Koss, I trap with MB 550’s in a big sandbox. Being from New Mexico, I would bet your soil conditions are a lot like mine.

Poly under the pan is the way to go in the sandy soil I have. It’s fast and effective.

For me, various pan covers present too many problems.


I use the chisel end of a masonry hammer to dig out my trap bed.

It allows me to cut a smaller bed that fits the trap better.




I want to leave the ground right around the trap as solid as possible all the way to the jaw.

The less soil disturbance the better.





After the bed is cut out, I dig a shallow channel the width of the narrow masonry chisel through the center of the bed from the twelve to six o’clock hour.

I then drive my earth anchor in the center of this cut.

This channel gives a place for the extra chain to rest, and provides a groove for the bridge of the trap to sit down in; which provides added stability.

After you’ve driven your anchor, take a good bit of the loose soil you dug out, and place it back in the bottom of the bed for the trap to sit in.

Place the trap down in the bed with the loose soil, and line up the bridge up with the channel.

Pinch the end of each lever, and wiggle the trap back and forth while at the same time applying downward pressure to “seat" it down in the sand.

Sift a bit of sand over the set, then wiggle the trap back and forth a few more times to further seat it in place.

You can also turn the trap a little bit one way or the other so it locks in against the notches you’ve cut out for your levers.


When making dirt hole sets, I’ve found that a hole made with a punch holds up much better than a drilled or dug hole.

Dry surface dirt is used for the blend so the set matches the soil surrounding it.

Nice looking sets,Tejas.

Tejas, got nothin to add to that, Same way I do it too. Man you catch on quick LOL.. Nice set

I've been looking at it too but maybe I'm jut slow to change?

In hard ground like clay or sod I use the hammer method, in sand I use my hands to pack all around the trap. Parts of my line are sand and parts are clay with every kind in between. Even rock/gravel. You have to adapt to the soil type at hand. The goal is to bed the trap SOLID...

The sand that I set in along the river bed is like sugar. That is why I bed my traps like I stated in my past post.

I seldom get to set in dirt around here mostly sand. Do not dig your trap bed pack in a hole with your hammer put trap in a zip lock bag then bed and cover. If you use Polly fill or a pan cover and it rains your trap won't fire because it washes sand in Polly fill may still work if you just get a light rain. I keep my bread bags they work best but never have enough. Also use drags a coyote can pull 4 foot double stakes if it really soft sand

Thank you for the heads up about use of 4 foot double stakes.Where I set some is at the sand bar of a river bed.I know the top part is like sugar,then the bottom is not from what I seen.If you use drags how long of a chain to use on it?

For anchoring your traps just dig a hole about 18" deep. Use something the size of a 1 gallon paint can lid for the anchor. Try and find metal paint can lids. drill a hole through the lid on center. Then place an eye bolt through the hole. Use those large fender washers on both sides. And use a nut on both sides.
Bury that set up stomp down the sand and I'm hear to tell the coyote will be there when you get there.
You could also use a square piece of plywood and get the same results.

Don't screw around using those little earth anchors.

For me I so not use earth anchors.It is 1/2" rebar I use. Or 1/2" round stock that was use for hog gates.I had got them form the welding shop I had work at years ago when I had rebuilt a hog gate. But mainly rebar. How thick would the plywood need to be?

I know paint can lids work and they are supper thin so any thickness when It came to plywood would work.

The empty paint bucket would also work or a 3' long 2x4 or flat iron stock; the idea is the coyote can't pull it out if it is lifting enough sand. My "sand" is marble sized mostly and poses slightly different problems. I find clogs work well and double as backer/guides.

I do not have paint cans or lids to deal with. That why I ask about the plywood.

I will see about the 3' 2x4 I should have some around .

Way to much digging. Find some 2 x 6s or 2 x 8s and cut them about 10" long. Or use 1x6s.

ok that would work better for me then.I know, I have them around.I understand about save on digging.Thank you all for the help. last season I almost lost a coyote when it pull up my 2 stake that was about 20" long and lucky I had it by both front feet so I was able to get it before it took off to far from me.I had miss a shot on it when it had part of the stakes pull because it jump around alot and then before I was able to get another shot at it it finish get the 2 stakes pull it was cross stakes that was set up as like I normal do with my coyote sets on dry land.It was a adventure to get it also.

Most of the sand in my area is damp so it's real easy to bed.

Got all the 2x6 for the eye bolt and cable to add to them now.Just need to get the eye bolts and fender washers now.I do not need many so it work out.Will make up 11 of them, it is just for the sand bars along the river.

All my traps have 8 to 10 feet of chain and at least 4 swivels