Snow Sets

[GoBlueGuy]

I looked in the archieves and couldn't find any information on snow sets. How deep does the snow have to be when you just use snow to bed and cover the trap? Do you bed your trap with dirt then cover it with snow or do you leave the dirt visible for an attractant? Do you set traps on trails or in places you would normally set a dirt hole set? Do you bait the same? If you could direct me to an archieve I would appreciate that if this is too lenghty to respond too.

[Stef]

How deep does the snow have to be when you just use snow to bed and cover the trap?

I say a feet to be comfortable with. But it could be done in less snow.

Do you bed your trap with dirt then cover it with snow or do you leave the dirt visible for an attractant?

If we are talking about real snow sets we are using snow only and as "blind" as possible.
Clearing an area off of snow and making a dirt set isn't a real snow set in my book.
Using dirt, peat whatever on snow makes a mess and it gives more trouble than anything else.

Do you set traps on trails or in places you would normally set a dirt hole set?

For me trail sets near bait piles = The most productive.
or/and scent post where I can make it.

Do you bait the same?

bait stations (carcasses), "farms" dump in agricultural area etc...

It is less difficult catching a coyote in the snow (where you can do it) than it is in the dirt.
Believe it or not, it is like it is...LoL
The problem trapping in snow is THE SNOW.
When you're working in deep powder snow and cold temperature and you have the trails...It works real well.
But most of the time.... a snow set doesn't last long especially where it snows a lot.
The #1 problem in my area is that the snow is freezing all the time.

It is fun, but doing it on a large scale will kill you...LOL

[GoBlueGuy]

Thanks Stef for the information. Just a few more questions if you don't mind. How do you bed your trap in the snow without the jaws freezing and get it steady so it doesn't move when stepped on? Is it so cold the snow won't freeze over the jaws and are you burying the trap strictly in powder snow? I get from your suggestions above that you use scent posts to create a stopping point or set around a bait pile. But I don't use bait piles in Michigan. The law is very specific about that. You have to use an animal that is in season and deer season is over. So without bait piles your setting snow sets on trails and hope the fox or coyote step in them? Without a scent post or bait pile what would you do to stop the animal around your trap and start searching? Can you bury a rabbit (which is somewhat like a bait pile) near it or use feathers as an attractor? Are you creating any sort of flat set with a lure under a rock or piece of log or placing some type of lure on a twig above the trap? Thanks again.

[Stef]

In the past I was using small white trash plastic bags and now all I bring and use for bedding a trap in snow is a roll of waxed paper.
A lenght on the bottom, trap sit on it and another on top + snow.

You can't bed a trap like you do in dirt.
The way I do it... I make a trap bed with my boot, waxed paper on the bottom of trap bed, fit a trap the best and as tight as I can and cover it with light "top" snow that I take close to the set but as far as I can from the set.
Than I put a "little weed" or two there and there as jump sticks.
Nothing more......

I tried in snow all kind of "dirt sets" and all kind of lures, prepared bait etc... and most of the time, when there's snow... We are dealing with hungry animals or animals that want a be in "love".
For me in the winter... Nothing beat large bait "dump"
Next choice... Scent post.
Good natural scent post can be found and can be set without adding any of your lures or urine.
Around large carcasses dump.... in late January and February you'll find pee post everywhere.

I found out that stopping a coyote in the snow is not great like it is like in the fall (on dirt)
As weird as it can be, it is like that at least in my area...LoL

Lures: Some say that when its cold you need to use loud lures and in my style of trapping in snow... I rarely use a strong call lure.
My lures of choice are gland lures and urines and my 1st choice is nothing if carcasses are there I only use trail sets.

Good luck!

[Stef]

The way I do it... I make a trap bed with my boot, waxed paper on the bottom of trap bed, fit a trap the best and as tight as I can and cover it with light "top" snow that I take close to the set but as far as I can from the set.

Don't use a sifter for covering the traps.
Makes dirty snow on top of trap and snow freeze more than what I explained to do above for covering.
A paddle or a long piece of wood works well for digging and covering.

[GoBlueGuy]

Thanks a lot for all the information. Hope to get some snow soon so I can try this out. Thought we would have some by now. Can't believe the temps will be in the high 30's and low 40's the next week. Trapping has been tough in lower Michigan for the last two months because of all the wet ground.

[Stef]

Ho yeah, before I forget...If you can, use a pair of traps per set, weed jump stick between them and voila!

[Aaron.F]

Roughly how far from the jump stick are you placing the pan of your trap?

[Stef]

Roughly how far from the jump stick are you placing the pan of your trap?

Traps are almost touching together, little jump stick in between.
I never pay attention at the distance between the pan but I know that the traps are very close together (#3 coilspring traps)