Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Trapping What is your most successful/best setup for coyotes

I've had some luck getting coyotes with a scent post set. Most of my sets have been on field edges and old roads/trails where they frequent. Scent control of course has been priority #1. Just looking for some knowledge on trapping coyotes from some experienced folks.

Simple old dirt hole set has been good for me with food based lure down hole and another lure on my outside backing which might be a stick or a cow pie. I think giving them more than one spot to sniff at a set gets their feet moving more which is a Better chance of them stepping on my pan. I do a lot of snaring to though.

flat sets with bridger #3's OS. one at the set and another out about 10'

we have a lot of skunks around here so if one gets in the set often enough a coyote will circle it several times at about 10'. it's kinda a long shot with the second trap, but setting none there will guarantee I won't catch one. sometimes another coyote will come in and circle the one in the trap to see what the fuss is about. increasing the chance of scoring doubles. I don't always set this way, just in a few areas that are LOADED with skunks.

I have had my best success with them in the winters with deep snow. Coyotes are a lot like people in the sense that they will take the easy path if they can. find those paths and hang a noose!

I'm going to try setting some for the first time this year, never done a yote set, or snares either.

Trap a skunk.

Bury it with tail sticking out.

Use like a scent post set.

using a snowmobile is great in deep snow, just set snares in the track, or make a hayset. boom, dead yodel dog.

I try to avoid trapping the skunks when I'm targeting yotes.

How to you "avoid" the junk with a coyote set. Coons seem to get into everything as well as skunks especially if there is any food to be had. I don't mind too much as taking out the junk has helped the game birds and other small game over the years. Skunks and coons are horrible on game birds.

Dirt hole was the set I made most of the time, and i always made at least two in the same vicinity. there are many variations to the dirt hole, just get out there and come up with your own style.

I never liked pulling up to a skunk either, but it is what it is. reset and punch in a fresh set aways out of the trap circle..think about it, most of the LDC lures are heavy on skunk, so the real thing works even better, dont be impatient it may need some time to cool off, so to speak..But I wont lie it pisses me off to pull up to a skunk in a proven set location, but when on a new location i dont really mind it cause it will usually be a good producer after that even if my location wasnt the best.

Along the same lines for me there was nothing like hanging up a badger in a bobcat set that wasnt producing..after remaking I very often came back to a bobcat in the trap.so instead of getting pissed off i looked at a badger as good luck haha.

I've had decent luck as well after taking out some trash (coons, possum) with a re-set in the same location. The animal scent seems to make them curious and draw them in. And, getting rid of the junk is always beneficial to small game.

I am in the doghouse today. Wife is madder than hell at me, and this only a few days before our 27th anniversary. I was putting together some lure in the basement, and not thinking about it I opened up a bottle of skunk quill, which doesn't bother me at all, but she claimed it stunk up the whole house. So its 40 degrees out and I have the doors open. Whew!

Been there and done that, nice to know I'm not the only one with a wife that just doesn't understand.

Did that before with some other stanky stuff. I was in the garage (attached) playing around with some lure and it happened to drop on the heater. Needless to say heating it up to a "cloud of smoke" consistency made it ....lets say more effective.

Would you explain how you make your "hayset?" I cannot seem to get one to work.

Dirt hole on location. Setting the right spot is more important than what set you lay out.

I set a dirt hole at a creek crossing or fence crossing, and then another (dirt hole or scent post) 20yrds away. The first is on the hottest sign, the second is to catch any pack members wandering around the first catch.

you would be surprised how many coyotes run up and down old railroad tracks.

Thanks for the link. I noticed a ton of other sets listed on the side. I always love the comments that all the libtards leave on those links. Morons.

I had a guy tell me today that he used cat chit for a lure on a dirt hole set and it worked great. I suppose it would work but I don't much care for cats much less cat chit.

Coyote walks the easiest travel route. Flat trap with grass sent post and make him look for the sent.

I keep pretty stiff tension on my trap pans to keep the foxes and other riff-raff out of my sets. Flat sets seem to be most productive, but I do more dirt holes than anything, just because it requires less hardware.

Last year was my first year trapping yotes, but I had my best luck setting traps around a deer carcass.

I found a deer that had been hit and moved it to a spot in 5 yr. cutover. Placed traps at the hams (first place they will eat) and between the front and back legs. Caught 3 yotes at that deer. Probably could have caught more, but I had to take up my traps and the yotes ate the deer.

No doubt is a good catch set, but is illegal in many states. Traps beside sight exposed bait are prone to catch birds of prey,therefor most states do not allow it.

3lb's is what you need to keep short game out.

My dirt hole Cat sets catch Coyotes like a charm.
I REALLY don't want to catch Coyotes so I stink up the place something terrible and choke the trap down with guide sticks until Helen Keller could tell it was man made.
Can't keep Coyotes out of the dam things:(

BTW,,, Topstock's spot on. Check your regs on exposed bait.

I know it might be wrong, but FieldGrade, I've been laughing for a couple of days while setting traps thinking about your Helen Keller comment when putting up guide sticks. I found a Trench Set works for me, when other trappers are in the area. I dig out a small trench, then connect it with another, coming from the top down. At the very top I dig a small lure hole(no bait) then put a trap at both ends of the trench. Make sure to have big backing, and keep trench about 10-12 inches away from lure hole. On the point (does not matter right or left side), I like to put a chunk of fur, or a wing from doves I shot in the fall.. Place a food lure in the hole, and a gland lure or urine outside the hole. They just have to check it out. I think the biggest thing, is having traps where coyotes are. Location, as with everything else is the most important key to success. I like junctions where quad roads and field edges, intersect crops edges. The more spokes to the hub the better. That's what works for me. I may throw a dirthole or post set also, but location is the key.

Great info guys, I truly appreciate it. I have set traps around carcasses before with great success. I will contact the DNRE to see if it's frowned on though. I normally set traps just to keep the riff raff numbers down so I don't mind the coons, possum and other trash that may meet their demise in my traps. After the recent snow I have found fresh tracks on the field edge showing a pack of three working the area and one loner that is significantly larger but not large enough to be a wolf. It wouldn't be a stray dog either as no one leaves their dogs loose in this area during firearm deer season. Thanks again as I will be hammering on the trap line now along with the late season bow hunting with some calling thrown in and some bunny hunting. I'll post anything worth mentioning and maybe put up a pic if it's good enough. That would require me figuring out the camera do hicky and how to post on here though.

All my yotes sets have caught this week has been nosy deer, lol. I bet this guy jumped a mile high when he stepped on this BMI.

Hilarious and great pic.