mafia set

[chessiepup]

so what exactly is the mafia set and how would I use it?

[trappnman]

I could tell ya'...but then I'd have...well, you know...

The mafia set is simply a fancy name for a flat set made in a trail. A drop or 2 of urine or lure is place along side of the set next to the trail.

[Wackyquacker]

...just a tid bit more info...the urine, turd, lure etc is set off of the trail maybe 18 too 30" or so...Yotey is caused to pause / pace in the trail

[NittanyLion]

So how did the set get named?

[trappnman]

I disremember the exact quote....but O'Gorman named it cause It was "mafia" like- silent, deadly, secret..

[briankroberts]

Well around here there aren't many well defined trails that you could make the " mafia set " on, you can however make a well blended and lightly scented post set close to every other set you make and catch that same antsy Coyote, I'm sure any Coyote that is interested in your set but a little afraid Or is pacing around a caught companion needs an" offer he can't refuse".....B.....

[3n]

Mafia set ...makes an offer they can't refuse.

[Wackyquacker]

3N got it right

T-man maybe you need to up your dose of gikobiloba or what ever they call that memory boosting herb ;D

[vttrapper]

Yep, 3n is right. But another way it could be defined, a lured trail set, the lure being urine/gland lure a turd or any combonation of the above.


frank

[musher]

Is the trap on the trail or next to the lure?

[ChrisM]

The trap goes right in the trail, just like a blind trail set.

Lure goes right at the edge of trail, just inches from the trap.

Dropping goes in the trail like a stepping guide, just outside the spring lever.

This puts the lure, dropping etc... right under the coyotes nose...."an offer he can't refuse!"

Use just a tiny bit of lure. Not trying to call him any distance at all.

Great trash catchers! Best to make more than one in a trail or back up with other sets in area.

[trappnman]

I knew it was some cutesy quote from the godfather....but couldn't remember and was too busy (believe it or not ;D ) to look it up.

FYI- am I only one here who never saw any of the Godfather movies? Or any of the disaster movies including the Titantic? The Passion? That other depressing one about the war or disease or something?

(Did see all 3 of the Trilogy tho..... )

[JLDakota]

Dan Bishop, out of Wis, was highlighting the "mafia" set in his writings in the '80s. He gave credit it for the naming probably having come from "some western trapper". Dan used his two trap arrangement and set was mostly as referenced above. Jim

[Hern]

so what exactly is the mafia set and how would I use it?
I always use a turd on the edge of a flat rock. Bed trap close to turd, blend well, squirt of urine on turd. No lure.
When completed, it looks like a Fox/Coyote placed the dropping on the edge of the rock.
I do perfer a pie shape rock being higher on the opposite side of the pointed side and tapered at the point. Droppings are placed on the point so as he high side will aid in backing.
I called it chit on a rock set before I read about the Mafia Set.

Is the trap on the trail or next to the lure?
I am trapping mostly farm areas. Any good location as: tractor lanes, crop changes, diversion ditches and/or swales.
I like to make this set along with a lured dirthole set or two lured dirthole sets. Sometime close to the dirthole sets and other times 50-75 yards from a dirthole set, depending on the lay-of-the-land...know what I mean?

Dan used his two trap arrangement and set was mostly as referenced above.
Dan Bishop made most of his sets using 2 traps per set.
Hern

[k9]

The Mafia set has a place on my line. Not an everyday set for me but if I get a coyote traveling an old cow trail, after the livestock has been removed, I know the mafia set will pick him up. Like others have said, picks everything else up too so set a few traps.

My best luck has been a dropping with a drop or two of urine, as described by Chris. I have also experimented with staking down a dead skunk or lamb on one side of the trail or the other, dependant on windage, out in plain view. My theory being that the coyote will stall out, and spend more time on the trail, and possibly invoke more of a unrination response. I have caught coyotes this way, but I probably would have caught them anyway.

Most of you are old school guys, and know what I am talking about. However for beginners who are checking in here, I put the carcass well away from the trap, like 5 to 10 yards, so the trail set will pick up the coyotes, and the scavenger birds will not get caught. Beginners do not put exposed baits by traps, as you are asking for trouble.

I do not mess with that much anymore, just a regular trail set with a dropping. Subtle and effective.

The one thing you want in the trail, before making a mafia set, is coyote sign. Set sign only with this set.

[Stef]

I do not mess with that much anymore, just a regular trail set with a dropping. Subtle and effective.

The one thing you want in the trail, before making a mafia set, is coyote sign. Set sign only with this set.

Amen K-9 ;D

Yeah, a nice STOP sign for a well slowly placed foot on pan.

Stef

[JLDakota]

Hern,
I remember the first time I used Dan's double trap set on a fox set, am guessing mid 80'. I spiked a just born deed baby pig down a badger hole and bedded a couple 1 1/2's on the mound apron. One on the left was a new little BMI coil with those 4 little springs and the other was a stout little round jaw Montgomery. I had both traps on the same Meyers dogknot stake. We got a skiff of snow the night after I made the set and I couldn't wait to get there the next morning. I had two reds dancing on chains on that farm and was feeling real good about the badger set. Came over the rise and could see in the pick up beams a big catch circle in the light snow but was nothing standing there waiting for me. As I got out it became apparent that a bomb had gone off at my set. There was blood everywhere and trap parts everywhere as a big coyote totally dismantled and bent up literally every piece of the trap. The blood was still fresh and the tracks in the snow heading for a distant treeline showed him to be in a hurry. It was my first experience with coyotes on my fox line. I gathered up all the bent up bloody pieces of the BMI and threaded them on a piece of wire to keep as a reminder of the event. I wondered what would have happened if he had put his foot in the Montgomery and that question was answered as time went by. Before I started gearing up for coyotes I did hold several in the little Montgomerys. Lost a few too, but not really that many. If it got a good hold, they seemed to be there the next morning. Still think it is the best little 1 1/2 fox trap ever made.

The reason I take the time to mention it now is just the other day I saw that wire hanging in the trap shed with the dried blood and rust. I did take the wire and pieces to show the BMI guy at the next MN convention to discreetly let him see what "that" coyote thought of his trap. He just shook his head in disbelief.

I always thought that he might have been fresh caught right before I was coming across the field checking the other sets and the pick up lights bouncing around coming towards him gave him a extra dose of adrenaline for him to exert maximum effort. He was rewarded for his effort but I'd have loved to see his dentist bill.

I used Dan's two trap set up at my fox sets for a while but soon, laziness took over and I went back to a single trap. Couldn't make myself believe the extra effort was worth it to me even though Dan swore the second trap increased the catch per visit to 50%.

Did you try his "styrofoam breakthrough" method? Jim