So I finally decided today to start putting some traps in the dirt and as most years I found myself going to locations that I have caught coyotes in years past (this spot has sat idle for two years) and knew I wanted to re-set these locations as they have always been my "trusty" areas. However, as every year, when I get to these locations I find myself assessing what the farmer put in for crop and then looking around aimlessly trying to decide where to actually put the set in. This first two pictures are an overview of the area that I am talking about, one picture looks one direction while the other looks the other (so each direction). An "X" marks where I put in a set.





The X closest to the thicker brush has a bit of a trail that had a lot of scat. Next to the trail were a couple of thicker weeds that just seemed to call out to me as being a potential natural scent post as I could envision any and every dog lifting their leg on it. So I put in the below set.



Then the far X in the overview photos had a small portion of tall stubble, a random log and a dirt mound that had a bit of a trail going up on to it. So I really wanted to put a set in here, and had already set the urine post 40 feet away so I decided to put in a dirt hole in the edge of the stubble. The set is pictured below.



I wasn't really happy with the way that set looked. Particularly I couldn't get the dirthole to keep from collapsing and then I didn't really think it went well with the spot, but didn't know what else to put in.

In the last picture below I found another spot that has a good trail that I know has an occasional coyote travelling down it (along with deer), however I again have no real good idea where to put in a set. This type of location is very common throughout much of the land that I have permission to trap on and I always struggle with trying to create something natural and end up wasting A LOT of time walking circles trying to decide where/what to set. In the below picture it might be hard to see, but there is a trail in the middle in the grass that goes in to the plowed stubble field.



Any help and comments/critique would be welcome. I'm by no means an expert at this and always looking to improve.

Thank you in advance!

I would say don’t overthink it. If your setting on sign and your traps are bedded solid your good. The sets don’t have to be perfect. Nothing in nature is perfect. If you’ve caught yotes there before there’s no reason you won’t catch them there again. Good luck.

Tracks never lie,,, I try not to force a set,,, instead of forcing a dirthole try a flat set that fits. This what I meant when I said I try not to force a set.
Also I learned to read any new permissions by letting the coyotes teach me over the years.

Flat set were there's a trail (gland, urine, and droppings) dirt hole were there isn't a trail, step down dirt hole were there's deer or remake when the backing is destroyed, then roll to next location and do it again. Seems a lot of the guys that put up big #s just run dirt holes only.

Drive thru the location with your truck, the tire tracks become a trail for yotes to follow. Place sets between the tire tracks, or within 3 feet or less.

yes, exactly what ^^ he said.

And of course the dirt hole above caught a skunk.

Well, you made a great coyote set if you got a skunk at next check!

Got to love it; bait, lure and saleable fur!

Id be curious if you used a lure or bait with skunk in it? The majority of my skunks caught at coyote sets have a skunky lure at them.

It was Hiawatha Valley. First time I had went out for the year and hadn't checked my bait bucket good enough, so it was all I had with unfortunately, forgot the Widdowmaker at home. Not sure what's all in Hiawatha Valley but it's some strong stuff. Usually only late season I like to use it.