How many of you that have used both sets for coyotes have had better results with the trench set. It seems this set has a better chance of the coyote placing its paw on the pan and not walking near the set missing the pan.

I hardly make hole set's,but when I do it's a natural dog looking dug trench set.

Not sure what I make to be honest. It does have a hole and a little trench to it, but my set is off to the side back a little. A coyote or cat doesn’t have much of a choice but to step in it if they want to investigate the hole.

Mine is more what I'd call a step down. Trench is just long enough to bed a trap about 8" back from hole. All dirt dug out piled right behind trench like a k9 would dig it. Sides straight down 2 to 4 inches to trap. Trap bedded level, hole horizontal 6 to 8 inches down from from ground level. I want them to have to take one step in the trench to really work the hole. Not a fan of the trench sets that they have to take a step or three into to step on trap. Great control of foot placement.

To answer your question I prefer my double dirt hole set IF I have natural backing. The step down is for when there isn't any natural backing
My double dirt hole has just about as good of foot control as the step down.

For me it's as simple as using a bait or lure that gets as much attraction as I can get then the sets job is to control their foot placement as much as the coyotes will let u. The hole to me is just about controlling foot placement too. If I find the right natural setup in the right place that controls their approach and foot placement I won't even use a hole

This year I started playing with the trench set. To be honest it was a more challenging experiment than I expected. I started with the trap out side the trench on the right side of the trench with the dirt from the trench and dirt hole on the left side of the trench. Miss city. So then I piled the dirt on each side of the trench and put the trap outside the trench at the very front of the trench. Miss City. Then I moved the trap into the trench with dirt pilled up on each side. I had a little better luck and caught some critters but the result were not convincing. Overall at the end of my experiment I begin to feel that the more I tried to guide their step the more crowded the set was becoming. So eventually I went back to the old 60degree dirt hole with a trap right out in front, offset, and 8” back. For me the results are much better. I will say that if I was to use a dirt hole to target cats for some reason I feel that the trench set would be the way to go. Overall it was a fun experiment but I don’ t think the trench set will be a part of my everyday trapping tool bag.

Don't pile the dirt on the sides. Let him come up on the sides and the back to check out the hole. Just make the hole as horizontal as you can at the bottom of a vertical face 6 to 8 inches down. If u got something in that hole he wants bad enough he's going to take that one step down on to the trap to get it. My trap is only bedded 2 to 4 inches deeper than the surrounding area. I like something they want bad enough they will dig for it. The fact that they can check the hole out from all directions makes the coyote feel more confident.

You have described mine to a T. I hardly ever use the standard dirthole after a season using the step down. The only double foot catches I make are with them.

Yes sir do you have a pic?

The trench set is a decent early season set to use before freeze up.
But they are more work to construct and I almost always get a face full of dirt when building the set.
Their are many other simple sets that will catch coyotes just fine and are easy to make!

I like the trench set it gives deep pad catches. I make mine in the shape of a V and pile the dirt on the sides.

I’ve gotten away from hole type sets because targeting exact foot location seems to be beyond me. ‘Learned the pipe dream set and never looked back.

How does it work better for you? Is it due to the coyote staying working the set longer thus giving it more of a chance of getting caught? I had some success with the set but here in Idaho due to quick freeze up in the fall, the pipes have to be placed in the ground early or I would never get them in the frozen ground.

I don’t like a set that puts the covered trap below grade to much if at all.

Good spot to collect snow and cause issues.

Plus, some coyotes will refuse a step down. It’s to pressured, like overly blocking a set.

Step downs can be good ways to keep livestock or deer from messing up a set, but they’re also a good way to cut down on (some) coyotes messing with your sets!

Do you feel it’s easier for you to guide with the pipe vs a hole? Or is there something about hole thats problematic? I’ve gone thru lots of changes with both types over years