I certainly wouldn't discourage you from trying some sort of dog bedding/hay set, but no one I know has been successful with it (tried it) mostly because it requires the conditions to remain stable for longer than they do. Trying to bed a trap in anything other than dirt is an exercise in frustration, at least for me. The slush just sucks to deal with and it's made harder by the fact that the wolves are still consistently visiting baits and set locations this time of year, even more so now in some areas.
Even though there's a super-low probability of catching one in these conditions, your time isn't lost...what you're learning about where/how they're travelling and habits this time of the year will pay dividends for next year. They travel differently when the snow/slush piles up and your snare (and foothold) locations will become more evident. I just picked one up the other day in a snare I hung and hadn't touched since mid-October (been checking them of course). Without deep snow, the location isn't something that would have stood out - just a random spot where a snare's been hanging. After the winter snow/slush sets up it becomes a little "tunnel" of sorts that funnels wolf movement into the location. Have picked up two in that location and is one of the few areas/situations I do use snares as all the deer have long since moved out of that area and it's an established bait site that I keep their interest in with a random bone or two.
The bait sites that you got out earlier will be good spots once the snow starts melting back and breaking up. Any bones that start protruding the snow will be magnets. If there's a tree or two around those areas that has or will melt off to dirt, get a set established there and be patient. A good stinky dirt hole is my go-to this time of year. While you're out checking scout around for the locations along wolf travel routes that are melting off - these are good places to establish a bait next year, or even this year. Still plenty of time left.
