Re: Covering traps after the snow gets hard
[Re: crossfox21]
#6697663
12/18/19 02:00 PM
12/18/19 02:00 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 610 Wyoming
thedude055
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 610
Wyoming
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I struggle with this in my necks of the woods. First thing for me was discovering wax dirt for the trap bed itself. It is awesome and works perfectly for the dirt portion of the issue. Around here we don't get new snow as much as we get snow blown and drifted into your sets with each new wind. I currently just dig my sets out after when drifts them in. all of my set turn into step down sets as we have 12" of snow that has been here for a month. They just get snowed thrown about. Once you get to the wax dirt they are ready to catch anything. Buried for days and the traps fire everytime with the dirt setup. I currently have no answer for the drifting snow except set snares and stop leghold trapping which i am resisting.
Owner Wind River Trapping Supplies
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Re: Covering traps after the snow gets hard
[Re: crossfox21]
#6697803
12/18/19 04:06 PM
12/18/19 04:06 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,595 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,595
james bay frontierOnt.
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I caught quite a few fox in footholds back in the day. My favourite set was a pee post under a fairly good white spruce,All the pee i used was bladder pee from catches.First I pack down the snow for about 3 feet on one side of the tree,then make a bed for a #3 ls.I used spruce branch under and thru the springs to bed the trap,and just the very tips of spruce inside the jaws,then sift a very light snow over all,nature will take care of the rest.A couple squirts on the tree and your good to go.You can use wax paper on this set if you dont want to fiddle around with the spruce tips. Two other good sets that produced fox was a mound(beaver house) set near a beaver carcass,or later in winter a buried bait set with trap set on top of bait.In late winter fox will dig down thru 3 feet of snow to find a tidbit. But if you can use snares that is the way to go.
Last edited by Boco; 12/18/19 04:08 PM.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: Covering traps after the snow gets hard
[Re: crossfox21]
#6697827
12/18/19 04:31 PM
12/18/19 04:31 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,064 Wasilla AK
HFT AK
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,064
Wasilla AK
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A lot of options out there but are all based on what your snow conditions are like and the temps.
Paper towels/tissue/paper are not a good option for sets during freeze thaw conditions, they all absorb moisture and will freeze.
Taking a piece of the frozen snow and shaving it down thin enough to break when the critter steps on top of it would be an option.
Wax paper, top and bottom and a thin layer of snow on top in a shady spot.
Peat moss bottom, screen cover and peat on top, allows the set to breath if there is a lot of condensation, if not wax paper works.
Cover Alls / wheat hulls, waxed dirt, waxed sand, same as peat.
white mentioned the baggies, they work if the temps are +10 or below, they shred and work pretty good.
And of course there is my favorite the hay set and it's many variations, they are pretty much bomb proof up to 4 inches of snow.
As white said the best set is one you can make right before a snow and with a hay set a 1/4 inch is all you need for it to all blend in perfect.
Hope this gives you a few ideas to try, and hope you connect!
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Re: Covering traps after the snow gets hard
[Re: yukon254]
#6699636
12/20/19 08:26 AM
12/20/19 08:26 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,343 Fairbanks, Alaska
Pete in Frbks
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,343
Fairbanks, Alaska
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A few years ago I started using thin white foam. I like the stuff that you put under that fake hardwood click flooring. The stuff Hardy board siding comes wrapped in works good too. I just cut out circles big enough to cover my traps and store them in a bag. I use one on bottom to keep the trap from freezing down, and one on top. Then I just cover with snow. Works better than anything I have tried. The foam is rigid enough to keep the snow from sagging down inside the trap. Ive had problems with that when I used baggies. For 50 years I've been using waxed paper. Never thought of the white foam. I gotta try this....! Thanks Dave! Pete
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