For Coyote- who here uses primarily flat sets or mostly only dirt hole variations?

Dirt hole by far but I've been adding more and more flats the last few years.

Holes are king here. Though I'd like to get a bit more skilled at flat sets but its just hard to get away from holes. They are just so productive with good bait or lure. I will say with a disclaimer as a lure maker, from what I've seen with lots of testing ,for general trapping your bait or lure plays a bigger part in catch rate than type of set. Nose first for coyotes. Everyone wants to change the set when they start having walk bys but in my opinion in most scenarios (extreme low populations and or really high pressured coyotes being different) the lure or bait does 90% or more of the work to get the coyote to step on the pan. Just my 2 cents.

No dirt holes for me. Flat sets and scent post sets. I don’t target specifically coyotes but end up catching 30-40 a year any way.

I use them side by side as I always make 2 sets for coyotes at any location. Catch more in dirtholes, but catch bigger, older coyotes in the flat sets. I do put in a post set now and then at crossroads etc.

I'm with MikeTraps2 on this one. I rarely make a single set at any location. I usually have a hole and flat set within 5 to 10 yards of each other. I have started out with two hole sets but never two flats sets. Some times when a hole gets blown up I make the catch circle a flat set or add a backer for a post.

Mac

For me the two advantages of a dirt hole are ability to control foot placement and that they have to work to get to attractant. The advantage of the flat set to me from the view point of the coyote its openness and undisturbed look.
Weather has a big bearing on which is best too.

Same here. I like tbones for flat sets. like a dirthole it gives them a visual. They will move around more. Just pee on a standout already there is good but getting the trap in the sweet spot is a lot tougher. They dont move their feet all over the place, its impossible to predict how the set will be approached. Yes play the wind, lay stuff on the ground to help guide feet but wind changes and so does the animals approach. If a coyote comes in to a dirthole its rare it doesnt get caught. I have more misses at straight up flat sets.

I got no problem making multiple sets at a location all 100% the same either. When coyote #2 or 3 or 7 shows up, the same set will catch them too

In Oct & Nov. I will use mostly dirt holes!
After freeze up I make a lot of big rock sets.
Just smear some bait on the bottom of the rock add a little pee or gland lure too the front side of the rock facing the trap!!
If you are targeting bobcats then add something for them too look at as well.

Flat sets for me the majority of the time add a few dirt holes when I can. Like the big showy dirt holes along with the subtle rebar stake wobble holes for change ups.

Variety, variety, variety! Oh and dont forget variety!

Both,
Like Mr Kelley said veriety. There's to many factors, population, food source, geology, is it pasture farm ground, breeding season???. Rocky, sandy, clay sod, frozen???

If you're on a low population of coyotes with a good available food base they are going to be tough.
With out competition and hunger the only real instinct you have to work with is territory and Greed.
Gland lure and or urine at a flatset or if you can find a curiosity scent to get them exited. Stomach contents of a fox or coyote you've caught in a natural looking dirt hole. Mimic holes you see where you are trapping. Also fresh bait in a deep dirt hole covered with dirt, don't worry they will smell it and they usually won't pass it buy to many times before warking the set. In a high population with a low pray base , coyotes can be easy Like fox setting heavy with a veriety of sets and smells. If there's a high coyote population I lean towards dirt holes ptety hard, with bait. Then when things start to go cold I fill in with flat sets and trail sets.

More flat sets as time goes by. Helps give them something they haven't seen yet.

Mainly flat sets for me we just have a lot of opportunity here to use them one step off the trails or on the sides of the roads.

I am like the others. I make more than one set at every location. One is always a Dirthole while the other will be something else. I save all of my Drippings from from my Charcoal Grill and make some Campfire/Flat sets nearby or else a Flat or a Post but usually one will be a Dirt Hole or both will be. Even snaring I usually put in several especially on a small trail being heavy used.

If I do dirt holes I use a small stake hole or use a huge badger hole not much in between.

75 percent flat sets 25 dirt hole. It's worked for me for the last 50 years

95 percent Flat Sets and 5 percent dirt holes. I dont use Dirt Holes because of = ants— rain—— low coyote density——- and so on. BUT when the pups are out and I need to clean up a place and its not raining I use them. In most places. I dont see a = Dirt Hole as a natural thing in the area I am often in.