I have heard from quite a few folks on youtube videos and what not to not worry too much about trap levers freezing down to the ground. Being new to using wax dirt and trapping in a much colder environment than i used to i continue to make mistakes. Yesterday with plans to move a few sets i went to set off a few perfectly wax dirted sets and found them dead in the water. Wax dirt worked perfectly on top but the levers froze down. Out of 8 traps moved 3 were froze down. These three traps in particular have been set since the day after thanksgiving and not touched. So to shorten the thread. Make sure you have either wax dirt or a different non freezing agent under the traps as well in the colder climates.

I've used waxed sand to bed in and it works well. Sometimes I'll put straw under the trap to keep it from coming into direct contact with the ground.

My waxed dirt quantity right now is very low but i do have a couple of bails of dry peat moss. Currently what I have done to remedy the situation is use the dry peat underneath the trap and wax dirt on top. This is an attempt to make my last 5 gallons of wax dirt last the rest of the season and to see how the peat moss reacts as an underlayment. It is very forgiving to use and I have used peat moss for years in the past prior to wax dirt altogether.

The Zagger method works great, too. I've been using that a lot this season, at least prior to the ground freezing up and turning to iron.

I have trouble with the zagger trapbedding method here as a lot of the soil is sandy and doesn't like to comply like a good soil will. But the sandier soil bedded traps didn't freeze either. It was the trapsset in dirt. So if i kept an open mind and bedded each trap per the soil conditions it would likely work well. It could make me a better trapper to pay attention to this as an issue and to know how to work around it multiple ways.

A lesson I learned from our friends up north is to buy a roll of wax paper cut it in two then crinkle up what ever size you need for the trap bed I've done well with that and or cheap sandwich bags I hope this helps.
Or if all else fails switch to snares like a lot of folks have I've been quite busy lately building more snares for folks.
Allan

Thanks Allan. I do have some snares out but not as many as i would like. Probably a topic for another thread but I have a game warden that doesn't really like the idea of snares on the public land i trap even though they are perfectly legal. I have seen and understand now why the wax paper underneath. If the peat moss underneath doesn't help th eissue i will look at going deeper into the process. Just trying to work out a system that I can run and have confidence in it working day in and day out. I know wax dirt al the way around works but it uses a lot of wax dirt. Experimenting really to have a second go to option when something fails.

Been having great luck with the Zagger method as well

I don’t have to deal with freezing temps, just copious amounts of rain. The Zagger method and screen works great for me as well.

I got a roll of those super flimsy Produce Dept plastic bags that works really well.

Wouldn’t wax paper or anything plastic collect water?

Whatever you do, don't try to get a frozen down trap out of the ground by prying.

Yes it can collect water until you punch in a hole in the trap bed so it has a place to drain off into this is one of those strange winter's weather wise. Where water up here in the northern states during trapping season isn't much of a problem.

Wanna be if you wanted to come on up to Wyoming or Montana this is the winter to do it it's only dropped down well below zero a couple of time so far this winter ha ha
Allan

Waxed sand for me , and a learning curve for sure . If you try and skimp on using it it will cost you. Like the guy that got me going on it says skimping cost only you. Try to think of the bed you dig out like a bowl, a inch all around including the base of the trap. And i top cover with ant hill dirt. Also 1/4 " to 1/2 " rock for a base works good also than waxed sand
Or ant hill dirt. This nice weather we are having now I'm using some rock and ant hill dirt and getting by . Good luck

0 as in below 32 on the scale? We’ve had a few frost so far, lol. But lots of rain! I’ll let the real trappers trap that kind of weather. I’ll just keep learning in the milder climates for now, lol.

I put down peat first, then waxed paper under the levers and then wax dirt. This works well to a certain point. I do this to conserve dirt. In reality you need waxed dirt covering all surfaces of the traps that are in contact with the soil. Trying waxed sand in the bottom followed by wax dirt on the top so we will see how that holds up.

Waxed paper for sure. So long as you remember to crinkle it up 1st & then flatten it out.

Some use propylene glycol mixed w/ water. Or supplement their set w/ cover hulls.

Banana sacks work good on large 4 coiled coyote traps.

If anyone has the instructions for this Zagger bedding method you all talk about, I'd love to try it. I've been to lots of demos but none ever mention Zagger bedding.

AJE check this out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNIHcBulkYU

I only use waxed dirt in the trap bed... mostly under the levers. Who on YouTube would suggest otherwise? They don't trap much would be my guess.
I'd change from that channel asap.

Here ya go, dude.

Dig your bed a little deep...you'll know how much after you bed a couple traps this way.

Pound in your stake, throw in some loose dirt, and wiggle/push your trap down solid.

Cover with wax dirt/sand, and brush away the pan to show it.

Grab the levers, lift up the trap out of the bed, and twist it back and forth a little bit. THIS ALLOWS THE WAX DIRT TO FALL UNDER EVERY SQUARE INCH OF THE TRAP. Under the trap frame, under the jaws, under the levers, UNDER EVERYTHING.

Now, as you are grabbing the levers to twist and push the trap back down into the bed solid, pinch a little more wax dirt/sand under each lever. Twist the trap down into the bed solid.

Cover the rest of the way with wax dirt, expose the pan, pack around the trap solid...bedding it firmly. Add a skim more to cover the pan, and brush the bed out.

Sift a tiny bit of native soil, and/or grass over the bed...and you are done.

This is the BULLET PROOF method of freeze proof bedding with waxed dirt/sand. If you have traps freeze up doing it this way...take up mink trapping...lol

Seriously...it works. One day, one week, one month...your trap will function. Hopes this helps you catch a few.