every 20 yards whether it’s fawms, rabbits, rats, poults, or chicks. And with rain we’ve been getting there is plenty of cover to hide and hunt in.
Guess this isn’t a location to try an hone your trapping skills, lol. I consider it pure luck I’ve caught 2 so far. Saw tracks on the road and set traps and caught something. Haven’t seen tracks or got pics since. But, if they ever do show up, I will have more than one trap at each set.

Good luck

Only 8 in the picture, iirc he set 12 traps and caught 11 was the story, but that might be wrong. I hope I never have a day like that, too much skinin there.

Ya but I bet he wasn't skinning them. BW has a pretty good live market deal going.

Is that a real picture??

So, not as much foothold action around here but I apply the same principle to other trapping methods. I only trap for two weeks in the fall on one of my lines and multiple sets are a must. For example, if I see a slide on a dam, most guys would set the slide and move on. I put a trap top and bottom, a muskrat float below the dam, a castor set or two at the dam, a Fisher box or two in the bush on either side...usually the dam holds back a pond on an island, so if I don't take enough beaver from the pond with that setup, I'll set the house again in winter if needed. If the critters move with that kind of set I have potential to stop the boat once and have a beaver or two, an otter, a fisher, coon, muskrat or any combination of them. And I am spending my time setting not driving which is more efficient. And I don't wander into the pond with waders and mess about trying to find the house. That is better done through the ice usually. Efficient as possible.

Yes It Is.
I'm thinking It Is one of those feed lot carcass dumps.

The concrete in the picture resemble feed bunks?

@WannaBe, the picture was posted here and on other sites several years ago, I think by the guy whose shadow is in the foreground, I used some search terms and found the photo with on the net. iirc, the same trapper (near the big bucket) put up 600+ coyotes in 4 weeks that year. There was picture posted at an outfitters up north of him and a lot of hides.
I believe he said every set was an identical dirt hole with identical bait and urine. The key is that there were lots of coyotes at that location, and he set accordingly, you can't catch animals that are not there.

And I'm betting It wasn't a 24 hour check either.

That is crazy! I don’t think I could see 600 coyotes if I live and trap the next 50 years straight.

Bob said every thing was 24. He was skinning and freezing and doing the scrapping back at the farm after the trapping was over. Sure you can that is only 12 a year.

"Only 8 in the picture, iirc he set 12 traps and caught 11 was the story, but that might be wrong. I hope I never have a day like that, too much skinin there."

My bud Mark Zagger of Coyote U has several pictures like that from out West.
B.B.W. is not the only guy that can do that.
Mac

But He's one of them. If there was a contest I know who my money would be on.

That's what can happen with alot of knowledge and a bunch of coyotes.. The larger the coyote population you have the more traps get set at hot locations, pretty much common sense. When the populations are high there's more competition for the available food and territory. I'm not downplaying their catches, still takes a huge work ethic and skill.. And a skinner LOL..

Numbers of target species available is the key factor, Phil would not catch a thousand red fox in a season in the Ozarks, nor would any one likely catch 600 coyotes here.
Beyond having the numbers, the work ethic to get up early, work hard all day and repeat with no supervision is what most of us lack. I've read some stuff the numbers trappers have posted about losing 30# or so in a few weeks of this work.

That's pretty much the point of posting that picture; anyone, including you, can do that, IF...There is no magic, no University affiliation, no special lure or trap needed. What is needed is hard work or a hard working partner. Work is what makes pictures like that possible.

Back In the 70s you could hardly catch a coyote around here. But When I went to MS I was catching 5 a day and I wasn't much of a coyote trapper. But I put In lots of hours and had lots of coyotes.

I just want my sets far enough apart the catch can't fight. I have seen several times where I caught a coyote and 1 to 3 of them lay down in the snow and sleep with 20 feet of the one that is caught. Many people use the same set over and over. Same lure - same trap. I like that idea but have gone to a flat set mixed in with my dirtholes now. I had 6 out of 8 sets one day. You can do it. Just take you time and bring you ''A'' game to each set and make each one the best it can be and see what happens. Sooner of later you will be posting pictures like the others and people will be asking you how to do it and you will be giving them the same answers we are giving you. You just have to try.

Out here,you will do better spacing them further apart and a visual break,between sets helps.

Seems if I get sets to close when one gets nailed the others are more focused on the one in the trap. So I do both close and spaced. Seems most doubles are in the sets spaced out. With Red fox just the opposite. I get bored making the same sets over and over. I also get more response with variation of set types and attractions.

IMO there's a few important points in Beav's above comment! my hot locations get 4-5 sets - many hot locations remain so yr after yr. I need to use Beav's advise making a few sets w/o attractors until needed! Once I have a catch circle that's usually GAME ON - catches every OR every other night. the moving a dirty trap to a new location but using the old catch circle dirt makes a lot of sense and I may try it. Beav's term "Hot Spot" is most definitely the take home...hot spot typically causes trouble.