Hello all, Ive been reading all edges of this forum while trying to prep for my first season of trapping (Coons, Coyotes and cats) in north central Wyoming. Here are a couple sets I made today- how do they look? Any changes you would make?

The first one (with small piece metal on the left side) is along side two larger trails through the desert probably cow trails with a third smaller animal trail running right off the hill behind it probably 10 foot.

The second one is right off a trail that comes out of a deep sage brush bottom and skirts along a high wall, the trap is between the wall and the trail.

Thanks guys! This stuff is tricky to get figured out!

… looks good to me partner

… that first one may be a little over guided for coyote.. but let it soak and find out

I think overall they look great, but I am no expert. Don’t know what you have for traps or how hard those dirt clods are but ifin the traps close all the way you got em!!!

Cats aren't too fussy, but for canines make sure you sprinkle some of that grass and natural litter on the top, they won't trust that clean spot, if anything they'll investigate why there's a cleared off depression in the ground. But it looks like it's bedded well and blocked in very similar to how I do mine. I always place something in front of the trap bed (distance depends on the size of target species) so they step over and onto the pan, instead of short stepping and just putting their toes on a jaw

I dont like a dirt pattern at my flat sets. I dig the trap bed just big enough for the trap with a short handled round nose shovel if the ground is soft enough or a masonry chisel if gound is frozen. Then blend it in pretty good. With a little practice u can do it pretty fast. A little hand broom is a big help.

As long as the wind is right, they will catch. When you gotta get the last one - Mr Yes sir is spot on
Good luck

I’m in sheep and goat country where coyotes are trapped and hunted constantly. I pound the T-bone all the way into the ground so that only the top of the T-bone is visible. I smear my bait and lure just on this small exposed piece of bone. I have found that if I leave the T-bone up and exposed, our coyotes tend to shy away from it.

I also do not leave a dirt pattern. I use an old pair of scissors to cut dead grass about an inch long and spread them all over the dirt area.

Looks great i almost stuck my hand on the picture here in Mi.i always felt i had better luck on coyotes with blending depending on the surroundings sometimes just sweeping the top away and then sweeping it back or cutting grass like Centex maybe burying a small plug of grass behind the trap generally where i trap theres lightly sodded areas that just need a trap stuck between clumps of grass and a squrt of urine or lure
Took me a long time to get there Mostly I worked hard to get few sets in carrying a trunkfull of lure urine bait and pailfull of tools and stakes

When you catch something you'll know your on track.
Pay attention to how they react.

x2

As said above your on the right track just clean the dirt pattern up and you are good to go. Good luck

What CT says is right on the money.


When you make any canine set think subtle not glaring.

Make the trap bed blend in with the area around it. I mean REALLY blend it in.

Ditch the guiding and leave the set pattern open. You will get less avoidance and more foot traffic.


Keep in mind, the visual aspect of a set doesn’t mean a thing if you stink up the set area.

Use an untreated canvas tarp to kneel on when you make your sets and you will get more catches in a shorter amount of time.


Good Luck This Season Wynot, and Welcome to T-Man!