I mentioned in another thread thatI I was having too many visits to my sets without commitments. Some of you said I should use more guiding without overdoing it. I tried several trench sets and caught three coyotes so far without any visible misses. I dig my bait hole at a 45 degree angle and then make a narrow trench from the bait hole only as wide as the digger tool (about 2” wide) back to the trap bed. The trap is set at the end of the trench with the pan 9”” from the bait hole. The trap bed isn’t a step down and the trap is placed just outside the trench The trap is not offset but directly in line with the trench. I also piled dirt on each side of the length of the trench making the trench about 5” deep plus had a backing behind the bait hole that helps keeps the coyote exploring the rear of the bait hole. The dirt mounds on each side of the trench seems to keep the coyote from working the set from the sides plus I don’t think the coyote likes to place its foot in the narrow trench. Those of you that use trench sets do you place a mound of dirt on each side of the trench or just one side? Do you make a wider trench? Would you offset your trap somewhat to the left or right of the trench?

I make my trench as wide as my trap are and then, I narrow it down a little at the hole. To make the coyotes work your set more, put some die grass or some sheep wool in the hole so the coyotes cannot see down the hole, but they can smell your bait in there and they want to see it, so they will work your set longer.

When I dig a trench set I make a V about 5" wide alittle more if the trap needs more width. I angle my hole 9" from trap or so .

I make mine look just like my dog would when he's after gophers. I make my trench just wide enough for my trap about 8"-9" back from the hole and at least 2" down from the ground level. I use a very small backing, clump of grass, small rock or log and drill my hole parallel to the ground so it can not see down the hole without stepping on the pan. I don't pile up the dirt on the sides but spread it back just like it would look as if another coyote had dug it out. Drilling your hole parallel to the ground will force the coyote into the trench if they wish to see what's in the hole. I often will catch them by both front feet or a nice pad catch when I set like this.

Following

Jeff Dunlap has a video on YouTube where he offsets the trap to the side of the trench. It looks interesting and I might try it.

I watched it. Kind of like a James Lucero except with some slight differences.

I’d make a step down set. Make a v shaped trench about 10” deep set the trap about 10” back from the point. Using your drill drill a hole straight back parallel to the surface at the point of the v. put bait in the hole. Works well around cattle,you will catch lots of coyotes by both front feet. Set the trap w the jaws parallel w the trench.

.

About how wide is the v at the end?

V at the end is usually only as wide as the trap.

Lots of trappers don't like the step-down set because it fills up with snow or water but they shine around farm equipment. Had a large tractor run over two sets today I had on a field road. Both sets were fine, just had to fluff up the dirt some. Any other set they would have be scrap metal.

I make mine in corn stubble and make the trench start in the furrow and get deeper through the stalks which makes the stalks like backing and keeps the animal in furrow. Fling that dirt back a bit as you dig out the trench to make it look like an animal dug it out. Bait goes in deepest part of hole. Lay a couple stalks on backside to help block.
Got it from Dobbins land trapping book.
One of my favorite coyote sets in corn stubble.
Jim

Yes learned this early at a younger age. The trench set here works as long as we don't get snow. The deeper the trench the deeper the snow blows in. The are tough to put in after freezing weather arrives also.

One of the biggest advantages of the step down for me is it needs no backing or blocking if done right.

Narrow and deep keeps cattle out of the set. MOST of the time

X2 on the farm equipment! Something to keep in mind if you are setting lanes early in the year.

This

Y’all trapping some great dirt to put a trap 10” deep, lol.