Freeze Proof Winter Trapping (pics)

[PsEbUcKmAsTeR17]

This set is made with peat moss and hardwood dowels. You can find these both at home depot, both are fairly cheap.

The dowels are 3/8 and four feet long. Cut them into 8'' sections, this will give you enough for two sets from each dowel. You can cut your dowels with a knife or a saw. It is quicker, easier and less likely to break your dowels with your knife. Scribe the circumference of the dowel with your knife, grip firmly on both sides of the cut as close as possible. Wiggle lightly so the dowel snaps cleanly on your mark.

http://a466.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/26/l_c9abe78c88b83ba97ccc63444d64a831.jpg

You want to make sure the bag of peat moss is intact so it has no moisture inside.

http://a148.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/5/l_47131fc357e9aec618a8c7e6e5481563.jpg

Select your location. It will help if you set in a wind blown spot. This will help keep your set open.

http://a847.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/97/l_796754049f64e4ed1afec3adc1e24c26.jpg


First you will want dig the bed a little deeper than normal. After you dig your bed you will want to drive your stake in. This is a cable stake, not a single rerod stake.

http://a563.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/39/l_129192329607737643ebdaa4ae51b812.jpg

Put about an inch of moss into the bed after putting in your stake.
Set and put the trap into the bed. I use poly pads under my pans to keep the dirt out.

http://a90.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/92/l_3795b5e573b4b1f5f53af0a332220d69.jpg

Use the dowels to keep your trap from rocking since the peat moss is too loose to firmly bed the trap in. After you place the trap in its bed use your hammer to set a dowel approx one half inch left and right of the dog and at the apex of the arch on the opposite jaw.

http://a881.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/21/l_6f4e162031f1a3f6ce76d1c18a569ac8.jpg

Alternate tapping the dowels in until they are even with the top edge of the jaws. They should be tight against the outside edge of the jaws to hold the trap and keep it from wobbling. It is very important to keep the dowels tight and straight up and down.

If they need to be tightened up you can use your hammer to strike the ground in front of the dowel which will push it tighter against the jaw.

http://a347.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/119/l_143d6f375804b2b7744272a2abf38b8a.jpg

After you have the trap stablized use your sifter and cover the trap with moss until you have it blended in.

I also recommend using some dry grass from the surrounding area, cut finely and sprinkled over the trap bed to blend it in.

http://a35.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/74/l_4bd526c1e2d566e20447ce1fe27b0e5a.jpg

This set up will remain dry and will fire even after light rain or snow. I use this set up on higher ground so if it does thaw a bit the run off wont fill my bed and refreeze.

http://a536.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/83/l_46bf1e73e2a3b31d8ddb838550ed2907.jpg

The wool you see inside in not the lure holder it is for eye appeal only.
The lure is on a wool and weed stem swab behind the wool ball.

If all goes well this is what this set should look like in the morning.

http://a231.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/38/l_d9383d7668bcd01b8d51514f13707f26.jpg

Try this set up a few times in your backyard before you go out on your line to get the hang of it. It sounds complicated but it's fairly simple after a few tries. Hope this helps out.

Note: I wont try to take credit for this set. It's a variation from a Charles Dobbins' book

Note 2: Smoknngunn helped with this post.

-Psebuckmaster17-

[Rustyaxecamp]

Great post.

Very good info. I will try this

Thanks!

[BeaverPilot]

very nice pics!!!! good post

[THUMBTRAPPER]

Very Nice post. I use salt and dry dirt for my winter sets.

[mwp]

Great informative post,thanks for sharing that!!

[PsEbUcKmAsTeR17]

Thanks guys.

Here is another set using the same process as the other except for I made a trench in front of it because of the snow. Also it is not in a blow spot, however it is up on a hill so the water will not run into is if is thaws. The location had snow in front of it at first I just cleared it away which is why I formed a trench. The trench kind of works as a guide even though it is not very long.

What I did is I found a tuft of grass decided that is where I wanted to make a hole.

I took the snow and cut it back in a hourglass shape with my pan being about 3 inches in front on the hole.

Then after I had my trap in firm and covered in peat moss then I took some dry grass clippings and covered my trap.

Then I took some long grass and put it in the trench. The lure is in the hole in the very back of the grass tuft.

Here is a diagram of the set to help.

http://a412.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/104/l_7f4cdd99ed5838c33c9133b6ea5f4f6b.jpg

Here is the set.

http://a155.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/115/l_0d97f4b199786acda9870fc62f640522.jpg

-Psebuckmaster17-

[Fur-minator]

Looks great!
When I make a set like that where the snow has been removed the Fox tend to shy away form the cleared ground and stay in the snow. Is this something that happens to others?

[varminthunter]

ed has the same problem furminator.

[David G Duncan]

Great Thread!!

Definitely will make a fine addition to our "How To" stickies.

Thanks PsEbUcKmAsTeR17 for taking the time to create this well illustrated posting.

[tmrschessie]

Excellent post. Thanks for taking the time to put it together. Tom