Footholds in trails

Gentlemen I have critters namely fox that are avoiding my snares ar fence lines. So does anybody use foot holds in trails where a snare is too obvious? Yes I fence them in but I am afraid I am walking them in. But that's a different post later. So how about.it gents? Thanks

Any place that a snare will work a blind set will work better, there used to be a many page thread with more information than three books and pictures galore, but it seems the house cleaner threw it out.
Key advice is to remember the target is bare foot and look at the trail from that perspective. A pencil size stepping stick or sharp stone on each side of the trap might encourage good foot placement and blending is essential, imo. You can also use stride length and set a series of step guides that insure the foot is where you want it. This a set like a snare that wants no scent or distraction. Animal needs to be traveling at at a steady relaxed pace til it hits the trap.

What I would give to see that old thread

This, and put the traps on drags or long extension cables so you do not tear up a well used trail. Look for natural narrowed down places to set.
You would notice if someone narrowed down your sidewalk

Thanks tjm good info. You too wetdog

Dustin Drews on YouTube has some good foothold blind set vids. More geared for coon but it could work for others.

I've used dustin drews's method and it's worked well for me.

I recommend Dustin’s blind set video for traps 100%. Probably works for snares too

I agree Dustin has some very helpful videos.

I believe Ed Schneider has a good trail set YouTube video posted and in his DVD he does a great job on trail sets. Usually a dab of gland lure or a turd to slow them down and move feet.

Don't forget Ogormans mafia set

Don't you have lots of non targets being caught? what about deer using the same trails?

I don't catch a lot of critters period, and even less in blind trail sets. But every time I've used the Dustin Drews method, I've had a coon waiting for me the next day. I've only used it in trails that were very obviously coon trails, like a worn-to-the-dirt trail in between a brush pile and a creek, for example, or a worn-to-the-dirt trail coming up over a dam.

Beav yes you catch nontargets in blind trail sets.
But you catch more nontargets in baited sets. And I set a blind set at 4' away from a baited set( that's a whole different set)
As far as deer snapped traps, I don't set many blind trails until after our rifle season. And by then it's usually colder and less deer to worry about.
And the older critters seem to be a little more wary of baited sets after you have taken some of their kin at baited sets.
Just my observations. And my log book reflects that.
But if you have a lot of deer, try a duck stick 12"-14" right above.

I use blind trail sets when conditions allow and they are deadly.In my area antelope and deer migrate in and out so I may get a month or two when they are absent.I keep close tabs on their movements and set trails when the time is right.This is often mid or late winter and at this time the trails are used by fox and coyotes.

I have some good trails but often,the grass is cropped too low to hide a snare and years when the grass is high enough,the first heavy snow lays it down so I am back to square one.

In some of the open country,there are few sticks so I use what is natural to set up there foot placement.I often build a small ridge of antelope droppings on one side of the trap and small stones or pieces of cow pie on the other.The antelope droppings are black and show up well against the light colored dirt.The canines seem to prefer not to step on them if given a choice.I will often build a couple more stepping guides on each side to set up their stride as they come in to the trap.

I never use scent of any kind as that defeats the whole purpose of the blind set.The last thing I want is for the coyote to slam on the breaks,change his stride and start sniffing all around.The trail is the attractant.I want the animal looking 100 yds ahead,traveling at his own,comfortable pace.

In this picture,there are two,big male coyotes,during the rut and there is a third big male,about 100 yds in the background,same trail.They ripped up the trail,but I'm OK with that if it gets me a triple.I don't like drags on this spot and I didn't have any slider cables when I set these.


When I make trail sets in the forest,I often use Douglas Fir cones,as guides,in a similar fashion to the antelope droppings.Animals will step over them if given a better place to step.I may also use some small broken sticks,natural to the area,but avoid the look of two parallel sticks that look like a picture frame.Again,I put some more guides on either side to set up the cadence of their steps.


Here is a blind set with an MB750,for bigger canines.

Great pictures. I wish we had trails like that.

Anyone running blind trail sets for bobcat ?

Plenty of people do.Many of the guys in Nevada run a lot of trail sets.

I run some but where I trap cats in the forest,I'd rather run snares on trails as they will stay working when the traps are snowed in.

Those trails in the grass land are pretty good when the ground is bare,Beav but 2-3 inches of snow makes them disappear.You just have to take advantage when the time is right.

Nice pics & catches!

Here is another sort of double.Not much of a coon spot but there are a few old boars that run the rocky ridge above.

JC Conners Blind Set DVD is excellent...covers all sorts of blind sets for canines

Thanks for the pictures Taxi, please keep them coming, especially the location and set pictures. I am using blind sets more and more. This year I caught about a quarter of my coyotes in blind sets, but I missed alot, so would like to learn more about guiding.

Taximan

Good pics and good info. Thank you

This is probably all I have,Guys,
The trail is between the rock pile and grass.

Taximan- You mentioned slide cables in this post- How long of a cable would you use and would you bury it?

To be honest,I have yet to employ any so I hope someone with real experience will coment on this.My thinking is about 10'.You want to get that circle off the trail.They seem interested in the circle but avoid stepping in it for weeks to come,at least in this country.I' sure I would bury the first few feet and break up the outline of the rest.

I think a fence post drag on a 10' may also be practical on that spot.I just haven't got my nerve up to try these things yet.

I run them here in Oregon and do pretty well running them in spots I can’t snare easily