Flatset vs. hole

[flathead40]

For you guys that set both. Do you find a difference in location for each? Or, wouldn't matter which set it was because they are interchangeable?

[braveheart]

In the dead of winter I make my backings. And in the fair weather I like a backing that is about 10-12 in. high and it has some width to it to bring coyote around the front.

[braveheart]

In the dead of winter I make my backings. And in the fair weather I like a backing that is about 10-12 in. high and it has some width to it to bring coyote around the front. Dirt holes if a step down no backing needed but they are very weather touchy.

[trappnman]

That's a question with a couple of different angles for me.

Yes and no. Its hard to put in a flat set in some places, but it can be done. For example a grass field. If it's continuous sod, then you have two choices in my mind.....spend time finding a spot that is still on location but lends itself to a blended set... or spend a lot of time making the set in sod. I've done both.

if Im talking hayfields, there are always what I call "dust circles" that lend themselves to a walkthrough type flat set. I made one in my video. That set used to be my stock in trade, esp when I was using 1.75 traps as the set lent itself to it quite well.

And for sure there are locations that scream out for a flat set- not so much because I think it will produce better, but because its so easy to make- here, time is on the side of a flat set . Best example of this is old manure piles, unused field road edges, etc.

To the 2nd part of the question, does it matter which set is put into a location insofar as production success.

I say this with a caveat....... once he is aware of it, imo no.

let me pause a minute. Definition of a flat set comes into play. To me, a flat set has no visual at the trap...its all done with the lure or positioning. visuals at the set, yes. But at the trap, no. I understand this is a personal thing, but it puts the above in context perhaps.

So imo, a flat set unless almost a trail set (meaning pretty much under his feet) will take time for the coyote to become aware of the set.

( a tangent: we talked about lure success rates, trap nights, etc....tp me the #1 thing I am concerned about, is awareness of the set. That is, what percentage of coyotes that are aware of my set work it, and how many are caught. The one (and ONLY) good thing about snow, its such a cruel teacher)

So in a way, location does play a part, but only, again imo, in how that location would fare in awareness %.

So why don't I use them? Not really sure. Just kinda went away from them I guess when I finally learned how to catch them in dirtholes besides just a stepdown. And maybe its going to bigger traps. And maybe its the research showing how the visuals of a hole, etc elicit a quicker response.


So my evolution on sets, went from fox type dirtholes, to almost 100% stepdowns, then 100% flat sets, then a mix and now 100% dirtholes.

I've had little to no success with post sets after trying all the secret tricks from those that promote the set, and have caught some in blind trail sets but haven't made one for years.

Also, I do not believe in making multiple type sets at a location as SOP. Whatever set works best for you, use it.

I also do not subscribe to the set a fresh trap after coyote catches. I've mentioned before that when we test something, we test it all
season. We did it sporadically years ago, but no pattern so no data. A few years back, we decided to test it again for 2 years. Our method was if the traps at the location had all caught a coyote, we would move a short distance away, and put in a fresh one. If a trap had just incidentals and the rest coyotes, we didn't set fresh- only when all had held a coyote.

We found definitively, for us, that setting a fresh trap was a waste of time and resources- that almost to a coyote any additional catches were in a previous remake. I think the reason was that in so many of our locations, there are limited spots to actually put a trap because of farming practices during harvest- so the 1st traps set were in the best locations. So setting a fresh trap might work well for some, not for us.

[Deleted]

When I find a location I want to set, the first thing I look at is how easy does the general location lend itself to blending up-wind of the sign.  My Disco dirt hole requires blending similar, but it doesn't need to be to the extent of my walk-thru.  My walk-thru set needs to be blended as I would blend a blind trail set.  A location I want to set needs to allow me to at least fit in a Disco dirt hole blended to some degree and still look natural.

My 2 scented sets are for the most part 90% interchangable.  

Notice in this video the grass clumps and small spots of clear ground in between them makes for a perfect walk-thru set location whereas the Disco dirt hole I set as well was up in a lostion that it was better suited for than the walk-thru.
youtu.be/_bhiOK5tn_U

A common if not typical Disco dirt hole set location that was easier to make natural than my walk-thru set.
youtu.be/403cZ509Qi8

[braveheart]

I think it is a head scratcher, That the same traps hit all the time an the others sit. I do one pee set at every location just for the standers watching there buddy's spin. Last 2 years remakes are the king.