Should I wait a little longer to give the critters more time to prime?

You’ll get a myriad of answers about this. In my area fur is starting to look pretty good, I’ll be starting soon. Some will tell you never start before thanksgiving. Some will say start on opening day. This question is just like the ford/Chevy/dodge question

too early in my opinion. at least here in Mn.

Right. Maybe I should wait a little longer.

looks like fun.Way too early for this snow crap.

Yep and half my sets were frozen in this morning in moving water and it is only going to get colder.

The problem in my area is the season opens a week before deer hunting and most deer hunters don't want me out in "their" woods scaring all of "their" deer away. Then inevitably, someone in their party wants to hunt the late black powder season, then bow hunting and pheasant hunting. By the time their done messing around trying to get "their" deer, the coyote hunters are out running their dogs. I'm lucky to ba able to get in a few days early in the season without upsetting someone. Had one bowhunter park his 4 wheeler practically on top of one of my sets this morning. Had planned on doing some water trapping to stay put of the woods but now that looks like it's going to be a challenge trying to do that. Think the cards are stacked against us so will trap whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Depends what you're chasing. Worthless fur will be worthless whether it's prime or not, and you can't catch critters without traps in the ground. I say go get em.