I've just caught the 4th coyote in the last 5 days on this property. I also had a few dug/exposed traps today. Is it best to move these or just reset & blend as good as posible?

I would reset them and blend them back in but it wouldn't hurt to put in a new set of a different type close by.That way if they are aware of the trap or that something ain't right they got something new and different close by...

I find once they find the trap they seem to alway return.So I would be sure to have a good clean trap and set it right behind the one they dug. They think they know right where it is. works 75% of the time

What are you useing under/over your pan?

If the trap wasn't set off, how would an animal know the difference between a trap and a rock? If the trap is dug up there is a reason. Either there is scent contamination to the trap or it's bedding Or trap movement that creates curiousity and prompts the digging. I firmly believe that 99.9% of the critters have no idea what a trap is. They would have no reason to revist the set just to screw with the trap unless there is a scent or curiosity draw in the bed that prompts that action.

bic

I think alot of the dug or uncovered trap are done by foxes or coyotes that been caught before. But also a dirty trap. For me I think most of it is I forget to change gloves when placing lure and next set I get a little lure on the trap if the trap is contaminated

Coons and skunks are to blame IMO.

Absolutely!
In addition, if it is scent contamination, you need to ask yourself why the animal was more interested in the slight scent, comaritively speaking, of the supposed contaminated trap than the actually applied scent in/at the hole/set!!!!!

seldom

It be the first scent they come to.

One was an underall & one was a screen. Neither traps were set off, just exposed! It did rain some, could have uncovered a bit of the pan, or maybe the soft dirt over the trap. I hate to think I got some scent on the traps!

IMO, too close, inches! When they're that close to both and they're more interested in digging the trap rather than the scent that's been applied? Nope, don't buy into that philosophy unless you've been so careless that you've rubbed lure or bait on the trap to such a degree that the animal finds the trap more interesting than the lured set!!! . Never have! That's why I don't believe contaminated traps to be the cause for digging in most cases. Coon, skunk, and squirrel love to dig in fresh turned dirt and can hook a trap and uncover it.. A canine stepping on a poorly bedded trap jaw or lever will make that animal wonder [Please excuse my language... I'm an idiot] is in the dirt and can cause scratching.

The few times I've had this happen over a lot of years canine trapping was due to me poorly bedding the trap. I saved a lot of time and energy by just adding a 2nd trap and ending that particular nosey canine's desire to scratch further the next time through. I know it seems part of human nature to THINK we did something wrong and first and foremost we ASSUME we've somehow contaminated our traps rather than look at the set itself! Thinking of the "here & now" of the set construction first is far better and far more efficent than pulling all the supposedly contaminated traps, reboiling them, rewaxing, and resetting!!!

Just my opinion based on my own experiences!

Stop, focus, and read the sign.

Did you see coyote tracks at the set. Most of the problems I have had with uncovered traps was from coons. I pack the dirt hard all the way around the trap up level with the jaws and then pack a very thin layer on top of the jaws. I also very lightly pack the dirt inside the jaws using a trappers cap to keep the dirt from getting under the pan. Then I'll sift about 3/8" to 1/2" of dirt over everything. This has seemed to help keep the coons out. The only time I have had problems with coyotes exposing my traps is when I painted them.

I think all the above can be right.If it's a poorly bedded trap the trap will be moved.If the trap is exposed or uncover could be any thing.If the trap is flipped over my money is on a old wise red fox. Each time/location must try to read the sign given.I know it happens less now days the when I started trapping K-9 but there a whole lot less trappers now to, it was not uncommon to have 3 trappers in one area back in the hay day of high fur prices. Their mistakes can become your problem or maybe I just became better.I would say a little of both.