I have seen posts about placing traps in sandwich bags to prevent the traps from freezing up. I don't understand how this works.

If the trap is placed entirely into the bag how would the jaws close properly?

If anyone has any info on this I look forward to hearing from you.

Steve

I used them when snow trapping and they work fine.never used them in the dirt.alligater bags, real thin.

Stobey... I think if the bag is light enough, it wouldn't hamper the performance of the trap. Years ago, they used to suggest wax sandwich bags. I don't even know if they make them anymore, but they should do the trick.

RRW...do you use a larger trap when snow trapping? How about drags?
I'm not a fox trapper, but different articles I've read, suggest a stronger(larger) trap for deep snow sets with long chains and drags.
I'd like to give snow trapping a shot, if we get any here in PA.

Stobey, put one of your fox or yote traps in a zip loc bag and slowly push the pan down with one finger. Tell us the results! I'd try settin with em if you say they work ok! RD

RD I tried a 1 quart zip loc bag and it seemed to work OK, but the bag itself is pretty slippery and might lead to pull outs. I also tried the type of bag you might get at Walmart it worked well also and is very light and not quite so slippery. It worked well also.

I am going to build a few sets using the Walmart type bag. I think they may work better.

Steve

PA steve,I used 1-3/4 victors and they worked perfect.Deep snow was best.Just find a fox trail and set in footprint.Helps to have a bait pile.Like I said alligater bags worked fine,they are real thin and the trap breaks right through the bag.some sort of drag needs to be used,since snaring is legal here now that is all I do.

I trap my fox and coyotes strictly in snow...well when we have some its lacking this year. I use mainly #2 northwoods and when the snow gets really bad I switch to #3 northwoods. These are all mod. with 6 feet of chain and a coyote drag. I put the traps in the gallon size sandwich bags. No ziplock they are too strong and you will get pullouts. The cheeper the better when it comes to plastic bags, they normaly rip when the trap fires. I have been using this system for years and never had a problem. Well I take that back big problem here this year. northern WI in january and NO SNOW!!!!!!

Thanks for the info guys!!

Steve

Thanks RRW & Trapnfur!
I'll keep your advice in mind if an when it snows.

Stobey...thanks for bringing this up. Its interesting to hear from those that have done it.

I use #3 jumps & #3 coil springs with Wal-Mart bags when trapping in snow. Granted - they are kind of big for fox when they get in them, but I am trapping mainly coyotes. There aren't many foxes in the deep woods here in Maine because of the amount of coyotes we have today.
Before the days of plastic and coyotes - we use waxed paper folded over the traps when trapping fox, cats & fisher in snow. Then we used a large "cold" knife to scrape snow over the traps. This would keep the powdery snow from crusting over. Then we prayed the weather would stay really cold so the snow wouldn't crust up to much.

I find that taking plastic wrap and puting one wrap around the trp keeps it from freezing up and results in a great catch.

Now if we all start using zip lock bags it seal our traps do we still need to dye and wax them? LOL

i've wondered about those rolls of "very light" plastic bags the stores keep on the produce aisles. they are real thin, i bet they would work very well.

the grump.

The produce bags work great. The greatest thing about them though is that they fit wolf traps perfect. Even #9's. On small stuff I use the lightest weight bags I can get. The biggest thing is not to put too much cover over them. That is what wads up in the plastic in my experiece. Really though, my foothold experience is fairly limited as I depend upon snares...

I am out to get a roll of produce bags tonight..lets keep this topic going..lots of good info..

what about the really thin sandwich bags that dont zip shut or does it if to zip shut cause them bags are real thin...

I tried using bags on my cayote sets and i noticed that when the went off there would be a pocket of dirt under the pan in the bag. It was blocking the jaws so now i just use waxed dirt with wax paper as a pan cover

when setting pack the snow dowm tight ,put trap in bag,firm it down in the snow and sift some snow over trap. Then make a depression over pan to look like a fox track.Don't put to much snow over trap it really gets hard after sifting.

Cling wrap works good for me, just one layer. Also I use railroad balast sifted and dried before hand, it is BLACK and makes a real call for them....jk