This Savvy Old Male Coyote has put thousands of miles behind him in his day.

You don’t end his reign by showing him the same tired sets he’s been walking by, pawing at, or defeating his entire life.



Think Outside the Box. Catch More Old Coyotes

A lot of fawns have been through that meat grinder.

Barry, I don’t consider wind a form of blocking as much as it is somewhat of a guide. The wind is more of a suggestion, not an absolute.

My sets are right on top of sign. I don’t pull a coyote to my set. I put it in his path so he trips over it.

For me, wind is a somewhat a moot point when you are right on the sign. I believe the visual is by far the most important aspect to a set.
Unlike the wind, a visual works 360° seven days a week.

On multiple traps, I have never felt the need to deploy two traps at one set to catch a single coyote. Multiple sets make much more sense for obvious reasons.

Nothing is certain when it comes to Wile E.

Coyotes don’t always approach a set from downwind any more than when coming to the call.

I’ve caught multiple coyotes that were notorious for up wind approaches to the set every single time.

I have coyotes give up the wind all the time when responding to a predator call.

Lol....that coyote is like oh boys......

You make a good point Barry. That is why I give Wile E. a lot of options to choose from.


I’d have to look pretty hard to find any down side to good flat set. They not only catch the most coyotes, they catch the savviest coyotes as well.
The only exception is the blind trail set.

If a coyote is missed at a specific flat set there are ten more variations waiting just down the road for his viewing pleasure.
Odds always catch up to Wile E. I make sure of it.


Around here dirt hole and toy sets are a joke, just like most places where coyotes have seen any kind of pressure.

The single biggest issue with a hole set is once it's baited you are committed to the set.

Not if but when a coyote defeats the set, or the wind changes, you have little recourse other than moving the trap. I have little use for a set like that.

The visual association of the hole on its own kills the effectiveness of the set a relatively short period of time. The flat set does not suffer from that same association.


These are just my observations from what I have seen on he line.

I have a system for how I break down ranches. Trapping all over the state encountering many different terrains, and coyotes that are in a slightly different mindset as we travel geographically through the state has definitely taught me to diversify.

As spring green up turns to summertime jungle and the vegetation starts to overtake the roads, sometimes it’s near impossible to blend in a flat set, while it’s muddy or the grass is actively growing. In those situations I have no choice but to make a big visual mess, followed by the good old dirt hole.

On one job near Hamilton Tx last year I had nearly 13” of rain in a 2 week period. Try blending into that mess.

My go to that 99% of the time doesn’t fail me is blind sets, and trail sets. Honestly it’s the set that keeps customers adding a deposit to come back the following year.

I will say that when applicable the good ole flat sets have been my nemesis. Seems like no mater the wind, or the turd spacing from pan my misses are high. However in certain situations and in certain conditions a jet black turd gets a lot of attention. I hope you post up some pics of your flat sets I’m very interested in how you set them up.

Here are a few examples of high probability sets for me. A lot of times I use coyotes to catch coyotes.

"Most trappers try creative approaches. Everybody wants the killer set, trap, bait, or lure. Some of it is hype and some not. The secret, if there is one, is hard work, determination, and learning to develop a knowledge base. I had the squeakers. It did not increase my catches. Deep understanding of the species, reading sign or lack of sign, solid equipment, and narrowing location produces results. Some areas produced rarely and others daily, why? Same bait same equipment same process. Time and experience provided the answers. There are a lot of tips and tricks from other trappers. It's my line to learn and grow from. Anybody can set a trap. Knowing why I am setting at the location I am, using the bait or lure I am using, with the equipment I am using, is trapping, in my experience."

The above words aren't mine but posted by another trapper on a thread about using squeakers. I think it was well said. I feel the same applies here regarding flat sets with no backing or whatever a person does at a remake. Everyone has their own experiences and unique ways of handling things that works for them.

I agree Silky.

That was a great post by Coyote Clayton.

A few lines really jumped out at me.



For me, learning to read sign Well is paramount. It is a key factor in understanding what is going on.

Being able to make effective adjustments on an ever-changing line based on past encounters along with current ground recon is another.

I believe those are some of the most effective tools I have at my disposal when countering what a coyote shows me in the field.

Tejas, it's evident you have accessed and adjusted things to your trap line that has proved successful for you. Nicely done.

Keep sharing your tips. It's what makes us well rounded trappers. Trying different things and approaches. I'm not sure what it is, but we can watch and try to imitate the same set construction of very accomplished trappers and not have the same results. I believe there are subtle differences that are unnoticeable that may make a difference in each individuals catches.

That reading sign thing is important. I have heard and read numerous times how tall backing makes coyotes and wolves nervous and to always make your sets with low backing that they can see over. Yet reading sign I seen where in this timber country they repeatedly mark big trees that are a hundred feet tall. Just like your male dog will. I've had very good success making pee post and territorial sets using such trees. Yet I still believe that others in other areas have coyotes that won't work a set with tall backing. In fact I've seen it when trapping open terrain.

If you can read sign well, your target will tell you what they like and the best way to catch them.

That is a great observation Silky !

I believe you are right on the money. The devil is definitely in the details.

It is my belief that one of the most crucial details is scent control. Set specifics account for nothing if you stink up ground zero.

That is a fact that a lot of folks choose to ignore at the expense of any and all trappers in that area.

I do think that perhaps over time the little adjustments and fine tuning made to a specific set is what really makes it shine.

As you know all too well, little things can and do make a big difference on the coyote tine.

Here are a few more coyotes.

Adult Male in the foreground. Young Female in the rear.

You guessed it..... Flat Set.

This male was not big, but he was in his prime.



The young female had a very unique color.

This photo gives you an idea of the surroundings.

Notice no chewed up debris in or around the catch circle.

There is a good reason for that.

My experience mirrors yotegiters as far as scented sets. I can and do catch on well blended flat sets, but most of the time the sets I catch on are something that they are highly attracted to and have to work for. That comes from someone who used to run about 80% flat sets my first several years trapping. A lot of my flat sets with gland lure/urine/curiosity/etc get one sniff and they are gone. Im admittedly not good enough at predicting where they will step on that one step to have a high level of confidence in those sets. All other factors being equal (location, scents, weather) my confidence and catch rate strongly leans towards hole sets or some kind of staked hide/bone set. Even on coyotes that have been trapped year after year I dont have a higher percentage of adult coyotes caught at well blended flat sets versus hole/toy sets.

I too am curious about what you are placing your scent on at your flat sets. I have seen in the past you have used cow patties that are movable, but are you saying you just drop lure on the ground? Depending on lure type, that seems like an invitation for rolling. I would much rather have a predator dig than roll at my sets.

If I had ground that looked like yours I imagine I would be quicker to use flat sets. Seems like you would have a lot of sand filling hole sets, but I know early on you seemed to have success with hole sets too.

We just finished up our helicopter Seek & Destroy Mission a few days back.

Primary Target: Wile E.

Four hours of flight time produced three coyote sightings and three confirmed kills.


The coyote density here is not near as high as some folks would like to think.

Solid recon, scent control, & set looks are what make for good quick catches.

S94, It’s hard to compare set results when you have different trappers calling plays.
That is the X factor no matter what set is used.
Some coyotes are under a lot more pressure than other places.
Again, I think the biggest variable in success is how much attention is given to scent control.
First night catch rate speaks volumes.

I had good success with the dirt hole right out of the gate. The punch works much better than the auger in sand.
The effectiveness of the hole set and its variations was a short lived here.
That is when I changed to flats. The switch was made out of necessity more than anything else.
I have stayed with that set because it has remained effective, not because it is convenient.

I use no loud lure or fetid bait of any kind.
Any attractant that gets a roll or dig response is out of the lineup instantly.
I never put a liquid attractant on the ground at a set.

Baby Pig - It's what's for New Year's Eve lunch.


These little shoats weighed in at eight to ten pounds.




A Little Seasoning.




A Lot of Mesquite Smoke.




Ribs & Shoulders




Backstraps & Hind Quarters.



Served with white corn & flour tortillas hot off the comal,

Fresh homemade pico de gallo & guacamole are your choice of toppings.

That looks some good.