This is only my second year trapping. I started on opening day in October and have yet to catch anything. Eventually I began putting cameras up to see what was happening at my sets. I found coon at one, so I put out some DP's and of course I can't even catch a coon.

In the past week and a half, with the snow, I began looking for sign. I put a hay set in where the travel way goes as well as a urine post. NOTHING! So just yesterday I put a camera on the hay set as I had seen tracks walk right up to the little piece of goldenrod that I had placed the Hellfire on, but didn't pay any attention to my set at the base of the goldenrod. I checked my camera today and had a beautiful red fox walk right by my set. I have it set to pictures and not videos so I don't know what, if anything, or how long he actually stayed but there was nothing in my traps.

Hay Set Description:
I have a hay set next to a pasture road, outside of the fence, next to the creek. I have the hay set backed up to a few standing pieces of goldenrod. I placed a smoked turkey carcass under the hay, as well as have used some Powder River and some Caven's in front of every trap under the hay. Again, on the goldenrod I placed some Hellfire.

I know that they're there, I've seen the tracks approach my set, I've now got evidence of their presence with my camera, what in the world am I doing wrong? Why can't I put something in my traps?

I swear that if bacteria, viruses, and parasites weren't actively seeking a host that I wouldn't even be able to catch a cold.

Nobody catches ever one that walks by. I would stay back and leave it alone. Maybe add a sutle second set with just a dab of gland or urine.

Just something to consider, not saying this is your problem, but something I struggled with when I started. I've noticed less is more when targeting canines. These animals can smell anything. Try using less lure/bait. I've noticed when theres too much lure/bait they shy away from sets and stay further back to smell what's going on instead of stepping into your set to smell where it's coming from. When I lure my sets I use about the size of a BB at each set. Just something to think about, good luck

I cant get a coyote to work a set with a camera set up

Them coyotes are buggers. I have the same problem so far this season. They get close enough to check it out and walk away. My thinking is they might be just a little curious but just not hungry. Keep at it. Here we need more cold and snow then the coyotes will start to drop. ( I hope)

Size of BB or bucket full means nothing as it all depends on the strength of the odor or if they want to eat it. A guy can;t overdo natural smelling baits imo.

I have had the same experiences over the years. Like others have said to much lure/bait the sniff and move on. I use a hole full of fresh chunk beaver, muskrat and deer, but only a pea size glob of bait like RK predator plus or Widowmaker . Right now coyotes are filling up on gut piles and wounded deer, plus warmer temps mean they burn less calories. Most of my K9 catches come in mid to late Dec. on sets that have been out and untouched for 3 to 4 weeks. Also K9's seem weary of things "new" and I have had walk bys for almost two weeks before they finally commit and make a catch. Stick with it.

Try a few blind trail sets. I know that's not the most used set. Put it is the first set I teach new trappers who want to chase k-9s. Set 2 or 3 trap in trail. Flag them,so you can see them from a distance. I like to put a little k-9 call on my flagging and pure quill when it gets really cold.
And look for some ground hog holes. Find one you can see from a good distance. Set upwind.
Also on the trail sets,drags or cable.
If you need some extension cables, shoot me a pm
Keep afterem

I get plenty of next day catches so I don't buy your theory. Pea size glob and walk by's should tell you something.

I've been testing lures for 3 months now and prebaiting with deer scraps for about 3 weeks and I have learned a ton of information on coyotes working sets. I can tell u there are some very cautious coyotes in my area and some bolder coyotes in my area. I have caught coyotes first night and I have had coyotes walk by sets for 2 weeks before I caught. I think some beginners have a hard time staying away from their sets and checking from a distance. Too much activity around a set will alert coyotes something is up.

Thank you everyone, everything stated has been viable reasons. I've been touching things up once a week a new trace of lure and bait. Perhaps I should just leave it completely alone.

No need to relure ever unless after a lot of rain. It's not uncommon for me to have coyotes work sets a month after applying lure even after catches or even after test hole has already been dug out 2 or the times.

The good news is that on the hay set I've only relured it one time, which was yesterday. But like you said, I did it after some steady/heavy rain that we had for about a day or more. My urine post I've been doing once a week but now I will stop.

Not my theory just my experiences. Haven't been trapping that long and had a learning curve to overcome , but after using a heaping spoon full of bait and getting nothing, I tried chunk meat and small glob of bait and began to catch fur. It worked for me , may be different for you . I'm guessing our eastern yotes in the farmland and woods of Indiana might not always behave the same as open prairie type western yotes.

just my thoughts but to me it sounds like you might have a bit much going on. the location itself sounds pretty good...maybe go with a somewhat more subtle approach nearby. a double stake hole set maybe. your powder river down one, your cavens down the other, and something fairly low for backing. cow patty. flat rock etc. under 4 inches tall. then if it doesnt catch or get dug up stay off of it for 10 days before monkeying. i know alot of very very good fox trappers that putter around daily adding this and touching up that, but in my experience itll kill your odds of catching coyotes.

This debate has been around a longtime , there is a time of year that a coyote gets indifferent for a bit, they still can be caught.
Too much lure or bait thing is imo I disagree if interested they will work the set.
Hunting season is without a doubt trouble some at time nervous well feed coyotes can be frustrating to young trappers.
If not hungry, maybe curious? Or not happy somebody new is there?
If not that above,trail sets are always in fashion lol .
Patients , check from a distance, let the coyote take you too school .
He will show you how to catch him.
Hope it helps

Wow that's impressive lol I mean theres so many more factors than lure when it comes to a walk by. I get alot of next day catches on very minimal lure. Location and population are bigger factors but I'll agree to disagree...at least in my area. And why use a "bucket full" if they can smell a pea size, what's the benefit? Obviously some lures are louder than others but you take the mildest lure on the market and put a pea or bb size amount at a set and your on location, have the population, and a good set you're catching canines. Catch too much junk with too much smell.

I noticed that I get a lot more misses when I have my trap too close to the attractant. Started putting the trap 12-18 inches back from the hole and had a lot better results (this is for coyotes, I don't trap fox).

They also seem to work a set quicker when there are no hard edges. By that, I mean no abrupt changes to the ground. Scatter your dirt or hay or whatever until it's a gradual change to the rest of the area. They seem to hang up at the edges.

Walk through sets really up my catch a lot, too. That way, they only have to peak down the hole or get a sniff and walk on by, but still get caught. The least you can ask a canine to do to get caught, the more you will have at the end of the day. At least that's been my case.

I hope this makes sense and helps you out. Feel free to ask me to clarify on something if it doesn't. Happy trappin'.

When I listened to old theories and had poor success with traps back,I quickly noticed they were walking between the hole and my trap. Those back from the hole days are long gone for me. When there is something down the hole they want to eat,they will dig and work the set right up close and personal.

Same here, I always set close to hole, eye ball 8"-9" from hole to center of pan.