New Trapper, Need Help.

I am a 1st year trapper from PA. I am primarily targeting fox. I am having trouble getting my traps bedded really solid as well as getting the pan cover screen to stay down once I have done my final sift over the entire set. I am getting a lot of dig outs and misses. I am affraid that I am only educating what I am missing. I have pulled my traps for the week to let the area calm down a bit. I am looking for some advice. Thank you

not sure about PA cause im in Indiana but i have found that when i set for canines and get alot of dig outs or misses its because the trap bed has sent on it or my traps need cleaned as far a getting a good bed i like to sift in around a half inch over the anchor then set trap in and finish in usual fashion... seemed to help me hope it helps you... good luck on the line

sounds like a scent control problem to me or there is not enough structure around your sets to make the target animal go where you want him to go. with the bedding issues i would have to recommend bringing along some of your own dirt that is scent free of anything and sift in your traps with it to get a good bed and then compact the non moving parts to get a solid bed in the soil. and for the pan covers sounds like you should be using a larger cover so it can be tucked up under the jaws throughout the sifting process to keep it in place and solid

I have heard that setting your trap up for a left foothold is key. Fox, as well as coyote, are slower to pull their foot on the left side than the right. I agree about the sent control as well. If there is any scent on the trap, more than likely the canine your trying to trap will dig it up. Also I find that canines will dig up a trap if the trap is not solid in the base. If they step on the edge of the trap and it moves, then they might dig it up.