What have you used to combat frozen traps? To be specific-do you prefer wax dirt/sand, wax dirt/peat moss, spraying propylene glycol, or sprinkling antifreeze flakes? What have you guys found works best for you? I live in S.E. WI where we do get rain, snow, rain-next day freeze up conditions. I have been using just peat moss, but this last season with all the moisture, I had several canine traps freeze up.

The only thing I have tried that works is waxed dirt. I have not tried everything so no need to jump all over my post. I am going to try peat moss this year. Never got it ready for use ahead of time. Flake antifreeze works great but is hard on traps. By this I mean once you have made a catch and some of the wax is rubbed off the trap rust very bad in any are of expose steel. As far as spraying, I just can't get on board with spraying a mixture of glycol and water then expecting it not to freeze. Besides I already fight wet condition, why and more moisture? It may work but I am not going to carry another spay bottle around with me in the truck. I will stick with cover hulls and waxed dirt for my late season. This is just my thoughts. To each their own.

I've tried about everything and experienced about all the crap weather known to man. Nothing beats waxed traps along with waxed dirt to keep traps functioning.

Coal shale, much better than dry dirt, some sets are still working after 4-6 weeks of winter weather

Wax dirt is amazing have had traps under 1 1/2 foot drifts and they still fired after the spring melt off!

I’m not claiming to be an expert, not even a full time trapper yet. After 28 years of trapping coyotes almost exclusively, I’ve come to the conclusion that nothing compares to waxed dirt ( sand , sandy dirt ..... ) . Yes other methods will work , to a point ! Get enough rain and it will wash out everything except wax dirt or coal shale, the only problem with coal shale is that you can’t get it just anyplace !

Thank you all for the responses. I kinda figured wax dirt was really the only way to go. This will help me get ready this "summer" for next season.

I would say wax dirt with your conditions. I just use salt, but with all your rain and snow youd use way too much salt. I would go wax dirt if I was you

It cost as much to buy wax for a large amount of trap bed material, as fuel to drive west for me to get shale, it's not as good as wax I'm guessing, it's just what I prefer

Waxed sand or dirt hands down. Last winter had a 2in rain and the next morning it was 10 degrees. All traps were in perfect working order, with no exceptions. Worth every bit of effort to make.

X2 for sand...

I tried waxed dirt for the last time last fall, never had a trap freeze up, all were still working after a month in the ground, with
rain, snow and freezing conditions.