Have you considered snares? If legal, would be my choice in that snow.

And have you checked to see if your traps are still firing in the below freezing conditions? Sometimes the whole trap is frozen. Other times the levers are frozen down and the pan is depressed but nothing happens until it starts to warm up and the trap fires.

Just some alternatives to think about.

Very good advice TN Trapper. Once he makes sure those traps are going to fire he will get em soon. Will check back for picture...

I had several froze traps as last week when we saw -10 degrees and everything was moving but traps weren’t working. Cable restraints are legal but you need to take a course but haven’t taken it yet. Thanks for all the advice everyone I reconfigured my guiding and backing on some sets. Almost all our snow is gone now but it is supposed to freeze again this weekend.

I would recommend that you take the cable restraint class this year, and I'll warn you, it's a catch 22.

At the risk of being scolded here, I'm gonna say it- To me, running cables is like cheating. I do it, and I'm successful at it, but I don't get the satisfaction that I do from getting my target critter to step on a 2" x 2" pan in the middle of nowhere.

However, especially here in PA, the weather is brutal on keeping footholds firing. A little snow, and then a thaw followed by a freeze, and you got 1/4" pie plate of ice on top of your trap bed. We've worked hard to insulate and keep our traps firing throughout all of the weather, and we seem to be running about 50/50, Traps buried in snow and left for weeks, all of a sudden have a critter shackled in them. Traps that we figured were good and working, we dug around and found the springs to be frozen solid.

At least while you are struggling with keeping your footholds operational, you can run a cable line and at least minimize some of the frustrations of winter trapping.

I too had issues with coyotes not fully committing. They would come within 18 inches and then just mill around. All traps were clean, used clean gloves along with waxed sand. Very evident after we got some snow. I'm using bait and lure from nationally known makers. Its very frustrating and not sure what to try next. Most wouldn't come close enough for guiding to be the issue. I'm open to all suggestions.

I agree with RKG,ive never had good luck with footholds so i tried cable restraints this season. So far 8 yotes, 3 fox, and 1 bobcat have fallin victim to them on a small line. Plus they are way easier and u need less equippment, Although i did manage 1 yote in a foothold so far. Im not saying theres anything wrong with them alot of people use them just dont overlook CRs, usimg thems like steeling candy from a baby.

Snow makes it tough, covers all your original guiding And backing up. Add a a little backing on top of the snow and some subtle guiding. Backing can be as simple as stone or stick, give them something to focus on with all that snow.

Happens to us all get used to it, be patient, learn from your misses.. Adapt