Thanks Rats for the compliment,I won't be writing articles any time soon though,there are more competent guys out there than me that do enough writing.

Very nice CLT, and congrats on the catch. Thanks for showing how it's done.

I don't know my longsprings very well- is that a #2? The pan/dog setup looks like a couple of Sleepy Creeks I own

#3 victors with base plates,laminated and paws-i-pans...

Very nice thread you have going. I will Archive it as soon as it has run it's course. Thank You. Tom

I have tried a few "natural" looking sets. I have had two "pee post" catch but not hold... I was using new bridger #2s. I think my issue was not understanding enough about pan tension though. I think I may have had my tension set way too light and with a hair trigger. I personally believe they critter wasn't commited to that step yet when the trap went off resulting in a toe catch. Point being that is the only "natural" type set I have made... always been a little worried about getting them focused in on something to get them to step where I needed them to. I guess this is where the guiding comes into play? Also I have seen a few guys using "dog guards", a little stick stuck in the ground right beside the dog and sticking up maybe an inch or two out of the ground. Do you use anything like this or just stepping sticks? I tried to see in your pictures but kind of hard for me to tell. Great post! Everyone is exactly right, not many people venture to put out threads like this! Thank you... Jason

You wrote & illustrated it well. Even a northern Minnesotan could get it. I see opportunities for this regularily, but we also get lots of snow. The photos with your guides were helpful. Most the time it is said, but not a pic.

I can understand the baited set, but I've tried the post sets numerous times, and the darn things never use it again. Have yet have them come by again. I really do like your sets and thanks for posting them.

RoughinIt,yes,in the pics of the sets I used guides around the traps,including on the dogs.Just pick something natural that is already growing or sticking up through the snow,keep it natural to the area.

thebreeze,the post set I showed was made at one already being used.Anytime you find a post or spot they are urinating,put a trap in where the most concentrated tracks are.If you are making your own post in the snow,put the trap in and use the handle of your hammer or something similar to "track" up over your pan,make it look used,use a little bit of guiding.If you start seeing where they are checking it out and they miss the pan more than once,remake the set and put the pan under where they are stepping,or add some more guides to force them.

That is a magnificent illustration! I do very much enjoy and learn from every demo you put on here. Thank you very much.

Not sure about where you are at but here if you sift snow over your trap it will crust up hard and they can dance on your trap pan all night. Two methods are used here to prevent this: one is to use a spatula or something similar to remove a layer of snow without disturbing the ice crystals and then lay this layer of snow over your trap, two: using a small snowshovel scoop up some snow and toss it in the air over your set and the snow will come down and settle over the trap and will not crust up...sometimes a couple scoops is needed to cover your trap.

addendum: neither of these methods will work with wet snow only dry powdery snow..........

You can sift it,you just gotta keep it up waist high or so,that way it freezes before hitting.I like to keep the snow as thin as possible without showing the trap covering.If it is snowing or going to snow I usually will leave it with just the peat and let nature cover it.If your going to sift it,it helps to throw your sifter in the snow while your making the set,that way the sifter is as cold as it can be when you start to sift.

Wet snow you can't do to much with,better to just cover with peat and trail it up and down the trail for several feet,or put in dirt holes.lol

Nice job, those sets are artwork!

Great Post CLT, Made me realize what I've been passing up. Will be taking advantage of these spots next season. Keep em comein.

I use a similar set but I just walk up and nestle the trap into the snow right on top his old track, brush a little snow back over the trap with your gloved hand. I dont know how long it takes you to make a set and how much gear you have to tote but I only carry the trap in and it does not take a minute to place it.

Thanks for the great post! Even though we don't get snow very often in my area, I feel like I've learned a lot. Kevin

Lucky. If I try that with my snow conditions it gets hard. That peat moss helps cover the trap so less snow is needed to blend the trap. It works pretty good for the guys in unstable snow freeze/wet thaw/freeze conditions.

I know I've seen on tv on several of the reality shows,guys in Alaska and far north just bed traps in snow.It makes sense if you have very cold temps for long periods.I guess it depends on your geographic location and what the average temps are.Believe me,I wish I could just put a trap in the snow,it would make it easier on me...

You don't need snow to blind set,it helps make finding trails easier but you can set trails without snow.
Here is a blind set on a trail:
Red dot is the narrow spot in the trail

Trail from the other end,red dot is where the trap will go

Trap bed dug out,sand and peat mixture added,then trap bedded,peat inside the jaws and guides placed for dog and loose jaw,just a couple small sticks from right there

Top dressed with peat

Blended and finished

That is a #2 bridger on a drag...

nice set CLT