This is my first year. I was wondering how you folks up north trap in the snow. Like, how deep does the snow have to be to bed a trap, if you bed traps in snow? We've gotten about 6" and it's just the start of winter. I'm targeting mostly fox and coon. I have DPs, body grips and foot holds out. I can move my DPs on top of a log, but what about other types of traps?
Also, how, or when do you change up lure/bait when it gets colder.

If it's over 4" I'd brush the snow off of the foothold sets and some of the area around them. Colder weather usually means more or stronger bait and lure but don't go too crazy.

I don't think they truly hibernate but coon sure do get scarce once the bad weather hits.

For the carnivores,in winter,bait is your friend.When it gets cold it takes a lot more calories for the animals to keep their body heat up.They eat more often and are attracted much more readily to a good size bait.

Hey Nefru if you change the f to a t your name will be nehtru or wolverine in Gwichin Indian

Hay sets are your friend in deep snow.

I'm no expert but been doing it since the 70's always in snow. All my small traps for marten are pole sets up high but my big traps are all done in snow. When I first go out sometimes there will be 1 - 2" of snow say and then I got enough to hide a trap. Pat down a depression in a lower spot the size of the trap. The snow will harden there and be a good trap base. Cover trap with your favorite stuff you do. I use squares of white paper towels sized so the corners go over the jaws but not much or any of the sides of the paper. Put a small amount of undisturbed snow on each corner to hold down paper and move snow close to jaws on sides. After I hide chain somewhat and flatten larger area of footprints etc. I go off to side by some fluffy undisturbed snow and "create a snowstorm" by swiping snow over the area. When the trap has a very thin coating of snow over the paper I call it good. If snow is in the air or coming soon I may put very little on the paper.
In deep snow it's the same just I'll create a packed down area under the trap that is taller. A lot of my wolverine traps are directly under my marten pole sets and set on slight mounds that I make of packed snow. Gets the stupid ones but caught stupid wolves and lynx that way too.
I use partly dried and soured salmon (dog food dry fish) in early winter (now). I'll switch to very soured whole salmon when colder. It's my dog food also so got lots and cut it into steaks with a bow saw and it smells at 30 - 40 below. So much active bacteria in it it turns soft well below freezing when weather turns say 20 degrees. For all the smart animals I try different baits and scents and trail urine I collect and win some lose some.

Stan where are you placing your bait? Are you mocking a dirt hole in the snow?
Hft can you explain a hay set for us green horn?

Im still on foot this year but im really trying to up my game. All i managed last year were two beaver... I attempted snaring last year too and failed...unless you count squirrel. Fortunately i ended up talking to a local guy who taught me a few things, so ill be at it again.

Stan Z..thanks, that's what I wanted to know. You treat the snow the same way you would the dirt. Cool. But what about the bait hole? Do I have to dig it deeper than a dirt hole or it doesn't matter?
HFT AK..Good idea. I'll try a hay set. I have a few poor quality bales that I was going throw out in the field anyway.

Let's see,
I'm short, stocky, have long nails and a bad attitude. Maybe I should change my name.

I've bedded traps in snow, seemed no matter how I covered trap with powder snow it would freeze, so I started to slice an inch thick top of drift or crusted snow and lay it on the trap, step on it and coyote sets trap off

Little trick I used years ago is to go to a local sawmill in the summer and get you several bags of sawdust. Let it dry during the summer months. Won't freeze and animals will work the set just like dirt. Even acts as a visual aid in the snow....
Also very light to carry in your bag/ bucket

I'm far from a pro or expert so take this however you want

I too will pack the snow down to bed the trap and create a disturbed area in front of the trap, dust a little snow on top of the pan. Depending on how I feel I'll make a small mouse hole for bait lure up high. Or elevate the bait (dip a stick in the bait.
Once off my favorite fox sets in snow are cubbies especially walk through style. They take time to construct and reconstruct but fox love them in the snow. I will try to dig up some pics of my walk through cubbies.

3 pictures of a remake.

Ryan did you put anything over the trap before covering with snow? Thanks for the pictures, explains a lot. I tend to over think things...i need to keep it simple. I dont even want to mention my snaring debacle of last year.

I think alot of it will depend on the snow, wet snow vs dry snow.

It depends on the moisture In the snow In Alaska the snow In most cases It's very dry and you can get away with moving It. In the lower 48 things are different. You move snow here and It hardens up right away. It's about the amount of moisture In the snow.

On the DP's, do NOT let the spike freeze in the ground, tis not pretty what the trap can do to a coon if the trap is froze in and can't swivel!
Dennis

Thanks Dennis, I didn't think about the DPs freezing to the ground.
Adam M. I like the idea of a walk through set. There were a couple of hollow logs nearby that would be perfect, I think. I'd love to see your pictures to see if they would work.