Pic of my very first dirt hole set

KATTRAKER

KATTRAKER

Active member
Monday night a coyote took my wifes favorite barn cat. It was time for me to do something, even if it was wrong.

This is a place where coyotes frequent, looking at my neighbors land. They wont let me call coyotes there as they have a friend that is bow hunting. I will probably set snares by the fence when I get a kill pole made.

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For now, I have to do the best I can. I own one Duke #3 on an Iowa earth anchor. I let the trap hang outside for 3 weeks. I used an army shovel and a framing hammer to make my set-

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The blue thing in the foreground is a kneeling pad. I used leather gloves and wore rubber boots. I set the rock out there a week ago so they had time to get used to it. I bought a sifter and set my trap with the dog facing the backing. I used some bait I got from a local trapper at a show last month. I used a piece of wax paper to cover the pan before I covered it up.

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I know this is probably not the best set you fellas have ever seen, but it was my first and I did it all based on internet advice. I am really doing it on my own. The edge of the trap jaws are about 6 inches from the bait hole. I found that old tree branch next to the place I was digging and set it there to act as a funnel towards the pan.

The one thing I know I did right was to place it on an active coyote path...at least there is a chance they will smell the bait and step on the pan.

Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

I must say the earth anchor was impressive. I couldn't even budge it. Will I ever get that back?

I have to admit I am really excited to see if I will catch a coyote.

Thanks for looking.
 
That's a nice looking set. I love making coyote sets on flat ground using big rocks or mounds of debris for the backing. It's eye catching appeal for the dogs.

Yes, you can retrieve the earth anchor. You may have to dig down a little with your shovel before pulling it out, but I retrieve my E-anchors all the time. The will eventually wear out after pounding them in and pulling them out, but they are not that expensive and are quite light weight to carry around when setting up a line. They are worth it IMO.

One thing to pay attention to after you pull your set out. Inspect the J-hooks that attach the chain to the trap and the the swivel to the chain. Pulling out the earth anchors will sometimes cause stress on the J-Hooks and they may open up a bit.

Another thing to take into consideration, you may not have any catches the first few days it out. I don't care how much scent control you exercise, you cannot fool a dog's nose. It may take a few days for the human scent to disperse. On the same note, I have had dogs in traps less than 24hrs after I have set them. GOOD LUCK!!!!
 
A couple of things I might add. You might want to consider funneling in the sides a littler more with some small sticks. It doesnt take much, But I like a little more funneling that what you have. I also put what I call a limbo stick right at the opening of the set. When you lay this stick at the opening or just inside of it, I have found that it will force the dogs to step over that stick and right on the pan if you have everything spaced correctly. I don't undersdtand it because dogs cross over stick and loose debris all the time when walking, but, they just dont seem to like stepping on loose sticks and debris when working a set. The limbo stick truly helps in sealing the deal.
 
Originally Posted By: 2labsLooks good, but I would take the grass off the set and leave the dirt pattern open!

I definitely agree. The dirt adds more eye appeal and realism to the set. The rest of it looks good. I'm more inclined to put sets on edges, edges of grasslines, roads, fences, etc... But, if you have a good travel area, you should be good to go.

Tony
 
your using duke 3s with the dog at 12 oClock hope you reinforced your dog or changed them to stronger ones, they will get chewed up
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on your next set, try putting the dog at 6 oclock, that way when you catch a yote, he wont be able to get to the dog and chew on it
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wax paper is great, did you kringle it up first before you put it over the trap? if not it will make noise when they step on it. the set looks good, a bigger backing would be better to keep them from working the set from the back.


or season starts on the 10th, I'll get you some pics then of my sets.
and believe it or not, my first double on yotes was in sets that had sit for weeks, the rain had washed the dirt off the pan and there was holes in pattern around the pan where the rain had pushed thru, I didnt have time to remake the sets, so I just baited them and went to work, the next moreing I had my first double. that really got me to start thinking about how I was told it was supposed to done lol.
 
So you guys are not putting grass some camo over your dirt? have you found this to be more productive overall? I was taught that you should cover the dirt up a little. I may have to try this......
 
The fresh dirt pattern just gives it more eye appeal. You don't want to hide it from them. You want it to be seen. I would spread it out and back a little more as well if it were me. Good luck. Keep us posted. I'm gonna wait for fur to prime up and deer hounds to get put up before I set here in Va.
 
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Swift One, the fresh dirt in itself is an attractor to predators. the only time I use grass on a set is when I put in a mouse hole set, then I will put my sifter over the trap pattern and rub grass on the shifter to make little cuttings ont the pattern for some more appeal. the set should look natural.
 
Originally Posted By: Jeff ErwinSwift One, the fresh dirt in itself is an attractor to predators. the only time I use grass on a set is when I put in a mouse hole set, then I will put my sifter over the trap pattern and rub grass on the shifter to make little cuttings ont the pattern for some more appeal. the set should look natural.

I have been doing the sifter and grass thing on pretty much all of my sets Until recently when ther just wasnt any to put on it. And I caught a yote in each trap. So, I think i will continue to keep them more "visible" and see what happens. Thanks for the input.
 
Once you get it done, try not to go back and keep making it better. Until you trap your first one, you think coyotes are some mystical force that you will never be able to overcome or outsmart. Then after you get a few under your belt, you will just know that you can do it and not be so freaked out. Good luck
 
You will find if you talk to 10 different trappers you will get about 15 different ways of doing things.
While my set would not look exactly like that one, you will find lots of things work just fine once you get in the groove and get some confidence in what you are doing.

Waiting for a pic of that first catch!

TS
 
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Originally Posted By: rollingstoneOnce you get it done, try not to go back and keep making it better. Until you trap your first one, you think coyotes are some mystical force that you will never be able to overcome or outsmart. Then after you get a few under your belt, you will just know that you can do it and not be so freaked out. Good luck


You nailed that one! I cant believe he has not taken the bait!
 
UPDATE:
I put some fox urine on my backing (rock)last night. When I checked it this morning, this is what I found-

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I was both pleased and disapointed. Their was a strugle, my tag was destroyed. The earth anchor was impressive, it held great. I found some tiny coyote furs in the jaws and on the pan. I also saw that the rock was scratched up.

Is it possible my trap has weak jaws? Is this just a rookie learning curve? I intend to dig it all up and re-set on my road, which has a ton of fresh scat on it.

I also looked really hard at my property and found a few more fence crossings that would make great places for some snares. I should get some Bershires and a driver delivered this week. Here are some pics of the snares I bought Friday.

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Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.
 
I'd throw a scent post set in the mix now. That coyote will either avoid sets just like that one like they are the plague or worse he will torture you by digging them up
 


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