Many of my sets are in the wide open along my sno go trail and I always have a difficult time locating the set after a heavy dump of snow. Was wondering if anyone has used a dowel or another method to mark the set location without deterring the fox/yote from checking out a set? I have used sticks in the past opposite side of trail but there comes a time when everything blends in. Open to suggestions.

GPS? Other than that, not sure how they might react to lath sticks.

av thought about lath sticks but worry about the critters seeing them or being spook by them. I got an old gps etrax, puts me within a yard of the trap. I hate messing / kicking around in the snow looking for a trap creates alot of disturbance. I appreciate the input!
I went to Lowes and picked up some of those 4ft bambo garden stakes. Going to give them a shot. They are calling for a butt load of snow here in the next few days and I would rather have a plan then lose gear!

I don't know if this will work in your terrain, but I transplant a willow branch a little before and after the set. A tall skinny branch is very resistant to the wind and snow. I also lay the chain to log, or grapple out along the trail. That way I can find it with the back of my machete to keep disturbance to a minimum.
I also transplant small spruce trees or dead wood for post/lure sets. I like putting them in the middle of the wide open where they are less wary about things. It's also where the wind blows the trail out fastest.

I do the same as nooksak and put a willow or little spruce that isn’t obvious just a ways before the set if it’s a place where I can lose track of it after a heavy snow.

Luckily for trappers, the sort of visual "marker" that helps us to find our set is the same sort of thing that attracts a canine to a particular location in a large opening!

I try and place my canine sets in the places that a fox or coyote would be visually "drawn" to in such places.

Pete

Metal detector

Dirt that is what I dont want to have to do!

I set 330s for otter along the river bank where they go in and out of the ice and along the edge. Often after a blizzard these 330s can get buried beyond recognition. I place a skinny willow on the river about 30 feet out from the trap. I also place a colored, plastic clothespin (X-Large) on the willow tip that the trap is secured to. That way not only do I know I have a set there along the river, but I know exactly which willow I need to dig down to. Lost too many good traps prior.

Fluorescent thumb tacks put one in the tie off tree at eye height, even in the day light hit it with a flashlight and it will shine back. I like the neon green really easy for me to see.

I use a green willow for my lure so it’s easy to tell apart from the dead sticks I use for my cubby. A similar idea would work for you. A single live willow would work. I know what you mean though cause I’ve had to dig out a lot of traps. I haven’t found flagging tape to deter animals besides wolves from checking out a set though.