When making a set where there is an approach, such as a dirt hole...vs a walk thru,do you guys set to the left or right, if given a chance?

Or, if you can guide, do you like to guide for a right or left paw catch? Has anyone ever noticed if your K9's are right handed or left?

I guess I like to believe they are right handed, for digging, and I set the trap to the left...and maybe even block a little bit that way.

Of course, with walk thru's, all bets are off.

Alot depends on how the site lays, and the excisting structure therin. Rule of thumb with flats and scent posts I offset to the prevailing down wind side. With grabs I want it offset a body width one side or the other. both types guided with small stuff. With dirt holes, I usually dig 3 holes with the trap centered at the middle hole. I have no preffered foot of capture, they all skin the same. Way to many variables to even try right or left paw..

Yukonal, the step down type of sets really reduce guiding and offsetting the trap. Other sets like 'gbus discussed do require some consideration of winds and where the trapper anticipates the approach of the critter. I usually set two traps IF I can't control the situation OR my time is limited.

Any set intended to make a coyote dig gets an offset to the left. I truly believe they dig with the right foot about 99% of the time !

If you make a dirt hole with a BT-45 auger with 4 inch bit, it doesnt matter, where or what side you off set the trap. Hole 6 inch wide at top and 18 inchs deep really catches coyotes well for me. I say I off set right most of the time

I just look at the set and figure out where the coyote is most likely to step. I tend to think that inside the 45* cone in front of a dirthole is the the worst area to put a trap.

Close to the hole,center and no guiding.Drill hole,dig bed,cover,smooth out,bait,pee and on to the next.

No off set for me. Center Which ever foot the coyote is going to stand on while it digs is going to be placed directly under its chest/nose to balance it's front half while it digs with the other foot is what I believe jmo

im a dead center guy myself. if they like what they smell you will get them. As long as your trap don't wobble. Although I do try and make the center of the pan the most comfortable place to step.

Love it when we agree. Watching multiple coyotes in pictures and videos led me to see they’d first step right before where their nose went. If they smell down the dirthole they had one foot right outside it. 1000’s of pictures of the same thing. I am dead center, right at the lip of the hole. Those 9-12 back are gambling on the approach of the coyote imo. They will put a paw dead center and close as their nose goes down the hole. I’ll probably catch a lot of flack, but I know it increases my catch rate and made my missed dirthole visits relatively nonexistent.

Great set of questions Yukonal.


I prefer to set straight on and crowd the attractant regardless of the type of set.

I don’t try to second guess what a coyote might do by offsetting to one side or the other.

My aim is to keep a very open pattern that doesn’t restrict the coyote’s movements.

This allows him to work the set area more freely, and dramatically increases foot traffic at the set.

When it comes to guiding, I don’t attempt to force or “show” a canine where to step.

I present the coyote with an opportunity and room to work the set; he does the rest.

This guy gets it.

Pretty much how I roll most of the time.............

I get more refusals with walk thru set ups and dirt holes, seems a more open flat type sets kill coyotes.. No blocking, guided with small stuff if at all..

Said this before, it stuck with me.
When this topic came up within a group,
an Elder chimed in and said,
"Jamb the trap in there the best way it fits and go do it more".

We've had these topics up a lot, I've tried others' styles, (well tried to) and find myself going back to the way I learned. Which is debatable lol.

Why do you think you are getting refusals at walk thru's?

Dirt holes, I can understand. Pressure/competition makes them a little spooky around here. Step down pretty much takes care of that...when it shows up. Or...the "secret set" 15-20 feet away. Killer.

Here are some foot catch stats from last season.

Right Front – 31

Left Front – 37

Right Rear – 2

Left Rear – 2

Both Front Feet – 2

Thank you for posting that. Looks like about half and half.

If you watch any of Clints "Teachers of the Night" videos you can see that a lot of yotes don't just walk straight in and get caught. They are walking all over the set area from all different directions.

From what I see from tracks in snow and sand, they approach and stop short at the outside blocking instead of walking thru. At first I thought the outside blocking was to tight but after I opened things up they still stopped short. I do catch yotes in walk thru sets but not like open flats. So many veriables we don't understand, coyotes won't help LOL