I made my first flat set (pretty sure that's what this would be called) today for coyote, after I got done duck hunting. Made some dirt hole sets too but forgot to take pictures. I circled where the trap is bedded. I dribbled coyote urine on the stump and I pictured in my head my coyote-sized German shorthair going sniff a stump another dog had peed on. Placed the trap where I thought either a front or hind foot would be, depending on which direction the animal came from. In hindsight I think I should not have put the pine needles back on top of where the trap is. It seems like if the trap closed on the coyote's foot and bent the needles and the needles were between the trap jaws and the yote's foot, that it might cause a pull-out? Thoughts? Also I realized I also may have dribbled the urine too high on the stump. I know dogs know that the higher up the urine goes, the taller the animal. In any case, I would appreciate any feedback on what you might do differently. We will see tomorrow. This set is about 5 minutes from my house, so one I can check from a distance daily. Also places some snares on game trails with yote sign on them.

It may work, but you decreased your chances by using a backing a coyote cannot see over. Coyote are skittish and like to see what's near them.

By backing do you mean the stump?

Yes. I see the small bush by the trap. The stump still blocks the coyote's view.

So I am just curious... this is a pretty "open" area as far as North Idaho is concerned, in terms of cover and terrain. Not many trees around. Our woods are thick up here in most spots. In those thick woods I see coyotes and coyote sign a lot. Wouldn't the thick woods they are in block their view?

Let us know how that works.
Jim

Set looks good. Also, with your thick cover, try finding some sign leading to and from and use the thickets to your advantage. Make some blind sets (no bait or lure, just a bedded and blended trap in choke points that are used by coyotes) in those. I’m in a very dense area as well and it helps me here.

Yes. IMHO there is a difference between what a coyote will do in his natural habitant and what he will do when investigation something a bit out of the ordinary in a place where he lacks protective cover. "Out of the ordinary" includes urine from an intruding coyote. I routinely snare coyote in thick brush, being careful not to use lure, urine, or guiding to break their stride. The stump you picture is an excellent attractor. It then becomes a question of setting at the stump or just placing a set close enough to be found when coyote comes into the area. There probably are no right or wrong answers.

Something as small as a tuft of grass can work for backing. Backing, is just something to get the critter to move around to the trap side of the set. I too don’t like very big backing when dealing with coyotes. Good Luck and don’t get discouraged.

Thank you everyone, good info. Much appreciated. A steep learning curve with trapping, as I am finding out.