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01-10-2017, 10:00 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: High Level
Posts: 2,237
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Freezing footholds-- need some tricks
Hey guys,
I missed 2 wolves last night, both stepped right on top of my footholds. Both failed to fire. I'm obviously doing something wrong with the way I am bedding them in the snow.
What are your tips and tricks for bedding in snow to avoid freeze up?
Thanks!
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Beer- Because good stories never start with a salad.
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01-10-2017, 10:23 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Southern alberta
Posts: 105
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what traps you using?
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01-10-2017, 10:36 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Alberta for the most part
Posts: 2,811
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An old Native guy told me he used, a high alcohol beverage like bacardi 151, to marinate bait in to not allow it to freeze, maybe traps would not freeze, if you douse it when set, like oiling it.
no joke about the 151 stuff
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01-11-2017, 04:09 AM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: In a house
Posts: 7,778
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I use wax paper on mine. If you use the light fluffy snow you can sprinkle it over top very lightly and it works well.
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01-11-2017, 06:46 AM
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Gone Hunting
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: North of Peace River
Posts: 11,346
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Wax paper,
Crumple and work until it doesn't crackle any more.
Cut it to just fit between the jaws, then set the trap and pass it under one jaw, over the pan and under the second jaw.
That keeps snow from getting under the pan and stopping the pan from moving and it keeps the jaws from freezing down.
__________________
Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few.
George Bernard Shaw
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01-11-2017, 06:48 AM
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Gone Hunting
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: North of Peace River
Posts: 11,346
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nimrod
An old Native guy told me he used, a high alcohol beverage like bacardi 151, to marinate bait in to not allow it to freeze, maybe traps would not freeze, if you douse it when set, like oiling it.
no joke about the 151 stuff
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Works well on bait, but on a trap will get your trap dug out.
__________________
Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few.
George Bernard Shaw
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01-11-2017, 09:58 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: St. Albert
Posts: 1,000
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maybe put a few drops of mineral oil on the springs, not sure if it has a scent or not though. I have also used wax paper for leg holds in the snow and it works pretty good.
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01-11-2017, 04:56 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: central Alberta
Posts: 12,629
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Quote:
Originally Posted by philintheblank
maybe put a few drops of mineral oil on the springs, not sure if it has a scent or not though. I have also used wax paper for leg holds in the snow and it works pretty good.
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Mineral oil will get stiff. Dry graphite powder is a better winter lube for moving parts. I think a good dry trap,no lube, with wax paper is the way to go. Even wax paper under the trap to keep the pan clear of snow.
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This country was started by voyagers whose young lives were swept away by the currents of the rivers for ten cents a day... just for the vanity of the European's beaver hats. ~ Red Bullets
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It is when you walk alone in nature that you discover your strengths and weaknesses. ~ Red Bullets
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01-12-2017, 11:49 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: DeWinton Alberta
Posts: 455
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I have had good luck with putting my traps in the produce bags you get from the grocery store(the real light ones.) Leave lots of slack for the the jaws when you set it though. A light cover of snow and good to go, they dont make much noise when crumpled either.
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01-12-2017, 11:53 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Fort McMurray, AB
Posts: 2,515
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Have seen the plastic bags and wax paper being used often.
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Be sure of your target and what lies beyond.
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01-12-2017, 03:49 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: North of the Kakwa
Posts: 3,973
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Make sure the trap is cold when set, crumpled wax paper over the pan, fluffy snow on top.
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01-12-2017, 05:01 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Beaver Mines AB.
Posts: 880
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Have you guys ever tried cat tail fluff? I used it with years ago for red fox.
make a bed of fluff, bury the trap in it, and cover with light snow. I also used crumpled wax paper also, both worked well.
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01-13-2017, 09:41 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 211
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this thread helps answer a few questions i had about footholds in snow. does anyone have a few pics of snow foothold sets they could share for a newbie like me? i picked up a bunch of footholds to try out this year and would like to give it a shot.
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01-14-2017, 07:17 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Beaumont
Posts: 429
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coyote leg-holds in the winter.
I've had some success with coyotes using footholds in freezing weather.
My exerience and thoughts include...
Regular dirt that was well dried out and sifted in the summer and later mixed with road salt. The salt is white and blends in with the snow.
Mixture is about 3 parts salt and 7 parts dirt.
I always used wax paper to cover the circumference of the trap jaws.
I've never crumpled the wax paper but that's a great idea as others suggested.
To overcome snow drifting I like to set-up on the south side of a burm, old bldg., round bale or haystack.
If you're setting up on level ground, either build a large ANT HILL of packed snow or use a manure pile with the trap located at the peak. The trap will stay clean of snow.
Digging into frozen ground is a tough job.
I use long handed ice chisels or axe head that is pounded with sledge.
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01-14-2017, 08:50 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: High Level
Posts: 2,237
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Thanks guys. I will give these things a try.
i realty wish I could just hang some snares and be done with it, but the risk of catching dogs is way too high.
__________________
Beer- Because good stories never start with a salad.
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01-14-2017, 09:48 AM
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Gone Hunting
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: North of Peace River
Posts: 11,346
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Salt will eat your traps and melt the snow making even more ice.
If you want freeze proof dirt dig up an ant hill. It's not 100 percent freeze proof but it's 100 times better then using salt.
BTW, You only need around 8 percent salt to keep moist dirt from freezing.
Your mixture is around 40 percent, that's what we spread on the highways to clear ice off the pavement.
If you can find an old ships auger, 1 1/2 inch or two inch are about right, they work way better for making dirt hole sets in freezing ground then any other method I'm aware of.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AlbertaAl
I've had some success with coyotes using footholds in freezing weather.
My exerience and thoughts include...
Regular dirt that was well dried out and sifted in the summer and later mixed with road salt. The salt is white and blends in with the snow.
Mixture is about 3 parts salt and 7 parts dirt.
I always used wax paper to cover the circumference of the trap jaws.
I've never crumpled the wax paper but that's a great idea as others suggested.
To overcome snow drifting I like to set-up on the south side of a burm, old bldg., round bale or haystack.
If you're setting up on level ground, either build a large ANT HILL of packed snow or use a manure pile with the trap located at the peak. The trap will stay clean of snow.
Digging into frozen ground is a tough job.
I use long handed ice chisels or axe head that is pounded with sledge.
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__________________
Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few.
George Bernard Shaw
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