I just got permission to trap a large 6 acre swamp that is dried up. The coyotes are running all over the swamp. Only problem is that the peat moss surrounding the swamp is very hard to bed traps solidly in. I found where some yotes have dug up a deer carcass and I gang set it. The only problem is the first flat set I put in, a yote brushed off the covering the first night so I dug a deeper trap bed and reset the trap. Today I checked the traps and a yote dug up the trap and it is sitting on it's side unsprung. I am thinking of leaving the upturned trap and blending in a few hidden traps. Just wondering if anyone has a tip on beding traps solidly in really spongy peat moss? The only thing this yote hasn't done is poop by the trap!!! Help!

Sounds like your placing to much Peat in the trap bed. You only need a small amount, also you need to sift some dry dirt over the top of the peat to hold the peat in place. When I say a small amount in the trap bed, just enough to cover the trap bed. Bed your trap solid then sift peat over the trap until it is covered. Then sift dry dirt over the peat to hold the peat in place.

Sounds like you'll get some experience off of this ole coyote.

Are you from the Geneva in S. Ala?

Tim it sounds like a peat bog

Try making a larger disturbance around your flat sets than just where the trap is, say a three by three foot area so they can't pin-point exactly where a trap could be. Try heavy guiding and blocking in some locations to make the yotes step on the trap pan on the first go-round instead of fiddle-fartin' around.

Hey Turner. Here is a thought. Don't try to bed your trap solid.Sounds crazy huh.Try this. If you are trapping in a peat bog you won't find much that is solid.Take an area that is about six feet in diameter and dig it up with your digging tool. Go crazy and make a real mess leaving chunks and pieces of peat all around.Make an artificial catch circle. Go to the center and make your set like you normally would.Bed it as well as you can.The coyote should notice the disturbance and notice the odor of your lure and investigate.With all the lumps and bumps from your digging he most likely won't notice if your trap moves a little.Make sure you can stake the set well or use a drag.Just a thought from another direction.

Down here we have alot of places that have alot of sand/peat & it is difficult to get that trap in snug.
Go with a deeper trap bed than normal(step down set) & just big enough to fit that trap in there. Also going deeper you may find some damp stuff to help pack the sides of the trap in.

Oh, this might be a good place to try some longsprings, but I have'nt done that yet.

Hope this helps.

Thanks guys I'll let you know how it works out!

Try two traps. When he's digging one out he may get caught in the other. I really like Spur's idea. clever.

I think if they are finding your traps and digging them up, they are smelling something on your traps. I suspect an odor problem.

i agree with calvin