Hello,
I am new to this forum and new to canine trapping.
I grew up trapping muskrats but we didn’t have coyotes then.
The last couple years I have had a real issue with coyotes. So, I decided to start trapping them.
Today, I was out scouting and found a fresh active den. There is a ton of fresh scat all around the den.
My question is how do I go about trapping this. I am thinking I should stay away from the den and trap the trails leading to the den. I am guessing dirt hole sets and flat sets.
I am open to all advice. Thank you in advance.

What does the den look like?A big ground hog hole or a small cave?I would think the only time a coyote would use a den is when raising pups but I may be wrong.It may be a female getting a den site ready.I would set traps like you said.It would be neat to set up a black ops trail camera on the den.

I am trying to upload pictures but I can’t from my phone
There is a big pile of scat all around the entrance.
It on side of steep embankment with two trails leading to it.
Thanks for your reply
I will try and post pictures

Make at least 2 sets around that den. The only time a coyote den Is active Is when ma coyote is raising pups. And It's to early for that.

Ok thanks for that information.
I didn’t know that about dens.

forget about it and set on sign in the area

and.....Here’s what helped me shorten my learning curve by decades. Join your state trapping assn, Google it. ANd contact officers AND District Reps off their site and ask for a mentor to ride along and meet with. MANY states have their own forums. Like here in NC. And TN has 2 and Va has 2 also and KY too. A mentor helps Learn trap prep and techniques and tricks and the laws in YOUR state regarding jaw spreads, shock springs, etc, etc. Laws vary a lot from state to state so BEWARE of FB and utube. You can be shown things that are illegal in your state!.
This gets you in the info loop of FREE trappers ed classes and meets and fur sales/pick ups, and conventions. Conventions have a couple days of demo’s from old pro’s sharing their tricks! Then attend ALL YOU CAN, this shows folks you are serious and will be a good student. It sure helped open many doors for me and it could for you as well. ALSO, get several different trapping supply catalogs, like MTP, Sterling Fur, FandT, PCS, Flemings, Northern Outdoors, Trap Shack, Schmitt enterprises, Southeastern outdoor supplies, JR & Sons, Grawes, rpoutdoors, etc etc, THEN circle gear you need, and give the catalogs to loved ones to buy your Birthday and Christmas and July 4 and Easter and Anniversary gifts. Explain to them, you want their money to go towards what you will use and need, as opposed to another sweater hanging in your closet. WORKS GREAT in our family.
here ya go,,,,, http://wvtrappers.com/contact.html

Set travel ways,edges,and pinch points.

Thanks for the link. I will join.
Thanks all for the advice.
I tried to add the photos

Have ya put some of their poop in ziplock bags to use on other properties?

Are you sure it's coyote? It's hard to tell scale from the pics, but I usually expect to see more hair in coyote droppings this time of year. Sort of looks more like possum to me.

Don’t look like a coyote den to me

Looks like coon to me

Looks like coon to me

Ok, See i am a beginner. I am learning from you all

What ever that scat Is. I would call that a prime location and If are "SETTING ON SIGN " then I would be setting there, there Is NO better location then trapping right on a DEN SITE.
NO matter what critter made that den a coyote will visit that den site. Wood chucks dens are one of my hottest coyote set locations.
It's my opinion that that really isn't a den It looks more like a coon toilet. Most critters don't crap In there own living room. Now a coyote may leave It's calling card at a wood chuck den but the chuck won't normally crap there.

Coons will crap everywhere.

Not really. I have found coon create toilets and crap In the same places. The OPs picture proves that.
Any time you find more then one dropping In a spot . It's telling you trap this spot.

I have found coon dropping in and around all their den sites.The only thing dirtier are porkys.

Sounds like 'coon to me