As per a John Graham’s Coyote dvd and demo at Coyote Days, Mr. Graham likes to place the trap closer to the lip of the bait hole as most trappers. He places a cow patty or some small blocking straight out from the hole that looks like about 12 inches and the trap between the blocking and the bait hole only a few inches from the lip of the hole. This set now doubles as a walk through set. He reasons that an animal will stand practically on top of the hole to get to the bait and not 9”-10” back from it. Do any of you place the trap pan for coyote sets closer than usual to the bait hole? I remember the late Darin Freeborough placing the trap pan a lot closer maybe 5”- 6” to the lure in flat sets.

P.

Hi Grandpa. If you do, be sure to leave a lip so if he digs before caught he does not hook the trap with a claw. Cold Hand learned this on my line.

As I said before, when you see them walk between the hole and the trap you quickly realize that 9 inch back offset stuff isn't gospel.

I hug the hole as close as I can straight back. I started doing it after watching coyotes work lure in the offseason on scent posts and dirt holes on my trail cameras. Their front feet follow right behind their nose in a majority of the pictures I have (which was thousands). If they want what's down the hole at some point there foot is going to be right outside that hole. Never did buy into the offset thing.

The most stout after thing in trapping ,,, the the 2 or 3 inch diameter spot for a trap ,,, where a critter places there feet...

No one has mentioned the angle of the dug hole. I think distance has a lot to due with that if visual has something to do with the dogs approach.

After many years of observing catches and misses in snow ya can't get it too close and there is no one spot. When coyotes started showing up here I did what all the books said, moved the trap back. Had lots of misses until I put the trap where they wanted to step.

I can see that happening.

If i use a dirhole the jaw is close and hole is close to vertical.

I do believe population density has alot to do with trap placement at a hole. Where the competition is high for prey base,,,, they want in that hole so up against will work.
A low population ,,, high prey base, things will change.

JC Connor set's his right up to the edge of the hole. His DVD's explain it very well. I change after watching his DVD and do the same.

yes I set close

Set as close as I can, had a guy tell me once "O, So you're fox trapping??" told him "Sure am...and I'm tearing up the coyotes" lol

The advantage of setting tight to the hole is the more confined target area. The hole functions more efficiently as a guide the closer you get than if you're 12" away from it. You just need to get 'em close and keep them there long enough. As trappergbus points out, snow can be your best teacher in how coyotes work a set.... but only when you miss 'em.

I started setting right behind the hole after watching his DVD as well. I catch just as many and probably more critters that way and have way fewer traps tripped by deer. Sometimes I'll set a little further back, depending on the set.

Sounds like a nice side benefit of reducing the chance of deer stepping on the pan.

I noticed that Odon Corr set close as well

Maybe it has to do with what baits you use. I've tested some that up close might not work for you. Lol

I guess I'll go with the unpopular opinion and say I set quite a ways back. When I have trap pattern misses, they are usually at least a foot from the hole. Moved the trap way back, and my catch took off. Mind you, I started doing the step down sets, and when I moved the trap out of the stepdown, is when they really started connecting. So getting the trap on level ground may have had more to do with it than trap distance. Who knows? The important thing is, I found what seems to work well for me with how I make my sets.

I set close to the hole and as far back as 18" from the hole . it depends on how big the hole is. If it is about 3 to 4" hole I set near the hole if it is just about 1 1/2" hole I will set up to 18" back.I make sure of the backing or put one in place. I see that when set 18" back I get more males then females . And alot of the males are the big ones. It works for me. also I put like some fur from my coydog that he shed over the bait. beside lure and urine .It keeps them there to work the set longer and the smell from my coydog keep them work more.