This is a post that I hope will be around for a long time, because much can be learned from it for beginners as well as those of us with a good many seasons under our belts.

The concept of course, (for those of you that can) is to post a picture of a finished set, with the title question.

Some of course,(such as dirtholes) will seem obvious but not always. Different trappers set a hole set up differently...some to the left, some to the right, the dog placed in this direction or that...Up against the hole, back 9"...(You get the drift).
Other sets such as flat sets,post sets, rake ups, mounds, trail sets etc. may not be as obvious, as many trappers set a set differently than I would and still have the same results.

I learned a long time ago just because I set a trap and/or snare one way, doesn't mean it's the "right" way for everyone. I've seen sets that I didn't think would work only to find out differently. Well, shows what I know! :D

Finally, there doesn't have to be an answer from the person that post it...and that really is the beauty of it. The more trappers chime in, as to how they would set it up, the more everyone can learn from it...even us old timers!

Right or Wrong ... these type of sets seem to work for me

Maybe y'all can find something helpful in all of this

Post set for fox


Dirt hole set for fox or coyote ... leaning more towards coyote ... these pics show multiple stages and set location






Dirt hole for fox ... trap positioned tight to the hole and only slightly offset





One rock flat set ... trap positioned out from rock one maybe two inches and slightly offset from center


Double vertical pocket/hole set ... good for otters at crossovers and settling pools at the ends of culverts ... trap is positioned slightly offset in front of holes ... this set works great where flucuating water levels can put your typical sets out of commission


Horizontal double pocket/hole set ... similar to the above but holes are dug beside each other angleing upwards and towards the middle ... trap is positioned directly between the two holes with jaw fairly tight to the bank


Beaver feed set ... trap positioned slightly offset to the approach



Two rock flat set ... good for fox, yotes etc. ... trap positioned between the two rocks with dog facing towards one of the rocks ... many variations of this set ... as in the positioning of multiple rocks etc. ... either in a circle or a line ... very effective set

Thanks Possum Skinner!

Next time, don't tell us where the trap is!

when you guys post your pictures would you please also include what type of attractant is used with the set. Such as urine, bait, gland and so on. that would help put us in the right direction. thanks

Skinner, those are great pictures. could tell us what attractant you use at each set?

awesome pics you guys.very informative.i agree with mossyback, would like to know the attractant. LT GREY still havent got them pics for you yet but i will soon.

i beleive this is archive material! thanks for the good pictorial info possumskinner

Very nice helps alot. Hope to see more in the future!

great post,thanks guys

LT - guess I misuderstood ... oh well

oooops ... reckon I screwed everything up by giving too much info ... hate when that happens

dirt holes - bait , lure gland or food/curiousity or both , sometimes urine sometimes not

single rock/object flat set - gland lure or urine ... sometimes both

post set - gland lure or urine ... sometimes both

double hole sets - bait (i like softshell crabs and sheds) ... sometimes food curiosity lures (the obvious flashy eye appeal of these sets draw in the critters ... too much lure just attracts coons ... if you're targeting otters ya don't want coons)

beaver feed sets - peeled sticks ... sometimes lure , something like Pauls Woodchipper works great

two rock / multi rock flat set - gland lure and food/curiousity lure ... sometimes urine

*gland lures - fox, coyote & bobcat
*urines - red fox and bobcat

*** NOTHING I DO IS SET IN STONE ... GENERALLY I'M ALL OVER THE PLACE ... USUALLY JUST GOING WITH WHAT FEELS RIGHT FOR WHERE AND WHAT I'M DOING ***

thanks possom skinner.this is a great post.

thanks Skinner, I just wanted to be re-assured that i was doing somewhat right.

thanks possom skinner!!

Here's an old standby that a lot of young and old trappers have used, including myself. Basically a trail set with a stepping stick that is blocked down using rocks from the rockpile that the trail was cutting through. I just moved a few rocks left or right and the trail was complete. Area closest to the bottom of the screen is 6" lower than the ground in the forground. Which side does the trap go and why? Granted, we can't say which way the animal will come. Trap on a drag? Trap on a slide wire? Two traps on a drag? How would you do it?

on the low end?

Thanks for the info. Can you show some more please.

Best post on here in days. Thanks much.

I sincerely hope more experienced trappers will add to it, as we can all learn from each others experience.

Maybe a trap on BOTH sides of the stick? Just a thought

LT Grey and Possum Skinner Great Posts!

LT first pic with blackened snag...I would make a grass set at the lower left of the snag...the bottom if you will. I would position the dog side towards the post. Trap would be below ground level...bedded solid. Lightly covered with cut up grasses/weeds for covering. I don't like to drag at most of my sets but looking at the surrounding vegetation I would..8 ft chain with three prong grapple hook.
I've had the best luck using subtle lures at these sets IF I'm on location. Urine or small dab of gland...or even a light rub of a dropping on backing.

Ist thing id do is fergit the burned log, right where the two track hits the narrow spot id put 3 dirtholes on one side and 3 dirtholes on the otherside, dump a tablespoon of past bait in the holes and go, next trip in this area would have 5 possums, id remake them all as dirtholes and put a call lure in the holes, next trip more of the same until all the sets were dirty and then pull and set 2 new ones with gland lure on a rock and grassed over about ten feet from that charred log, then in a couple days i would leave.

Hahahaha...good one possum! I always cage trap these area's heavy, 10 days before I set a foothold or snare. Took 16 raccoons 3'possums and 3 feral cats in cage traps at this location. 8 coyotes and 3 more raccoons once I set it up in snares. Once the foxes showed up, I pulled everything, as we have very few here. Kept dumpin' poultry carcas' though....and sure there are coyotes still there but so are the foxes.

MCHEWK....great reply/post.( Actually what I hoped more would do).

Here is a backwards look at it, but you get the point.

Here is the skunk as found in the set...

Here is the skunk after dispatching it...

here is the remake with the skunk still where it was found...

And the complete remake, skunk ready to go to the fur shed.


This was a bobcat set, I set most of my traps with the center of the pan back about 9 inches from the leading edge of the hole, off set four inches to the left if the terrain allows...Took 5 skunks in this cat set before the cat came by..


Hope this helps. Tom

tmrschessie, can you explain more about your set? is that a dirt hole in the back i see? did you use bait or just lure and where did you place them? Thanks

Yes, it is a small dirt hole with a homemade bait, that is in the hole. The hole is at a steep angle due to the lay of the land. I wanted the cat to have as much of his weight on the pan as possible, thus the slightly lower level of the trap. Tom

Interesting set!

Here is the set.... here is the area surrounding it. How would you set it up?

In the first pic I would try a blind set just past the tree root using the tree root as a steping stick.

That root could also be used as a natural post with urine and/or gland lure with droppings for eye appeal.

LT Grey and possum skinner, really good posts of location and sets. I really appreciate posts like this that help explain where and why.

Here is the set.... here is the area surrounding it. How would you set it up?


A set that jumps out at me is as follows. (Of course it has blind set written all over it but---)
A set that I have used, most often in the end furrow of a plowed field would work well here.
Dig a dirt hole into the bank of the run, pulling dirt out into a pile. Move over a foot or so and dig another dirt hole with dirt spilled out into a pile. These types of dirt holes look VERY natural. A trap concealed between the two dirt holes is deadly on red fox. Granted this may be more complicated than necessary but I have used it with good success. Naturally bait and lure goes into the dirt holes. Learned this set from some old Dobbins guy back in the 80's.

Mac

Flat set with dropping and gland lure,But I would gang set this location at least 4 sets from what I can see , 2 more flat sets or a urine post and a trash mound just off the trail.

Like WYwolfer said. Flat set at the root....light/subtle attractor urine dropping, even a toothpick drop of gland on backing. Great trail for a few snares too.

GANG SET THIS AREA UP! lol

How would you set this up?

Man...no water trappers?

From what I can see by pictures, I would set this up pretty heavy along the hard lines of the tall brush and the feild with flat sets and urine posts.You have the eye appeal with feathers so I would catch them coming and going at the edges

Stay away from carcass pile ...state law here says to. Flat set either side say back 50 feet or so. With that light soil should be easy to skim off top layer and blend. Use droppings on one flat set use and light dab of gland or urine...play the prevailing wind to your benefit. Might dab a bit of call lure on the carcass IF its dried out.

Actually those are poultry carcas'......Perhaps not many of you trap this kind of a "wash out", because a fox, 'cat, 'coon or coyote will walk right up these, even without any reason to. These are found all over and make one of the best ways to add a blind set....because they have the finest and sandiest soil found anywhere to blend it with. Animals just natural follow these....and I have caught my share of peg-legs in them over the years.

Check one out the next time you see one!

Man I thought this was were the real trappers were.....does no one have any pictures or anything to share? I find that hard to believe!

im a beginner and i found that very very useful

Thanks LTGrey