Hey folks. Mostly going after coyote, with cats as a second, with a small chance of fox (at least I think it's a small chance, hardly ever hear of or see one, coyotes got here in 70's and hammered them)

I have to use offset or soft catch to target coyotes or cats, but not for fox (riddle me that)

is #3 way overkill for fox? I have about 7 #3's I can use. Trying to use just one trap for everything to make setting/organizing easy.

Also, using fox urine at sets is a territory thing for coyotes right? but it can double as a curiosity lure for fox for chance of fox working a scent post?

#3's will hold fox just fine, a little bigger than needed, but they will work. ... and fox urine is universal for all predators.

From everything I have heard on fox the smaller traps work better from 1.5-2 size trap.

I started off with Duke #3 soft catch traps. Used them stock the first two years. Then I night latched them. I caught bobcats and fox in those traps. Some coyotes too. I did have a coyote or two pop the jaws. Although they're a bit big for a dedicated fox trap they work pretty good for a multispecies trap. The weight of them is lighter than something like a No BS or MB trap so they're a bit easier on the foot than another trap of the same jaw spread. I wouldn't hesitate to go catch some fur with some more #3 Dukes.

Great. thanks guys. I'll make sure to night latch and set hair triggers on the pans.

Thanks ADC for the tip about fox urine being good for everything.

Just to be clear, night latching doesn't necessarily mean "hair trigger". Night latching just helps lower and level the pan in some cases and helps there be less pan drop before the trap fires. For a multispecies line I'd run my traps around 2 lbs. I have a trapping trowel that's a little under 2 lbs and a hammer that's 3 lbs. I set them so the hammer doesn't fire them off but the trowel does.

I own a pile of Duke #3s and use them mostly for winter canine trapping. While I don’t consider them an ideal fox trap they do the job with minimal problems. They are superior to Duke #4s or Bridger #3s as a paw friendly fox trap.

I think you mean so the trowel doesn't set them of but the hammer does. The other way around would be a neat trick, one I'd like to learn so that elk and beef wouldn't set my traps off in early season but the target animals would.

Haha yes that would be a neat trick. Thanks for the correction. You are right. The trowel does not set them off but the hammer does.