Big Hole coyote sets

[trappnman]

Was rewatching the NTA videos yesterday...

for those wanting trapping tapes- you cannot do any better than these videos. I have said it many times over- its like owning a library of 15-20 of the best- and some aren't available any where else...

Anyhoo....

one of my favorite presentations was about making a coyote set using a deep, big hole set. I have no doubt that it works- in a way, a deep big hole uses a lot of the same principles of a stepdown.

Which brings me to the point- how deep should dirtholes be? I never had much luck with dirtholes- but I always made smaller- 3-4 inch hole maybe 6-8 inches deep. Granted, this was early in my career- but caught very few coyotes in "normal" dirtholes.

Flat sets and then later stepdowns- both sets designed to keep a coyote at at set and make him work it harder- work for me.

But I started making a few big holes- and honestly, after watching this presentation I'll be making more- and have done better.

On a big dirthole, the depth of the hole should be 18 inches or more- granted, you need the right soil condintions- but most any farmling region should have locations where the set could be made.

In the video the set was made on a slight knoill- is it equally as effective on flat ground?

One interesting thing- I set my dog away from the holes-guarding it with a jaw guard of some type, because of the way I envision the coyote working the set. On these big holes, the trapper was putting the dog (dogless)closer to the hole, facing the hole- and again this makes sense, as the cooyte will be coming stright in.

What was surprizing- was postioning of trap. I offset to a side as do most people I talk to- but here the trap is placed directly in front of the hole- within reason.

Comments?

[CoonDuke]

We just don't have the soil here to do it. Too stony and would take too much time.

Some locations near fencerows and field ends have a slight "bank" where I think a big hole would be neat to try.

I was think of going out pre-season and digging some big holes with a post hole digger in the side of these "banks". I would want them big enough that a fox could actually go in the hole. Trap would be placed at the point where the animal would step off to go down the hole.

Maybe I'll make a couple of these and prebait them.

I just got an idea for another thread...stay tuned.

[woody]

I got a question on this big hole idea What does the landowner's say about digging a hole the size of a crater in there fields and pastures??? I felt bad last season digging just a trap bed and the 4 widex18 deep inch dirt hole. ;D Or would this set be used in places that a woodchuck would dig a borrow? remember I am new to this K-9 thingy, woody

[CoonDuke]

I wouldn't dig a big hole where there is livestock, but in fields you can just shovel them shut at the end of the season.

[vttrapper]

Don't know the video you watched steve, but heres how i do it.

My big hole is about 6 to 7 inches in diameter and 12 inches deep or more, mostly more. I have center positioned the trap to the hole but have found offsetting works better for me. Some say the coyote will be centered to a big hole because of its size. I figure how a coyote stands and with that thought, a center positioned trap may be missed by a visiting coyote or fox. I go for the offset placement.

Bigholes are good for eye appeal and I have yet to see a animal hide in it. I figure a badger hole or a realllllly big woodchuck hole might hold a fox or the hind end of a coyote, buut i have not seen it on my line.

Shoveling them back in is always a good idea, in overgrown pastures or log roads i don't because the landowners said don't bother.

Big holes are a good set and nice to have in the arsenal.

frank

[trappnman]

I've had coon and coyotes get inside of badger holes when trapped...

[CoonDuke]

Speaking of animals going into holes...

I have made the mistake of trapping groundhogs with foothold traps at their holes with long chains.

I would hate to have to pull a badger out.

[dj88ryr]

Speaking of Badgers, T-Man, I would like to get a pelt to tanned. They should be at their best primeness right now. Any chance, or are you into holiday dancing and singing now? ;D

[trappnman]

Haven't seen any sign lately- who knows in a few weeks or so...

[dj88ryr]

No big hurry, I have to pay Dusty for my Wolverine first.

[17kiss]

Used big holes in Ms. this past Feb. Lots of eye appeal.I putm them in wherever suited. Got 3 coyotes and 2 of my cats off of them in 10 days , so they do work. Plus 2 pullouts and a chewed off cable at one. Ideal places for them is in clearcuts. Mounds of dirt piled everywhere. Cant think of a lot of places around here where they would fit in though. Sucks!!!!

[dj88ryr]

17, HOW ABOUT THEM 5 FOOT HIGH 6 FEET IN DIAMETER ANTHILLS WHERE i GET MY DIRT? tHEY ARE LOCATED ON A POWER LINE

[BrandonH]

If the location will allow, it's one of my favorite sets.

[17kiss]

Watched Dan and Brandon dig in them anthills. Was one of the funniest things to watch ;Dig , slap at ants , dig , slap , bed , slap .You get the pic. If they arent active , would probably work. Why the heck are you YELLING at me , anyways?

[dj88ryr]

Sorry about the caps, I am at work and just processed a quote and was still in caps, didn't notice it till the end and decided screw it. Wasn't yelling, just lazy ;D

[bubcat]

Kind of bothersome, but a pretty good set!

I got this one spot, kind of a clay soil banking, holds up without caving in pretty good.

Everytime I pick up a road kill turkey, it goes to that banking.

Hole 10 -12 inch diameter, a foot and a half deep, a foot above level grade. Trenched in front for a step down.

I shove the turkey in the hole head first. Hind feet and tail feathers sticking out of the hole. I cross stake right through the carcass with a pair of 3/8 x 24 in re rod stakes.

Trap is straight away, out about ten inch.

[Stef]

Where I had luck with this set is when the small creeks freeze and fox-coyote start running those creeks.

At this time, when the creeks are frozen, we have some light snow on the ground and most "faced southern overhanging bank" are in sand or nice dry dirt to work with and little to no snow.

This is where I like to use them.
A whole skunk in that hole and you're ready for action.

Stef

[ChrisM]

Uncle Buck.....Uh..I mean...Joe

I saw that segment too and agree 100% with every thing the guy said. I do it exactly the same way!

I make a lot of smaller dirtholes only 6 - 8 inches deep due to the hard ground. But I do prefer them deeper if possible. The thing with the big holes is they need to be deep. At LEAST a foot, 18 inches is better. A large, shallow hole doesnt hold much curiousity. They can see right to the back of it. Also way to easy to reach in and flip bait out.

I dig them with a tile spade and try to keep the width to about six inches, or tile spade width. This is important to avoiding misses. Height is not as critical and some are a foot or more when I have a tall bank to put them in. MAXIMUM EYE APPEAL! I confess some are only three inches or so high by six or eight wide too. Just for variety.

I never have a preconceived picture in mind of what it will look like. Just start diggin and however it comes out thats it. ALWAYS NATURAL LOOKING!

The ones I dig are always into a verticle bank or hump of some sort. Though I know some do, I dont try to dig big holes in flat ground. Too many misses. Loses the eye appeal of the verticle bank etc.. The nearest thing I come to a big hole on flat ground is existing badger digs and prarie dog holes. Both are excellent and I use alot of them after the ground freezes. Depending on the angle of the hole some can require some rather serious guiding.

There is no danger to livestock since these holes are dug into a verticle bank and are dug straight back in. There is no hole to step in.

I always position the "dog" towards the attractor, between 10 and 2 oclock. Just habit I gues!

At dirtholes I nearly always position the trap straight out, figuring the animal will "square up" to the hole when he works the set. On flat sets I have no rule other than to read the location, any natural guides, expected wind direction etc.. and place the trap where I think the coyote will place his feet. I think a lot of misses at flat sets are due to trappers not accounting for wind direction.

[Freebird]

I tried these out last year and had some success also , mainly because of The goofy guy on the video and other "bigname " trappers use them.
I was tossing skunk carcass's and alot of skined mink carcasss in the bottom with the gland slit. Any of you guys use mink carcass's that way.?
Freebird

[k9]

I use some big holes as a change from flat sets. They are worthwhile sets just more work. I LOVE using them with skunks as an attractor. I dig them as deep as I can.