I have known this for a long time but wanted to share a glaring example doing control work had an old female coyote walk right by a dirt hole set to work an oberto type flat set 10 yards away and get caught in a modified 3 DLS both sets were baited and lured identically I sprinkle some dirt holes in mostly for the pups here holes for pups flats for the old timers

I have caught more on flat sets than dirt holes

What is "oberto type"?

Flat sets are king in my area. I do put in s hand full of dirt holes for the ones that like loud sets.

Morse oberto had a flat set that was kind of a scratch up set with no backing it is in his written instructions

Love Flat sets!

Flat sets for me, I hate digging holes.
But sometimes the area looks like it needs a dirt hole.

For me it depends on the sign i have at the set area. If i don't have a clear travel route and may have to pull them to the set, then i want a flashier set. If i'm right on line with plenty of sign, i like the flat set right in their face.

If setting directly on sign on a runway, definitely a flat set.
But I'm not against dropping a dirt hole or post set if the conditions weren't.

My most productive is a walk thru and its variations, a type of flat set, just more subtle guided.

Every set has it advantages and disadvantages. When you can recognize what they are and develop the skill to maximize the advantages and minimize the disadvantages you are getting somewhere.

Thisr

This. But we all tend to our favorites that we get most comfortable with. Which is fine, but recognizing that and still realizing when a situation (location or particular animal) demands something different and not only doing so, but doing so comfortably and effectively is when you are maximizing your chances.

Personally I tend towards large post (big tree as the post) sets and flat sets. Some of that is because I am usually in timber country, and snow country, setting close to big trees keeps your traps working through more snowfall, so it is natural to use that tree as part of the set. Plus I've seen so many of them be natural pee posts (my absolute favorite set, do nothing but bury a trap directly in their track). But I try to make multiple sets at each location, and I don't want them to be cookie cutter sets, so I will set a variety.

Depends if i happen to find coyote and cat tracks on the same road it’ll be mainly dirthole sets. Nothing but coyote tracks and mainly flat sets. Generally if i can catch that cat first a coyote will definitely check out that set unless another cat jumps in it.

I run both about half and half. I notice my flat sets do better. But than I have seen times where one area kind of seizes up. So I will put in different variations of dirthole sets (much like in Paul dobbins videos) and get action again. Some places I trap have dried out creek beds and coyotes and coon run them frequently. I use walk thru and make holes into the banks that resemble dirt holes and both seem equally effective

For us new guys here, I could dip a stick in urine for like a scent post, then bed the trap in front that would still be a flat set? Put lure on the front of a log and that's a flat set? Pretty much any set where there isn't a dirt hole is a type of flat set?

Also, do canines care if they can see the chain from a drag off to the side of the trap?

Carpenter

Depends on who you talk to, some people consider a scent post a flat set, others consider it a separate type of set. But yes, lure on the end of a log or rock is something I use fairly often and I consider that a flat set.

I agree with bearcat, it depends on who you ask. Rocks,logs,sticks or even just a punch hole underneath a cow Pattie is considered a flat set. As far as the chain, bury it. They will more than likely paw at it and move the trap or shy away from it altogether

Bury the chain. All the above comments and to muddy the water a little all the old timers I was around didn't call what we refer to as a flat set it was a "coyote set"