Thanks Hal and Ric,

I'm a books kinda guy. I have about 100 sq.ft. of shelves full. But all I know about trapping is utube vids and y'all. I've got the gist from Clint Locklear and Meat Trapper and others. But I bet they started with a book or books. Are there definitive books on all things trapping, sets and lures and baits? Or 2 or 3 that take one from knowing nothing to (with experience) competence?
Thanks,

Charles Dobbins Land Sets and Trapping Techniques...in my opinion, this is one of the best books a beginner could read. I also really like Dobbins style of writing. He does a good job of not only explaining the set, but also the animal behaviors that he observed that pertain to the set. His dirthole and flat set books are also really good.

Thanks Dfabs, that does look like a good investment.

Ric said earlier that bait can get to be something to "roll in". Is that a bad thing or just a different thing? I've had my dogs roll in cow dung and carrion. So they are attracted to it. Is that a k9 thing? Lowering the likelyhood of a cat or coon catch? Or do you reach a point of diminishing return for everything?

I'll be trapping 2 or 3 days at a time for the forseeable future. If I pull my traps, do I pull the bait too or leave it to sucker varmints into associating the spot with a free meal?

Hmm,might it be good practice to find 6 or 8 good locations and continuously bait dirt holes but only set traps at a couple? Seems their sign might educate me without me educating them.

Thanks guys.