Dirt hole is the most common set for a lot of Trappers.I am partial to it and a trench set.Start off with a few Dirt hole sets see how it works for you in YOUR area.If it don't move on to a flat set. I catch most of my coyotes by digging a post hole about a foot deep put bait in it and set a trap.

Don't leave, but maybe learn how to keep your mouth shut (or fingers still in this case). You can find a lot of good info on this site, but people find things like you stating your favorite set, when you have never caught a K9 not only ridiculous but irritating. At least you admit to never having caught anything so everybody knows to pay no mind to your advice.

Now the question that started the thread is a good one, so I'll answer it. My favorite canine set is a natural pee post, trap set blind at their pee post. My most common set is a flat set of some type.

A well blended flat set and a compass set also works for me.

Double trap flat set, no backing, just a pipe between the traps,

Step down.

Small double dirt hole

I get action on flat sets but I have a lot of misses on coyotes. I think it's because they generally just come up and mark it and move on, instead of spending time trying to dig out the bait like they do at a dirt hole.

If your trap placement isn't perfect, they're gone.

I guess the dirt hole would be my go to though I use almost as many flat sets. I never set just one set. If it’s good for one set it’s likely good for multiple sets. I may use 2-3 dirt holes, the same number of flat sets and either kill poles or foot traps on trails. It’s not unusual for me to set 8-12 traps on good sign.

My flat sets can vary from a bleached bone or skull, scent or urine post, or a dropping set. I carry a small bucket in my truck for nothing but coyote turds. It doesn’t matter if they are dried out and white. Add a little urine and you have an effective flat set.

One year in the 90s when coyotes were low I was trapping one of the ranches I trapped every year. Great rancher and friend so regardless of the prices I always trapped his ground. It was about 30,000 acres and I’d normally take 65-70 coyotes a year. Lowest in 15 years was 39 and the highest 91. Since prices were low I thought I’d try a new approach. I set nothing but foot traps in trails along with snaring fences. The rancher would put dead calves or cattle where they would help my sets but I never used a dirt hole or flat set on that ranch that year. And I caught 72 coyotes. Split about 60/40 in favor of foot traps.

I’m sure it helped that at the time I had been trapping that ranch for 10 years and knew the patterns of movement on the coyotes. After that experience I started adding trail sets anytime I gang set a location.

Marty weatherup would a foothold on the edge of a atv trail where coyotes run to hunt the brush be a good spot? Like a blind set? Thanks

Ed Schneider makes a trail set that I have used with good
success, he has a YouTube channel showing this set and
other set that he uses.

Charles Dobbins has two books that I would recommend getting.
The Dirt Hole And Its Variations and Variations of The Flat Set.

James Lucero's Master Wolfer is also a good book.

This is just a few good book's out there, read and reread
them, then go out and make the sets, some will work for
your area some might not.

And another thing when making sets, set on sign and
don't over think it.

I’d be more inclined to set a smaller intersecting trail than to do a trail set in or on the edge of an atv trail. Especially if the trails gets use by other users. I’d be more likely to set dirt holes and flat sets just off the atv trail and use foot traps or snares on smaller intersecting game trails near those same sets.

If the atv trail is on public ground I wouldn’t set anywhere near it. To many opportunities for theft and conflict with other user groups.

I make two sets at each location, about 20 paces apart. One is a dirt hole or a double dirt hole, other is a post set. I do this at every location. I trap 10-12 farms each season. Some farms have more than one location for sets, other farms have just one good location.
The dirthole set only gets bait. If a double dirthole it gets two different baits. Nothing else.
The post set gets a shot of coyote or fox pee and some locations a gland lure too plus the pee or something completely different like beaver castor and a shot of pee or even mink gland and a shot of pee.
That’s my usual approach for coyotes.
It’s more about picking good locations than what I set so I keep it simple.
I get a few doubles each season and the catch rate for me is about 50/50 in those two set types. I like to make two sets mostly because we have a jillion coon, possum, and skunks here and the second set has saved me many times on still catching a coyote. Have had many, many interesting double catch combos over the years. Badger, cats, fox, anything can be caught where I live and trap.
Well, good luck bud. Can’t wait to see your line in action this upcoming season.
Jim

My favourite is the one that the spot calls for, the spot will dictate how you set. Maybe a few different sets in one spot. Don’t try and force the area to accept your set up.
Some more useless advice.

NTO - Ain't nobody trying to run you outta here. You're doing it on your own. Many have given you guidance that you haven't followed.

I'm 49 and relatively new to trapping as well. I started it to help manage my farm, specifically for the deer, turkey, rabbit and quail. Go watch anything by CoonCreek on YouTube realtive to K9s (this is how I started). there are a ton of other good videos by many others as well. It's worked for me... cats, fox and coyotes. He covers all the basic sets, you just have to put them in your aresenol and go from there.

You posted some dirtholes you claimed to have made awhile back and got favorable feedback on them. Me included. Watch some info on flat sets and go try to make them as well. Now you've got more than one option to try out.

My best advice to you is to play with different variations until success warants you getting a feel for what is needed based on the sign you are seeing. Everyone will tell you to set on sign, but for me, sometimes that's hard to do if I'm not finding any. I've had more luck setting on pinchpoints or travel corridors like the intersection of 2 trails or paths. Where a path meets a field. Intersections of ditchlines. Pond dams.

None of the questions you are asking is going to make you succesful if you don't implement them and find out what works for you. You mentioned your 'favorite' set. How would you know? You have ZERO to base that on based on your trapping success. Start with the basics, read the sign that the animals are leaving (tripped trap, digging, tracks near your trap or a caught animal) and build your education from there.

Thabks GUNNLEG

I do watch CCO on youtube. He's great...

And I have almost successfully caught coyote and fox. Including having a trap sprung of from one. And tracks right beside it.

Might try buying a couple cheap game cams and seeing what happens at mock sets.you could learn a lot from that. It’s fun to see what you catch on video.

wws

Still think if he was more “action” than “talk” he “might” actually become a trapper.
I honestly just think he’s a neglected child looking for attention and with social media he’s found it. He doesn’t want to really learn anything, he just wants the attention that comes from pretending. Feel a little sorry for him actually, but not enough to give him anything he hasn’t earned.

There you go, that’s your best teacher trying to show you something. Don’t get frustrated, but analyze and learn from it.
Check out some of enigmatic gwitchen videos on YouTube. That’s exactly the kind of attitude you need when your sets are messed up. He’s always cheery and very positive.

Beep Beep