I’ve been trapping 3 years now. This year has been horrible. I have had traps in for 5 weeks now. They are being worked by coyotes and fox but no results. Dirt holes, flat sets, compass sets step down sets nothing seems to be working. Traps are waxed and dyed. No dig outs but just not catching. Last year I cayght 2 fox and 10 coon from 8 traps this year I am running 18traps Bridger #2 dogless 1.75 Bridger and 1.75 dukes. Will add pics soon.

Don't get discouraged It happens to all of us.

Keep at it and think about pan location compared to your backing. Some times adjusting the pan location or simply adding guiding can make all the difference in the world.

Blue dot on last pic is pan on a compass set. just snowed that night so the holes where covered.

Nothing's wrong. Give sets a shot of good urine and keep at it.

If they are working your set and you are regularly missing them you need better backing or better guiding if they are not stepping on your pan. It will happen once in awhile no matter what you do but if it's happening regularly then you need better guiding, backing or move trap to where they are stepping. If you are missing them in step down sets I'd say your trap is just in a wrong location.

Keep at it those dogs are yours! Why not add a trap or two?

I agree with a bit more guiding, but they are coming in, I would probably leave them alone unless snow is coming or melting to blend things in. Snow will humble you, that's for sure.

We should have beers together.... I'm in the same boat. After lots of thought and research, I think my guiding is poor. Going to try again this weekend. Good luck!

I'm in the same boat. I've got cameras on a couple sets. Same thing. Unless it's a grinner, then I'm catching them just fine.

I have caught plenty of Grinners just dislike catching them.

I missed a coyote last night by an inch in a blind trail set. Moved trap,. Should have him tomorrow. I have got a bunch of blind trail sets out in the past 2 days. Wish I could use cable.

Gota clean out the trash first. Thats what a friend of mine told me. After 3 years of record breaking possum catches i think i may have got only 5 of them this year.

Blind setting is overlooked by a lot of younger trappers, but is very effective, especially coyotes and bobcats. Can cut down on possum & other non-targets. I'm not familiar with trapping in snow, which might require some change in trap placement. I usually
center my trap in the trail & narrow it down with weeds or small limbs if needed. Gauging the target animal's stride and placing a thumb to broom handle sized step over stick the correct distance outside the jaw takes a little experience, but your eyes will tell you how to correct blocking issues. If I center the trap in the trail, I usually don't move it, just adjust the blocking. Don't give up, blind sets work when nothing else will. Don't use too much covering over the trap & watch for ground debris & gravel in the kill zone. Good luck!

I forgot to mention blind sets there is a log across a creek that I set for coon but a coyote got into it and broke the #9 wire I had anchoring the trap.

Last year I noticed a lot of non committing Coyotes because of blocking. Using mostly bean chef and twigs to block them down. When I stopped using blocking Coyotes would work the set unlike before. Until I started trapping this area hadn’t been trapped in over 30 years. There are big dogs on the property but they are smart.

You block bobcats and guide coyotes. There's a difference. It's got to be subtle and look natural for coyotes.

I found a couple trails today where I've got fox coming through some tall grass and briars. I put some blind sets right where under where there where tracks. They must be using it every day cause its worn to the dirt. Hopefully in morning I'll have one.

I run 90-99% blind sets this time of year, if I have a baited/lured set out right now I put a couple blind sets in a trail leading to baited set. A trap or two downwind of set a few yards off is good especially if there is a little high spot close by. btw, unless snow is coming soon I HAVE to brush out my tracks around any set I make if I want to catch a coyote in my area.

In the same situation. Felt like I caught something no matter what I did last year. This season, the sign is better than ever and I'm coming up empty day after day. Stuff gets close, but won't get caught.

Game of inches.