I have about a dozen traps out right now and our weather has been from -10 to 60 above with rain then a 40 degree drop in 24hr and then snow again. I caught 2 Saturday and then it warmed enuf Sunday to melt some snow then was back in the teens last night. So I go to check traps and several sets had fresh sign and tracks all over my pan but of course they were froze in. I had a camera on one set and had 3 different coyotes work that set. From now on I'm going to do everything possible to prevent traps freezing. Its tough knowing I missed that many yotes

the freeze... the bane of trapping

better luck next time... Nice Pictures

I feel your pain my friend!

Welcome to the world of winter trapping .

Part of the challenge

Try more dry peat moss and just sift a fine layer of dirt over the set. It keeps my traps dry and working even in some pretty nasty weather.

RMtrapper try zagmans way of bedding traps. I also apply pure glycerine to the springs leavers and jaws
It takes a lot of rain to freeze my traps down. And go easy on what ever you cover the trap with it will usually freeze first it works for me and its Easter than carry dirt or peet

Trap bed only as big as the trap, and waxed dirt.

I put 2 sets in today using Zagmans method and redone all my other sets with dry peat, its 40 degrees right now and supposed to start snowing at 5 and be down to 8 in the morning, then back in the upper 40s by Thursday so the game continues. Hopefully I become a better player

Its kind of hard on your traps, but I use salt if they're only froze in a little.

I used Zagmans method and landed a fox yesterday and a coyote today when it was -2 so I'm going to use it more often in this weather

Anyone have a link to "zagmans" method? Thanks. And good to hear you connected RM.

X2

Frozen traps have hurt me all year. I'm still goose-egged. I never thought about it prior to the season because of last years mild winter.

I use wax paper under and over my land traps.
Ideal when it snows. If no snow, I cover with short vegetation and blend in with minimal dirt.
Crumple up the wax paper before using. It helps using earth anchors and did a deep hole under the trap for drainage.
I use a old brace bit for that and a pre-drilled hole for my stakes. Any rain drains down the hole where the cable stake anchor is and helps freeze it into the ground. I go back in the spring to pull them.

This is the one I got today, there is a topic called "pipe dream set" where Zagman explains his bedding

here you go: https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/6118132/1

Thank you.

here' the original thread with diagram half way down the first page. https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/4093801/1

Thank Zagman! It works!