Punch or Dig your Dirthole

[Mudcat]

I know several trappers who punch in their hole with a smooth rerod or just use a rebar stake. Some think a smaller hole makes the yote work harder at the hole. I hear some say smaller holes make em more likely to dig. I currently use a speedy hole that I just drive in and twist out for a nice mousey looking hole. I also dig my holes. So far its been about 50/50 with either method. One lesson I learned this year for sure, is the fresh dirt pattern at the hole does not produce as well as the blended look.

Best regards,

Mudcat

[dj88ryr]

I use an auger, about 1 3/4" diameter hole, 10-12" deep.

[Stef]

I like a lot of eye appeal at hole sets so I like a big stepdown or a nice " moderate to big " holes.

At flat sets, I like to punch a hole or more holes to put my lures.
I noticed that when I was making flat sets without small rebar holes... I had a lot of side digging and back digging. Coyotes were moving the bone, wood, rock etc... attractors and gone.
As soon as I punched some hole(s) under visual attractors etc.... I can count less and less misses when coyotes do work one of my flat sets now.


Stef

[17kiss]

early seasonIpunch them in and run like hell , Later on I use the O'Zagman auger and have alot of fun.

[vttrapper]

I make holes with rerod and sometimes with a pickmattock. Flats are usually holeless. I like giving them something different at every stop.

frank

[trappnman]

I don't believe that the digging comes from the size of the hole- but instead it depends if the coyote can see the hole.

I believe that a hole that can be seen provokes less digging from the back, side than a hole that cannot be seen.

I used to place a clod, etc over my rebar holes on flat sets- but have "rethunk" that theroy.....trappnman

[Maineman]

I dig most of my dirt holes with a narrow trowl but carry a piece of 2 inch pipe that I made for punching holes when the ground gets tough..

"Dig them if I can...Punch them if I must...

I like to use rerod holes at my flat sets similar to Stef...It seems to keep them at the set that little extra that will get them caught...

Dave Z

[mt]

I do like Maineman does. Small trowel when I can but when the ground is to tough then the stainless hole punch does the job.

Mark

[CoonDuke]

I am a trowel guy. I have a J.C. Conner "Jim Digger" tool that I used a milling machine to narrow up the blade some.

It is a b*tch digging in our soil and I do a bit better with a narrow bladed trowel.

I like the "Excavator" tool made by Leroy Renno. I might buy one and narrow it up like I did the Conner trowel. It has a D handle and the Conner trowel doesn't.

[Maineman]

CoonDuke said:

It has a D handle and the Conner trowel doesn't.

Using a trowel without a D-handle is like having sex when you're 90...I'm sure you could get the job done, but why would you want to... ;D

That little handle can make life soooooooooooo much easier...

Dave Z

[Edge]

Towars the end of OCT,I mostly punched holes,or used my RK660 Holemaster digging utensil.

I absolutely LOVE that tool.Unfortunately I broke the regular handle and the new one,and eventually bent the main part of the shaft.Total abuse on my part tho,its a good tool.Sometimes my brain shuts right off-yet I continue to dig..............longliner auto-pilot.

I'm buying 3 more and extra handles at the first conv where I find Mr RK...............the ONLY way to dig holes.

Big Hole sets still get the tile spade treatment.

Edge

[Mudcat]

What is the O Zagman auger?


Mudcat

[trappnman]

Kiss is using rks auger.

[BrandonH]

I bought the BW trowel from Murray's. It can be used as either a punch or a trowel. Extremely heavy duty and well worth the $30. I also use JC's badger esp. when running drags. Another indestructable piece of equipment. YoHo's just seems to get bent and busted after about 2 days in my trapping areas, so now they gather dust in the garage. As Edge mentioned, big hole sets get the Tile spade or Pulaski.

[17HMR]

I carry a JCs Badger and my partner carried a RK auger this year. I raced him to his auger at most all K9 stops, seems to help the hole stay w/o caveing in, in our sandy soil(love it), but needed the badger at times also for the big flashy sets. The hoe part on the badger is great for trap beds in simi froze ground. Going to build a punch this spring to try a little next season. Jeff

[trappnman]

we use an auger almoist exclusively for coon, but I find it harder to make the type of holes I want with an auger for canines.

I found it more trouble than its worth for my style of coyote trapping- most of my holes are either small or horizontal.....

[Edge]

**horizontal..... **

I used the auger for the step downs.......worked good,with way less beating on the joints...........


Edge

[trappnman]

tried the auger many times on the stepdowns- and found it almost impossible to get the hole horizontal and just under the surface like I want it.

Glad it works for you.

[17HMR]

I need to get an up close in person view of your step down set at the next convention i see you at Steve.

[Mudcat]

Where can I buy the auger you guys are talking about.

Mucat