Snow sets???

[fuzz269]

I have very little experiance usin foot holds in the snow for coyotes/wolf/fox so I was wounderin what you fellas do??? I caught a wolf in a pee post set, and a coyote in a set with bait nailed to a tree and a trap below, and a fox in a dirt hole made of snow. What other ideas have you fellas tryed that worked out good??

[white316]

I have herd of foot traps set in thin plastic bags work good
in normal dirt holes and around baits,

[fuzz269]

Ya I went and got a whole role of produce bags just for that, I also found that crumpled up wax paper under and uver the trap works well too. Come on guys sombody has to have a secret snow that always fools the K9's into puttin thier foot in the wrong place.

[nightrider]

The trick is not to handle the snow you use for the covering
because soon as you move the snow around it hardens and freezes i read this from an Alaskan trapper.

[boomhawr]

Never enough snow down here to worry about. If it actualy DID snow and freeze my traps, I could just wait a day or 2 and they'd be thawed out again.

[catmando1]

I have been hesitant to post on this matter as most of my snow sets are for 'cats, and the subject here is canines. But i guess a fella still has the same choices and decisions to make as far as how to go about it.

As far as I can see, there are only 2 ways to approach snow. How I was taught, there is the obvious approach, and the inconspicuous approach.

The inconspicuous, for most trappers, is a fairly chance ridden option. There are alot of variables that have to line up in order to "count" on this tactic. Basically, of course, a trapper makes the set to blend in with the natural snow fall, using snow for trap covering, and to blend his approach to the set, etc. The main problem with this is the fact that if the set is exposed to sunshine, or warming temps through the day and dropping off colder at night (even if only by a few degrees), the snow will melt slightly, and then re-freeze, forming a hard crust over the trap.
This makes the trap slow to fire, or not fire at all. if trap is placed in a baggie, a fellow still has a desent chance if the covering isn't too thick . Making the set area to look untouched is very time consuming and difficult. Some trappers though are able to make this work.

The obvious approach uses a different line of thinking. With this way, you don't really try to hide the disruption of the set area, but the trap area blends none the less. A trapper would go in to the set spot, and kick or even better, broom an area out, down to the ground, in about a 10 ft circle. Just let leaves and grass and dirt mix all up in the outer edge of the circle with the snow border. Then make your set as normal, and use an anti-freeze with your trap/covering. There are Several different options for covering and anti freeze. The tactic employs the same, visual attracting qualities, as when an animal gets caught and creates a "fight circle". The large torn up area amongst the white snow can be very attractive to predators. Then it is just a matter of maintaining the traps to keep them working like any other winter trapping. When more snow comes, just lightly broom it off the trap and then the rest of the area, to give it a fresh look. Some trappers will even "kick" trails through the snow that lead right to their waiting sets.

I know you fellas are mainly Northern trappers and know all or most of this material well, and can probably add some things to this. It is mainly for those who may read this who have little experiance in trapping in snow. Winter trapping has it's challenges, but it is well worth the effort as predators are very prime, and they are heavily on the move, looking for a meal, or love! I won't even go into the advantages of mixing snares with foot holds on the line!

[fuzz269]

The idea of makin a fake catch circle works Catmando, I have caught 2 coyotes doing exactly as you said (great minds eh) the only problem with that set is later in the season when the snow is a few feet thick it dosn't realy work, but up till then it is a good one. Mixin in a few snares is so a good way to get alot of coyotes, my winter line for coyotes and wolfs is almost all snares with a few foot holds mixed in.

[catmando1]

Jun 27, 2010 12:59:06 GMT -5 fuzz269 said:

The idea of makin a fake catch circle works Catmando, I have caught 2 coyotes doing exactly as you said (great minds eh) the only problem with that set is later in the season when the snow is a few feet thick it dosn't realy work, but up till then it is a good one. Mixin in a few snares is so a good way to get alot of coyotes, my winter line for coyotes and wolfs is almost all snares with a few foot holds mixed in.

Yep, fuzz, i figure it is only good in moderately deep snow. around here we don't get the deep stuff like you all do up there . Myself, all I think I could do to stay operating the line is to run snares in that deep of snow.
Shoot, around here if we get a foot of snowfall, we are pretty much shut down, as all the roads get drifted shut and we just don't have access. Since we don't deal with deeper snow very often, nobody around uses snow mobiles. A few people use quad runners but not to get down the roads, just to chore with mainly. We lost about 2 1/2 weeks due to snow fall last season, because we couldn't get around. I hope to at least get a 4 wheel drive truck soon so at least i will have that!

[white316]

Heres a pic for you catmando1

[white316]

There is about 6 feet of snow,,my trapping grounds

[catmando1]

Jun 27, 2010 20:57:32 GMT -5 @white316 said:

Heres a pic for you catmando1

Now that's what I'm talkin' about! THAT, my friend, would do the trick! ;D

[catmando1]

Jun 27, 2010 21:03:55 GMT -5 @white316 said:

There is about 6 feet of snow,,my trapping grounds

God's country!! Absolutely breath taking photos . I'm not sure I would know how to handle 6 FT OF SNOW THOUGH! Thanks for sharing White...... awesome..... just awesome!

[maxwell]

Awesome pictures white316,mountain after mountain just beautifull.