have I been setting my dirt hole sets wrong for 55 years ? I have always set my # 3 coil spring coyote traps and # 1 1/2 -2 cs traps for fox with the levers setting horizontal in the bed. I have been watching some videos of late and every single trapper that I see in the videos at least have the levers in the hole ( trap bed ) setting vertical , at most 45 degree angle.
Have I been setting the trap in the bed all wrong these years ? Unbelievable if I have. Ha ha ha. Crazy. MD

I always set them at about 45 degrees with the dog nearest to the hole. I don't know why but that's just how I've done it since, like, forever.

I should have added more clarity that the dog is / was is straight back in line with my golf ball size bait / lure hole. You know I think I should have been setting the trap with levers at 45 degree or vertical all these years.
I started trapping in 1969 at age 10. No one in family were trappers.
No books , no you tube , no nothing. So self taught at a young age and always done it that way. Paid for my college in the fur boom of the late 1970’s. Just think if I set my trap at least on the angle I could have paid for medical school with the extra fur I would have caught. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. This is not a joke. I think I have been doing it wrong for 51 years and 2 fur booms. Ha ha ha. MD

Hey Marty, I guess I’ve been setting mine wrong for 45+ years here too.
Well, this is going to be a tough habit to break.
I bet if I changed the direction a little like you mentioned the compulsive side of me willl want to quickly change it right back.
Jim

I have seen levers set inline and every other angle.

My thought would be 45 and 90 would decrease the likelihood of a foot on a lever so that is how I set.

I always set MB550's at an angle. Usually everything else goes in with the dog (I use mostly dogless) toward the hole. I do the 550's like that because it allows a smaller hole and dirt pattern.

People have been "over thinking" all kinds of outdoor activities since the emergence of this media age. Think of how the jaws would close on a paw with the animal's orientation at the set (land or water if we can guess that well). Then say.... Does it really matter if he has to turn his foot a 1/4 turn to have the jaws grab ACROSS THE PAD rather than parallel to the pad? Does it really matter? Put something to guide, use a well designed trap with quality materials, and check the set regularly. Harvest fur and store a memory. ....................the mike

It doesnt matter how your orient the trap. If the trap is bedded solidly, it doesnt matter if they step on the jaws, levers , or dog as it wont move. Eventually they'll get caught if they are working the set.