Hi guys, new to predator trapping this year. I need some more balance on my property in Northeast PA. I’ve had fox and coyotes around my sets, I’ve had a couple traps sprung (at least 1 was a deer), some
Sets baited and lured some just urine. A mix of sets, hay sets, pipe dream, scent post, blind sets etc. I have trail cams on some of them and the fox are there but don’t work the sets. Looking for any tips, suggestions, anything that may put some of these critters in the shed. Many thanks.

Ty

Stick to one or two type sets. Get a 2nd opinion as far as constructing them good. Then use these two sets over and over. Master one before you try and master them all. I’d back the trail cams off too. You’d be surprised at how many they will spook away if the cam is too close to the set. I know they are addicting, I use them too. Put as much emphasis on learning location as you do everything else. It’s a dead horse that is kicked over and over but still holds as much truth today as it did the first time it was said. Personally, I like bottlenecks and crossovers in the habitat they are known to hunt in and around. I also subscribe to the theory if the location is worth one set, make two. Certain crossovers I use 3 or more sets. I could go on and on.

Thank you very much. I really enjoy making the sets. I have been picking my friends brain for weeks about what I could be doing wrong. Most of my sets are near field edges where a road separates two patches of golden rod and early successional habitat.

Bed the traps extremely well, pack the dirt around the traps well so the animal's foot doesn't sink in it, DUFF THE SET IN (make it look just like the surrounding area) and use small, subtle, natural things like deer turds, rabbit turds, dirt chunks, etc to guide the coyote's foot to the trap.

Check your sets from as far away as possible.

One thing I learned from cams near sets...use the video feature if you can. Tells you a LOT about your set.
When a coyote walks by you should get SOME reaction, negative or positive. My own dog can't walk by something that smells interesting without some reaction. He either changes his pace and direction as he is going by and goes over and investigates, or if it is negative reaction he changes his gait and avoids the set, or some other reaction like stopping, backing up, circling, etc. And if a negative reaction then you can focus on the why. Positive reaction and you got it all right and then it will connect.
But walking on by with no reaction...I believe they didn't smell the bait or lure at all. No reaction seems to tell me that. Is the set on wrong side of prevailing winds?
My two cents.

Location is always #1.
Bed your traps rock solid.
Keep your set looking natural to its surroundings.
The rest is personal preference.
Oh and one more.....experience is a tough but very good teacher.

Well Christmas came early !!! Thanks everyone for all the tips and advice. Finally landed my first fox.