Seems like no one ever talks about blind setting footholds for coon, but every now and then it gets mentioned as really effective. What size of trap? Ive heard everything from #11's to #3's double longs with big pans. Long chain? Short Chain? Drag? Guide sticks? Funnels? How are YOU doing it?

My go to is blind sets for coon. 1.65 bridger coils or #11- #2 longs. I do anything from blocking a creek off with a sapling (doubles as drag) to just setting in middle of trail with 2 stepping sticks and anything on each side.

I also run alot ot snares and bodygrips.

https://youtu.be/fA1AbxZ9puI

1.5 coils number 11 and 2 dsl and conis of course! Tight ajenst bank the dog guard (stick from a half in to 10" under water, center of trail or culvert with stepping sticks and such, get out and look for coon sign they tell me were to set!

X2 though I use mostly 1 1/2s coon trails are easy enough to find so dropping 2 to several traps along it is not that hard and in my opinion is more productive then a similar number of dog proofs, even though I like the DPs I have seen a lot of coon just blow by them but they all seem to walk the trails at some time or other

Fossil on here taught me how to blind set for coon. Has to be one of the best things I've learned in 42 years of trapping. When you trap with a guy who knows how to blind set when you are using bait and he is far far outcatching you, the lightbulb comes on pretty bright. A guy who knows how to blind set for coon really doesn't need bait. It's that effective.

I now like to stick a blind set for coon in between guys Dps or conibears on trails just for kicks. It's amazing how many coon are walking around the conibears and DPs once you learn how to blind set ( I never knew, either). . I'm sure more than a couple guys have scratched their heads seeing a coon in a foothold between their DPs on a trail 10 feet part.

I use my everyday Duke 1.5 with pinch pans (About 10" longer than stock chain)....but I did buy and try some Victor #2s and put Mikes big pinch pans on them. Those might be a bit better, even.

With prices the way they have been the last two years I have only blind set for coons. Generally on coon trails that appear close to my predator sets. I have found them to be easy to maintain and effective. I simply place a 1.5 blind with two rather small sticks in an x in front of the trap to get them centered on the pan. I’m talking 2-3 inches above ground small. Beat a depression with a hammer, grab a handful of grass, and just break up the outline of the trap with scissors. No bedding, weatherproof and I’ve taken all fur bearers here except a cat with it. We don’t have great numbers of them I would feel confident in this set for them too.

Calvin, are you "bedding" and using sticks like WadeRyan? Or some other way?

#2 longs here. Blind sets are an essential mix in our coon line.
Jim

Im still learning on the blind sets. Got a few with the wayde ryan set. Was using 1.5 dukes
J

Dustin Drews has a blind set video on YouTube showing the method Wade uses. Look it up, it shows everything in detail.

I actually started using that set after talking with a fellow Nebraskan Dustin Drews on here. He bedded in peat moss. I skipped that step and used grass clippings. Worked better for me with our constant freeze thaw. Here’s a video of how he did it. Even with not bedding or covering with peat I still pick up coyotes and fox in them.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H7kK8zppOdw

Jynx.

blind set coon traps don't have to be bedded at all or covered at all, coons are fearless.

I have used this method and it has worked for me. I also learned it from this video.

I also use grass clippings with my sets.

Anyone ever tried using a shingle and leave the pan exposed for coon like they do for cats ?

Aix in your area where it rarely freezes I’m sure that’s fine. Here where it’s 40 during the day and 0 at night it’s tough to keep traps running . Those step sticks square them up pretty well. It’s not worth it to me for a coon messing with freeze proofing sets. There’s too many and they’re not worth enough right now. I’ll take the stupid ones, and yes there’s more than a few coyotes and fox that will simply walk down the trail and get caught.

Wolf dog kind of the same thing. I’m not wasting resources on coons. Keep it simple. Yes I’ve caught coons, coyotes and fox all blind exposed without the shingle. The sticks put them right on your pan.

I use blind set on coon.Snares and conibears.and footholds. If I find a set for them I will set for them.If there i cover I use conis and if open I use snares and if along the water edge I use footholds. It works for me and I also blind set for otter and beaver.Also coyote and mink and rats.To me blind set is a lost skill for all depends on baits mainly.

If you can trap on beaver dams here's a good blind set. Pat the top of the dam down enough to cover a 1 1/2 coilspring with water. No flowing break though or the trap will be covered in mud. Thumb sized step stick on each side of the trap. If a long dam make sure to set more than one.

I didn't know that there was another way to catch a coon before 2010. 80 or 85% of my coon have come from blind set footholds and I have about 9 or 10 dozen DP's and a ton of bodygrips.

On dry land I do similar to what WadeRyan described. I do bed the trap solid but don't cover it with anything but grass or duff or something. The cover is to break up the outline for humans and the occasional fox, coyote, etc.

In the water I like the pan to be on the surface down to few inches deep. The more solid the trap sits the better. A stepping stick or a vertical stick or two for blocking depending on the situation.

Sometimes there is a natural blocking, no extra guide necessary except maybe something guarding the dog.

Most of my coon footholds are 1.5's Dukes and #2 Victor DBL and coils. The #2's always get used only in the water for coons. I shorten the chains to about 8 or 10 inches and add a mid chain swivel. I night latch and set my traps on a short throw as well. I want the trap to fire when the pan moves very slightly if at all. I run the pans on the coils where they will just barely not free fall when not set and I mean barely.

Most of my coon footholds will be on a slide cable to get them in fairly deep water. I don't slide them on dry land very often but will if it is worth it to preserve the set location or hide them from prying eyes.