That is why I use almost exclusively stepdown dirtholes for coyotes. The construction of the set makes for natural guiding. If they commit, its right on the pan. They won't work in all areas because of rain as they will fill up with water. In my area rain isn't an issue, but blowing snow can be if made in a bad spot. They work really good for me.

That's what I'm talking about. No huge clumps and bumps for guiding like you might do to keep a grey from picking your pocket but set construction that's "open" but gives just one good landing spot for a foot.

Actually rocky areas may play to your advantage as coyotes in the area would be acclimated to not stepping on sharp rocks. Give them a clear spot.

The good thing about a forum with enough people u will eventually get the answer u want.

I've tried step down dirt hole sets with no luck on coyotes. I catch fox in them but no yotes. In fairness though guys I really don't think I have a good population of coyotes in my area. Sign is hard to find most places in my area. There are some coyotes around as I have them on trail cameras. It is usually one animal. Not in groups.

I wish I had more. It would increase my learning curve.

For me, when I’m making a coyote set I don’t use much guiding at all. I try to make it look exactly like it did before I put a trap there. I take into consideration which direction a coyote is most likely to approach from, the angle of my dirt hole, backing, and natural obstacles near the set, then try to place my trap where I think a coyote will step as it walks up and positions itself to look at and sniff the set. I put the trap where I think it will step on its own, instead of using obstacles to try and force it to step where I want. Am I always right? Lol no. But I get it right enough that I don’t plan on changing my approach

I use small pebbles and twigs for guiding, and not much. Trap placement and being downwind is way more important. If I se in a place and can’t play the predominant wind, I use a pass through set with a big turd or rock and a stick or bone backing. I can’t remember which trapping book i saw that set but it works great, especially in fields.

Never did well with much guiding for coyotes. Usually blind sets in winter or a few of these. Make sets and pay attention, after a while you will figure out where they will step. Sometimes.

Simple.

I feel the whole set construction play's a role. From the size of dirt hole, proper distance to the pan, and guiding is what makes consistent catches no matter what size a trap you use. I can consistently catch coyotes with whatever trap size I choose. 1 3/4 size traps, MB550's., dogless #2 or 3's makes no difference.

I agree. I do believe the type of set also makes a difference. Such as a blind trail set. I think a larger trap would be an advantage in this type of set. Where a dirt hole set can be made in such a way as to put the animals foot where you want it, most of the time, so a smaller trap can be used.

I've watched over a hundred videos in the last couple months of coyotes working test sets I've put out. And after watching them do their thing I'm surprised we catch as many as we do. Lol. The wind is a big factor and it's hard to predict and if you've got hills trees and other terrain features it's even harder to predict unless you test it at every set down at the animals level. I strongly believe a small trap will cost you some coyotes and the more you try and guide them the more coyotes guiding will cost you. My advice is if really feel u have to use a small trap I would spent a lot of time in the off season testing attractants that they will work hard to get and use a lot of it at a set to produce as much foot movement as possible. Don't know how many coyotes you catch in a normal year or what a normal catch rate for u is but if your keep good records and catch enough coyotes I bet you would see a difference between using a #3 coyote size trap and a 450. If your only catching a handful a year it would be hard to see a difference and then u can just believe whatever you want. Another thing I would consider is if conditions are favorable the deeper I bed my trap the better my success rate on coyotes. You put 3/4 of an inch of covering on a 450 u don't leave much catch area for the foot. You get much less than 1/2 of covering that coyote will start feeling that solid jaw or lever under his foot if he steps on it before the pan.
Another thing to maybe consider if public perception is so important to you is the possibility of maybe running rubber jawed traps.

I believe as many have said here that larger traps will put the odds in the trapper's favor. My premise for this thread was to explore what other trappers have experienced with using guiding around the trap whether using large or small traps. It isn't a matter of great importance to me the public's perception of trap sizes and trapping in general, but the unknowing public out there has a perception of trapping that is not accurate as we all know To stick out heads in the sand and hope this perception will go away is doing our sport no favors.

What I have experienced every year is that when trapping on public ground these trapper and hiker/dog walker/biker etc. confrontations never get any easier and if you trap on public ground it can be a very tough challenge. Not all of us have private ground to trap on so our options are small otherwise. In my situation it is difficult, to say the least, to get permission to trap on private land. And if you do get permission there are always conditions....trap here not there, certain size traps will not be allowed, etc. I have no issue with a land owner telling me what I can do and can't do on his property, but I also have to set traps in proper locations to catch the animals and many times that is not possible with the restrictions that are sometimes wanted by the owner. There are many times that it isn't even the land owner that has issue with the trapping locations. It is his neighbors that use his land to let their pets roam free. Since he doesn't want to be not liked by his neighbors he puts restrictions on the trapper.

I do have areas on my line that I can set whatever trap I want as long as it is legal in Pa. but they are dwindling year by year. And these areas are more remote and take much more time to trap.

I don't set the world on fire catching coyotes that's for sure. I am in what traditionally was considered fox territory. However you will catch more fox on farmland than in the woods, although that is slowly changing over the years as the terrain is always changing. We've also experienced a reduction in the fox population from bouts of mange. Some years it's pretty significant.

There are many reasons for trapper and other land user confrontations. I don't know what the answers are. I'm trying to figure that out.

If I’m in an area where I feel like there may be other recreational users I use mb550s, because of the size and wide jaw face. I know for a fact that there have been coyotes I’ve missed that a #3 would not have. But it gives me peace of mind. My situation is different from yours in that I trap 100% public land because I’m surrounded by literally millions of acres of BLM and forest service land, so I tend to just avoid some spots altogether to avoid confrontation with the public. There’s no shortage of space out here so I just go down the road a couple miles if others are using the area. I keep away from known bird hunting areas and hiking trails and camping spots. Basically I try to make my sets where other users have no reason to be. That’s how I deal with it, but my approach wouldn’t work for someone dealing with limited access to trapping areas. I count myself lucky that I could not possibly trap all of the areas I have access to, even if I trapped twelve hours a day.

Sounds like trapping nirvana Bob. I'm jealous!

A few questions. Do your tests sets have a trap bedded but not able to fire? What time of day and year are you looking at wind direction? What would you do different based on knowing the wind is constantly changing?

SP
I haven't put nonfunctioning traps in front of a camera yet, couple years ago I made 15 sets with nonfunctioning traps though. Right now I'm just testing lures and ingredients. Will probably try the traps later. Not quite sure about the question on time of day /year when looking at wind direction. Just watching what the wind was when they were on video. As far as suggestions to counter changing winds my opinion is 2 sets to cover 2 most likely winds, good NATURAL backing and guiding, good attractants to keep them there longer(i also probably use a larger amount of bait or lure than some to get them to work set longer), step down dirt holes when possible and when good trail is present I like flat sets. I also use a double dirt set sometimes that I came up with thats a little different than most ive seen that works better for changing wind direction and approachs from multiple angles ( im sure others have came up with this set before me but ive never set it done with my little twist before) I'm really looking forward to using cameras during trapping season and see if coyotes behavior changes with traps set and how many coyotes come for a sniff but don't get caught and how many don't come close. Finally got some cameras that work good on coyotes this year.
Just my 2 cents when it comes to catching the easy 60% or whatever percent you think are easy. I'm learning to catch the ones that are on to you is a different game. I've got some on video that will go wide around a test set even when I'm using good lure or bait. Those I just hope get shot or hit on the highway because so far they've schooled me. Lol

Thanks for taking the time to reply and sharing your observations. I was wondering about the time of day/year when you noticed the wind direction. Was the wind during the night? I think most think about what it is during the day but most movement isn't during the day and the wind usually settles come evening. I feel the time of year affects how the wind disperses things, so I was wondering when your testing was/is done? In warmer weather air rises more quickly than during the cold trapping season. Cold air keeps lower to the ground. I can see you take notice of things, so was curious if any of those things play a factor in what you notice?

I haven't done trail cams but may in the future. I'm kind of old school and just learned by observing and trying things before games cams were available and affordable. I realize every line can be different but I've never had very good success with setting up the 2 most likely winds. When going to trapping conventions you usually hear set up for the prevailing wind and storm front wind. I've done that and find it's a waste of time for coyotes. Coyotes will travel hard a day or two before the storm front wind so I never had much success setting of for the NE wind. I always set up for the predominant wind, which is NW here, from Nov - March, which has been very successful for me. Sure once in a while you'll have a set dug out on the south side from a opposite wind direction but no enough to justify setting up for a different wind direction. Another thing I have learned is coyotes don't hunt much if the wind is above 20 mph from evening through the whole night. If it is expect to check a bunch of empty traps on the open plains. Now if you find spots in the ravines and out of the strong winds during the night you can possibly have a coyote or two. I'll be interested in hearing your observations of setting up the 2 most likely winds.

Have a good night.

In my area of Pa. we have a predominant northwest wind during trapping season. However we get an occasional southeast wind during a warm front so while setting up a location I will set up two traps, one for each wind direction that is possible. I also set this way to get any canines that circle one set or the other. Am I wasting time and equipment by doing this or should I set up two traps for the predominant wind from the beginning and be done with it?

Guiding a coyote is a whispered, subtle suggestion.

Guiding a cat is a drill Sergeant in your face yelling at the top of his lungs and ordering you what to do.

That being said, I’ve been in areas I could crowd a coyote quite effectively. And 40 miles away not get away with anything remotely that busy.

Wind direction has a LOT to do with “misses”. A coyote uses his eyes a lot, but when the “do or die” moment comes he always wants to lead with his nose. A coyote that can lead with his nose is a little bolder and if the trap lies in that path your odds increase. If he has to give up the wind advantage to get on the trap, your odds decrease.

Big traps may be a disadvantage to the man working with extremely hard ground conditions.