Tell us how you make YOUR dirthole...

[trappnman]

Ok dirthole people- tell us how you make your favorite set. I know that there are endless variations....so tell me your picture book set...

I don't favor dirtholes, but do like stepdowns... Since I posted picutres of how I do it, I won't go into detail.

All I can add is that I prefer them exactly like the pictures- smaller for sure works less successfully for me, and bigger just means more guiding...

I prefer using grass as a side guide on one edge of the triangle- grass 4-5 inches high makes a perfect deterrent when the other side is left "open"...

[CoonDuke]

Choosing exact location:
I like to keep my set at least 10 feet away from cover. For fox, I try to make the set so it faces it's travelway and also so that the fox does not have it's back to heavy cover when working the set. I worry about wind direction for choosing general location but not so much for set orientation.

Choosing backing:
My all time favorite backing is a clump of grass. I am starting to use large rocks for backing more and more but don't prefer them. Sometimes I will "plant" a grass clump backing. In the woods, I like stumps and log ends for backing as well.

Set construction:
I try to make the set as level as possible. I don't like to make a set that the fox has to work uphill. I feel like it might not have it's full weight on the pan that way.

I dig my dirtholes back in under the backing at a shallow angle. If I am using a grass clump for backing, I let some roots hang down to hinder the fox's view of the bottom of the hole. I usually leave a 1" lip and then dig a bowl shaped trap bed directly in front of the hole. Sometimes I will not leave the "lip" and the set will resemble more of a trench type set. After I bed the trap, I sift dirt over it but do not make it level with the surrounding ground. It is maybe 1/8" ot 1/4" below the rest of the ground. I take the rough debris in my sifter and make two dirt ridges on either side of the trap for guiding. I also place some of the rough stuff in front of the trap. This causes the trap to be in a slight depression and have debris guiding the foot as well. The key is subtle. I feel if the ridges are to gaudy and "forceful" the set is not as effective. After luring and baiting, I usually use a bit of grass or debris down to hole to help keep the fox working the set.

The set is kinda a combination of Pete Leggett's tapered stepdown, Herb Lenon's Old Indian set, and a bowl type set John Ehn used to use.

[Traveler]

I like the double dirt hole by far the best.I don't worry about backing with this one because I can get a lot of foot movement by varing the angles of the holes.

One hole is more straight down,the opposite hole has far more angle.I can dig one hole almost straight back and the other more straight down and REALLY get those feet to moving. ;D

[k9]

Here is my standard big hole. Usually I would not have it so near the fence but this is one of several sets I put in at this location each year. In past years the coyotes have torn away at the old fence. Farmer doesn't care as this fence is down in more places than it is up. A good "hub" location.

When I get back from my daughter's ball game I will post a standard dirt hole and a flat set on the other thread.

[chub618]

just your basic hole type here. approx 2" hole 45 degree angle and a trap in front slighly offest to the right. but i am going to try some new things this upcomming season

[briankroberts]

I will at most locations have 2 dirtholes, 1 stepdown and a double mousehole well blended, I will also have a post set to go along with these 2 dirtholes.....B.....

[Maineman]

Basic dirthole for me is a 2 inch hole at a 45 degree angle about 8 to 10 inches deep...I have a piece of 2" black-iron pipe cut on a sharp angle that I use when the ground starts to harden up. Like Duke, I like a small lip between the hole and my bed which (IMHO) can help with trap flipping...Bed cut with ears to accept levers so there is no packing necessary on the outside of the jaws...(No movement with this)..Sift until covered, keep brushing off the pan until completely covered then sift over pan...

Unlike Duke my favorite backing far and away is a flat bottom rock...Second would be the tuff of grass (which is history after the first catch) and needs to be replaced with every catch...

[vttrapper]

Since i can only explain my favorite hole set< ;D, here goes.

I like logs or roots as a backing in my area. I punch in a 4 to 6 inch diameter hole at a angle undetr the roots or log. I am in a hurry so dirt flys everywhere, always offset to the right, use small dirt clods for guiding but very few, Slight depression where the pan is. Nice thign about logs or roots, after a catch, the wood adsorbs alot of coyote smell, also coyotes tear up wood and that can make for super eye appeal. Chunks of coyote ripped wood are super for remakes.

frank

[a1foxhopper]

Ditto what Maineman does except I prefer a clump of grass over a rock.

[rk660]

Hunk of wood, cowpies and clumps of grass are my favorite backings. I drill a 3" dia hole at a fairly steep angle to get critters feet closer to hole. Since drilling is so quick, about 1/2 are double dirt holes with different smells in each. I will stepdown about 1/2 my sets until its starts snowing, with constant snows i feel a stepdown hinders you somewhat. If setting up for cats I'll many times make a U shaped backing out of brush on 3 side of hole because of the amount of cats I see work them from the sides.

[Mooseman]

I use Dirt holes in farmland situations. They can be very effective and simple to make. This is how I do it.

I set right on location and look for a backing. I sometimes will simply dig up a grass clump to transplant one.

I dig a hole 5-6 inches deep and just wide enough for the trap I will be using..........usually a #2 Bridger. I then punch a hole 2-3 inches round and 4-6 inches deep at the base of the backing. Not too steep as it can cause side entry and misses.

Bed trap firmly leave a slight depression above the pan. Sides of the trap bed sloaped up on the sides. The depression is actually about 1 inch below ground level. My traps have about 3/4 - 1 inch of dirt on top of it.

I occasionally guide with small sticks/grass or stones. I feel set presentation is key to having work the set properly thus triggering a catch. improperly made sets can surely cause refusals and/or misses.

This was a cool thread. Thanks to whomever got it started. Good day all.

[17kiss]

I use so many variations of a dirthole it is impossible to cover them. A favorite I used to use was find a good piece of sod and make a trench type notch back into it , about 4-5 inches deep ,leaving a flat face on it , punch 2 holes at opposite angles in this face and lure 2 scents, open it up at trap bed and make trap bed slightly below level. Probably cant see this one without seeing it. caught a few fox with that one.

[Iowa Badger]

I dig my bed first

• cut out sod or topsoil just slightly bigger than trap. Set trap and pound in stake
  
• either dig a 2-3 inch standard "text book" hole 8 inches from pan and 2-3 inches offset. Or I pound in a rebar for a little dirt hole. I use this when useing lure only at a set and the standard dirt hole with bait.
  
• have trap about an inch below hole with the pan being the lowest spot.

[yota]

dig a hole with a shovel........forget the trap and stick skunk juice in hole

[trappnman]

Does ya have a lot of success by leaving the trap out...?

[k9]

Well I seem to have scanner issues. Will try to post some photos if i can.

[RiverRat]

K9 that first pic looks quite familier , I rember the long walk, awsome location if I remeber right.

[lynxcat]

I prefer to dig my dirthole round rather than square as it's much more difficult and time consuming to do it that way... ;D And like Buzzard...I put my "stuff" down the dirt hold and preffer to keep my trap OUT of the hole for better catches... ;D
later
lynx

[trappincoyotes39]

I pretty much dig a hole some big, some small, and put a trap out front, and throw some bait and lure down the hole ;D. Small holes get small bait mice, prairie dog. Big holes big bait: bobcat, horse meat, etc. Guard loose jaw and have a decent backing out here sage,rocks etc.

[bobwendt]

nothing special, about like everyone else. I am more concerned with setting on a track or travelway judged from experience ,if no sign can be found. Working the same country for many years helps know where to go before you leave the house. One other thing, fast as I can get the job done and down the road. I wiggle the trap in semi solid in maybe 2 seconds, never pack tight as I see some do. Winter locations are a lot easier as sooner or later a fox or coyote will come by even a lousy secondary or tertiary location. Summer work if you don`t see him run off you almost aren`t close enough. They stay pretty tight to a very small area when it is 90-100 degrees. I notice after a big rain the old coyotes will boogy out of that pup area and remark all their far out scent territory markers. dry weather and nothing for weeks, come a big boiling storm and if your sets will stay working they load up that night. I prefer finding the family and go to them for first night results, clean out the adults and pups in 2-3 days at the most and if necessary spend the whole day finding the next groups tiny home territory (summer work). Get on top of them and they are easy. Get even a 1/8th or 1/4 mile off and you think they are extinct. I do dump a little rubble line to the right of the trap. I don`t know why, just habit I guess. I get very very few misses. I think the right dope down the hole far exceeds how the set is actually constructed as to depth/angle/distance from trap or right or left. Clean, fast and on a track= catch. I always look for the spring den and if found I know I am in a mile or two at the most of the whole group. I`m real good at that denning and it really pays off even into early fall. The set itself, no big deal to me , within reason.