Canines by my pocket sets?

[frozentoes]

Hello again. As most of you know I moved sets to the water. Since then I have had zero action. I have however been seeing more canine tracks near one of my pocket sets. I thought about setting something for them but have no clue where to begin. I am sure the tracks I have seen are yotes. It/they are traveling a heavy deer trail across the crick. This is all hardwood river bottom land. I am also out of traps. I also must be bedding my traps pretty good. This morning in my remake set I had a perfect deer print on the loose jaw and it did not go off or move. I have a small guide stick next to the dog. Must not have wanted to get a sliver, LOL.
I also have a question on one of my sets. It is on an old logging road that goes to the small stream. In the middle of it is a rotting broken limb that sticks out from the rest of the area. I dug a dirthole set with the hole going under the branch. I then placed a #2 coil back about 6 inches from the hole. All I had at the time was some Mojo coyote/fox/bobcat lure. I dipped a stick in that and stuck it in the ground so the end of the stick is at the end of the jaws closest to hole and in line with the pan. I then threw some mack down in the hole. Yesterday, I bought some Reddy Red urine. This morning when I did my check, I poured a small amount of this on the log and then on a cotton ball and threw it in the hole. Will a fox go to a set like this?

[rascal (Joe Duncan)]

frozentoes;

  That old logging road NORMALLY will be traveled by almost all coyote, fox, cat, coon.  It sounds like a real good spot to me.  If the old log is the main salient feature, then it should be a good set location.  

Question:  How far from this set is the stream?  I like to set where junctions intersect.  Where the road meets the stream might be an excellent location since animals traveling along the stream might not go up the logging road but instead continue down/up the stream bank.  Those that come along the logging road will wind up where it crosses the stream and you might double your chances at that location.

Question:  You mentioned you put the stick with lure on it at in front of the hole and against the jaws of the trap.  Why?  Would it be better to put the stick either at the backing or even down the hole even with mack in the hole?  The way you have it now, are you crowding the trap pan a little to much and are you giving the canine the opportunity to knock the stick with lure over on your trap and then have him roll on it?  Or will he miss your pan with the stick "pushing" him a little to far away?    

The hardest way to learn is from my mistakes-but sometimes, it is the only way I remember to do it correctly. :wink:

[frozentoes]

Joe- Here are some answers to your questions.
The set is approximately 15-20 yards from the stream. The contour of the land is flat, no high bank.
As far as the stick, I really didn't know how or where to put that. I guess I was thinking if I put it between the backing and the trap with it hanging over the pan, it would step on the pan when smelling it. I put the urine on the backstop (log) as well as down the hole on a cotton ball. The lure stick is about 6 inches above the jaw. I do not know about the crowding aspect of fox. It is all very greek to me. I appreciate your help with this. I would really like to catch a fox.
On another note. While I was bowhunting this evening I found a pile of scat full of hair. It appeared to be rabbit or squirrel hair. It was not too far away from my set. Only thing is it looked to big to be a fox. I am thinking it is from a coyote. Should I get a set where the scat is? It is on a hillside at the base of a pine tree. Lots of deer trails in the area. I think the animal was travelling on the deer trail. I would not want to set the trap on the deer trail would I? How would you approach this scenario?
Thanks for your help. Mike

[rascal (Joe Duncan)]

Mike;
  You state:
  "The set is approximately 15-20 yards from the stream. "  Depending on the wind current in association to your trap- a canine traveling the stream may never smell your lure at the set.  To me, set location is the key factor in trapping. Followed by set construction and then attractors.  Just my opinion.  

The lure stick is hanging 6" above the trap?  How can a fox step on your pan if a stick is directly 6" above the trap?  Is the lure going to drip off the stick and create a contaminated trap?  Digging? Rolling?  I still think putting the lure stick at the backing or in the hole would be much better.

As to the scat:  If the scat was short segmented, then I would suspect a cat with it being up against the pine tree.  However, it could be coyote as well.  Since all canines eat whatever rodents are available, the hair won't tell you a whole lot.  Cats often cover their toilets but not always.  I find more coyote droppings in the trails than off.  Seems the coyote enjoy letting you know where they are. :lol:

[frozentoes]

Gotcha on the stick. When I do my check in the morning I will stick it in the hole out of the way.
I hope I don't catch a cat. It takes about 5-6 years to get a bobcat permit here. Not sure if I want to release one of those.
The predominant wind blows from the set to the stream. There is a high ridge that makes a 90 degree curve that seems to funnel the wind. I must admit, I never took the wind into account when setting this location. So, I should move it closer to the stream? The stream makes a horseshoe right behind the setup. The ridge is on the other side. Where the horseshoe is is full of logs and heavy brush. No trails or tracks going throught his area. I think that is why I set that far away from the stream. So much to learn yet, but the challenge is part of the fun. I am assuming the fox in this area are the greys. After gun deer season I am going to attempt to set up on the open corn fields and alfalfa fields for reds and yotes. I will then be asking a ton of questions about those setups next.

[Asa Lenon]

Hey frozentoes...if you e-mail me at lenon@upmail.com i'll send you 6 pages of fox and coyote trapping tips that should be helpful.  Ace

[rascal (Joe Duncan)]

Mike;
  Be sure to contact Ace!  Those 6 pages will help you A LOT!!  Wish I would have had them when I got started.
  P.S.  Got the email and will answer later tonight or tomorrow.

[RdFx]

FrozenTs another thing to watch is  where a yote , fox put their feet  (tracks on dirt patterns at dirt holes, flat sets, urine posts ).  Use yr hand to gauge distance fm hole urine post  to tracks and set yr traps accordingly.  The canines wont always cooperate but you will be in ball park..... Read over Asas info when you get it and apply it.... You will pick up on things gradually and get more confidence especially when you see your first fox or yote  in yr trap.  Good luck and keep us informed