If you trap in the high grass lands for fox and coyotes out east, this set is as natural as it gets!
This emulates a mouse or meadow vole nest that has been dug out.

Who else has any natural type sets to post?

Them look good Denny. LT Grey yours to,but it doesn't look like you got to much activity going on there. Dennys looks like his mouse is quite active and diffenitly lives in that hole.That imaginary mouse has a beaten path down from entering in and out quite a bit.Maybe a bit much weed in that hole. I am just thinking of how I think a hole should look that is active.All good though.

what do you feel the advantage's are to a natural ste such as that as compared to a large tore up pattern which has lots of eye appel ?

I'm no real trapper but maybe for those educated animals who are detured by the flash?

Sometimes older coyotes are wary of the classic dirthole set. That is why I always make some more subtle set like a scent post somewhere amongst any grouping of hole sets. I have always noted that the subtle set is most generally the one holding the rangy old 'yote.

I like that mouse/vole set LT! Can't believe any 'yote would be wary of that one. Asa

LT, Is the pan just to the front left of the grass balls?

When your talking about natuaral sets. Are you going to use natural scent for that set. Like put corn and grains down the hole along with mouse scent for a mouse hole.

Or use something that is not related to that set at all?Anything else would be un natural then other than the set related scents and lures. That would through the flag up to canines and make them weary. yes,no?

jcb4x, IMO, Nothing in trapping is 100%. Something un-natural at one of these sets might make the k9's curiosity peak and produce a quick catch, or it could make him wary and result in a refusal. They all have their own personality. If you have the critters in the area but your sets aren't producing, that is when you try a different "twist" to your set ups. These type of sets are just another "tool" to have on your line to use as needs arise.

I think lures should generally be appropriate for the type of set. For example, a hole set with an odor emitting from the hole generally should imply that something edible was buried there by another animal. The same food based lure or bait wouldn't be appropriate for a scent post set, plain urine or a urine gland lure would be lure type appropriate for a post. Probably if I were making that mouse/vole set I would apply some urine as the only lure unless I had a mouse/vole for bait. When I make subtle natural sets for set avoiding coyotes I generally use just urine, maybe a different species urine like bobcat or mink or just a few drops of a fox, coyote, bobcat or mink urine gland lure, it most always works for me. AsaAsa

[quote=Asa Lenon For example, a hole set with an odor emitting from the hole generally should imply that something edible was buried there by another animal. AsaAsa [/quote]

Yes,but let's take venison for example. That being down a mouse hole is not natural for the mouse hole. For a dirt hole set yes. But for a particular animal hole as mice or chipmunk,grains and fruits would be more natural than meat. Am I over thinking this now?

Ohio Andy. That is a set a coyote made...your job is to imitate it!!!

jcb4x wrote...Yes,but let's take venison for example. That being down a mouse hole is not natural for the mouse hole. For a dirt hole set yes. But for a particular animal hole as mice or chipmunk,grains and fruits would be more natural than meat. Am I over thinking this now?

No your not overthinking it jcb, very good question. As I stated above, lures used at a specific style set should be appropriate to the set. As you say, mouse/vole food or a mouse/vole itself would definitely be the most natural attractor one could use. There are always exception to every rule but natural scents with natural sets is one of those small factors that when payed attention to helps add up maximum response at a set. As I mentioned, if I didn't have the absolutely perfect scent for that set in my box I would then go with just a squirt of urine which in my opinion is always good under any conditions. Asa

I thought it was a natural looking set that you had made LT. Didn't realize it was an actual mouse hole a coyote had dug up... I was wondering if you had taken the mouse nest with you to the set site.

No...but I sure do now.....that friend, is the point I was trying to get across! You can make one just like THAT!

The most natural one i always thought were the ones a male dog found for you and then marked himself, and were blended in like lt greys, the one with the dropping is superb as well. Last several years i have gotten out of the habit of making those kinds of sets in fur season, lazy i guess, i use a hole set of some kind that goes in fast and easy or a simple flat set in bare ground with lure on a clump of grass. But natural sets are fer sure good sets.

Yellow jacket nest also work good as a natural set in my area. The best summer time set for old yotes i have found is a blended hole set with bait down the hole. No scent, urine, or anything else. The bait is a whole mole/vole (not sure what) that i catch from under tarps spread in my back yard. ...shane

Yep, I've used those too. Real natural set!

One would think some animals might be wary of yellow jacket nests!

How much time do you spend bedding a trap infront of a yellow jacket nest?