I think you will catch that fox.Not if just when.

Thanks trapper man. Only 2 weeks left in the season, so I hope the "when" is soon

Update on MY attempt at the crossing log set-

Caught one!




I changed the rocks I was using as guides to a couple of small sticks (see page 1 of this thread). Also, I was afraid of catching a fisher (season for them is out) and having it die in the water, so I put the trap on a six-foot chain with a grapple. After two weeks of checking this set with NO catches, finally today I looked and saw the trap gone from the log, and this guy was tangled up in the brush on the bank. I was standing in the stream when I took the second pic.

The trap is a Duke 1.75-



Would also like to add- this is my very first red fox! Thanks to all you guys, for giving me the confidence to try this set

There no better set than a snare on a cross over

Very nice results snuffy!

Do any of you have any pictures of the sets as you made them? I'm interested to see how you made the trap bed in the log.

I'm guessing the trap was solid (no wobbling) especially with such high foot catches.

Just wondering, I'm very excited to scout and prepare some of these sets for next year!

thanks

find a log that crosses a small stream and put 2 snares on it
likely to catch alot of fox and coon

Will S,

That would be a great option, but we can't use snares in PA. Thats why I was asking about footholds.

We can use cable restraints but we can't have any kind of entanglement or drop offs that would dispatch the animal.

Awsome set

Way to go Snuffy!

Shrek, while I'm out pulling traps today I'll get you a few more detailed pics

sorry we can't use footholds in nj so i cant help

Congratulations Snuffy....good to see your effort paid off. I have used these sets over dry creeks with good success. Mostly coon here, an occasional cat...Tom

Dry creeks? Really? I never would have thought of that. Have to give that a try next season.

Shrek, here's pics of the set-


The trap bed, cut into the log. I strongly suggest trying to find a ROTTON crossing log. This oak has probably only been down for a couple of years, and I worked up a sweat chopping this out. A hatchet instead of the masons' hammer would have been better.



The trap in the cutout. The grapple will be tossed into the water. In the second pic, you see the trap is level, or nearly so, with the walking surface.



Added the moss. Second pic shows how the pan now seems to be a low spot, relatively speaking.


Added a few wet leaves from the stream bottom and a stepping stick on each side of the trap. Next season I'm gonna go with doggonitts' system of two traps and one stick. Makes more sense to me. Two chances for a catch instead of one.


How the fox sees the finished set. I added another random lump of moss close to the trap bed, so the moss covering the actual trap doesn't seem so out of place.

Keep in mind, I'm just a beginner. This was my first fox, and my first catch in a crossing log set. You guys who have been doing this for years and years are probably laughing at some of this, but hey, it DID work!

Awesome pictorial Snuffy! I really appreciate it

I'm gonna do some serious scouting once (or if?) we get snow again to find some good crossing logs. Once I find the logs I'll set them up similar.

I was thinking about nailing down the stepping sticks and chopping out the trap beds now to get them plenty used to it by next season. Always something to do in the off season.


Thanks again guys, I love blind sets and these look to be real fun!

wow, after reading this I think ill have to give it a try. Havent ever caught a fox, thatd be pretty cool! Thanks for the info.

That's what I'm gonna do also. This stream connects two beaver colonies. While I'm out here checking beaver traps I plan to walk this whole stretch of creek to try to identify all the crossing logs. The fact that my trap sat for two weeks without any activity suggests that there's probably other, more productive crossing logs in this area.

Cutting trap beds now will save lots of time this fall!

anyone ever cut a tree down so it goes across a creek

I think Im gonna do some scouting and digging trap beds for these logs as soon as we get some snow

it will greatly improve your chances if you remove any surrounding fallen trees for quite some distance in each direction,ive done this for over a mile in each direction many of times, also if theres not one ,you sure can place one if you have permission from land owner to cut tree or get a few buddies to help you with a smaller fallen one near by. the trap doesnt need to be rock solid in its bed and doesnt need to be notched in the shape of the trap either, i sismply use a bow saw and cut straight across the log on each side of trap and deep enough to lay pretty flat,then axe out the middle,i make them in several minutes. i ususally cover entire trap with thin moss and or wet leaves. i always nail down the steppin stick of which i use a v shapped and place one trap on each side, and then a small pebble or piece of moss a bit in front of them to place there feet then the next step will hit the pan as its to far for them to strech to the next spot as thats a pan also, i have many of times had both front feet each in a trap. and often have a double on these also with the double set up. a snare is the way to go if you can use them.

most importantly,snuffy- GREAT JOB,your cuttout looks great for bedding the trap,and thank you for the kind pm you sent me,may you find many more crossing logs, dog

is the loop of this snare to small? it is for fox. (first log set)

i usually run a diameter of my hand spread and a inch or two so somewheres around 8 inches and 8 inches from bottom of snare loop to log /ground