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.