Strictly Trapping


No Profanity *** No Flaming *** No Advertising *** No Anti Trappers *** No Politics
No Non-Target Catches *** No Links to Anti-trapping Sites *** No Avoiding Profanity Filter


Home~Trap Talk~ADC Forum~Trap Shed~Wilderness Trapping~International Trappers~Fur Handling

Auction Forum~Trapper Tips~Links~Gallery~Basic Sets~Convention Calendar~Chat~ Trap Collecting Forum

Trapper's Humor~Strictly Trapping~Fur Buyers Directory~Mugshots~Fur Sale Directory~Wildcrafting~The Pen and Quill

Trapper's Tales~Words From The Past~Legends~Archives~Kids Forum~Lure Formulators Forum~ Fermenter's Forum


~~~ Dobbins' Products Catalog ~~~


Trading Post
(Please support F&T Trading Post, our sponsor for the Trapping Only Forum)



TrappersPost
Please support Trappers post, a sponsor of the Strictly Trapping Forum



Print Thread
Hop To
Fresh snow on dirt hole sets #8547095
01/18/26 04:07 PM
01/18/26 04:07 PM
Joined: Dec 2025
Pennsylvania
PennaTrapper Offline OP
trapper
PennaTrapper  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2025
Pennsylvania
What do you do when you get a fresh snow on an existing dirt hole set?
Leave it alone, only open the hole back up, sweep off the entire set, or something else?

Re: Fresh snow on dirt hole sets [Re: PennaTrapper] #8547110
01/18/26 04:36 PM
01/18/26 04:36 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Pennsylvania
H
Hern Offline
trapper
Hern  Offline
trapper
H

Joined: Dec 2006
Pennsylvania
I usually sweep off because of freeze/thaw is common in my area.

Re: Fresh snow on dirt hole sets [Re: PennaTrapper] #8547114
01/18/26 04:41 PM
01/18/26 04:41 PM
Joined: Oct 2017
perry co.Pa
wetdog Offline
trapper
wetdog  Offline
trapper

Joined: Oct 2017
perry co.Pa
I use salt, lots of salt so I don't have to worry about snow
I prefer to set with snow in the forecast, I think it helps cover some of the human scent we leave behind
And the ground won't freeze with a powdered snow on top of it
Just my observations

Re: Fresh snow on dirt hole sets [Re: wetdog] #8547123
01/18/26 04:51 PM
01/18/26 04:51 PM
Joined: Dec 2025
Pennsylvania
PennaTrapper Offline OP
trapper
PennaTrapper  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2025
Pennsylvania
Originally Posted by wetdog
I use salt, lots of salt so I don't have to worry about snow
I prefer to set with snow in the forecast, I think it helps cover some of the human scent we leave behind
And the ground won't freeze with a powdered snow on top of it
Just my observations


Are you using salt to prevent any snow from accumulating on the set or using salt to keep your trap from freezing up?

Re: Fresh snow on dirt hole sets [Re: PennaTrapper] #8547141
01/18/26 05:11 PM
01/18/26 05:11 PM
Joined: Nov 2012
Frazee, MN
B
backroadsarcher Offline
trapper
backroadsarcher  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Nov 2012
Frazee, MN
If you are using freeze proof dirt I would leave it. Natural blending. You have lure and bait there so you have that attraction. As long as your trap is able to fire and reach through the snow.

Last edited by backroadsarcher; 01/18/26 05:12 PM.
Re: Fresh snow on dirt hole sets [Re: PennaTrapper] #8547159
01/18/26 05:34 PM
01/18/26 05:34 PM
Joined: Oct 2017
perry co.Pa
wetdog Offline
trapper
wetdog  Offline
trapper

Joined: Oct 2017
perry co.Pa
Originally Posted by PennaTrapper
Originally Posted by wetdog
I use salt, lots of salt so I don't have to worry about snow
I prefer to set with snow in the forecast, I think it helps cover some of the human scent we leave behind
And the ground won't freeze with a powdered snow on top of it
Just my observations


Are you using salt to prevent any snow from accumulating on the set or using salt to keep your trap from freezing up?

Both, under grass covered traps to keep them working
Under and above dirt covered set to keep them working and added eye appeal
I also salt a dirt hole or poke holes to keep them from freezing shut
Salt's cheap, waxing dirt isn't

Re: Fresh snow on dirt hole sets [Re: PennaTrapper] #8547160
01/18/26 05:41 PM
01/18/26 05:41 PM
Joined: Mar 2020
W NY
Turtledale Offline
trapper
Turtledale  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2020
W NY
Depends on how much snow. I usually brush off. Tomorrow we're supposed to get 18 inches. Our freeze/thaw has been extreme again this year. Had 3 feet of snow a couple weeks ago. Then a thaw right back to bare ground. Few days ago we had rain that turned to freezing rain to wet snow. We got a foot of that right now. Sometimes impossible le to trap. Snares are not allowed
You can't use enough salt for our lake effect snows.

Last edited by Turtledale; 01/18/26 05:41 PM.

NYSTA, NTA, FTA, life member Erie county trappers assn.,life member Catt.county trappers
Re: Fresh snow on dirt hole sets [Re: PennaTrapper] #8547181
01/18/26 06:12 PM
01/18/26 06:12 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
40 years Alaska, now back to O...
A
alaska viking Offline
"Made it two years not being censored"
alaska viking  Offline
"Made it two years not being censored"
A

Joined: Dec 2007
40 years Alaska, now back to O...
salt will rust your traps like you wouldn't believe. Chain, too.


Just doing what I want now.

Re: Fresh snow on dirt hole sets [Re: alaska viking] #8547202
01/18/26 06:47 PM
01/18/26 06:47 PM
Joined: Oct 2017
perry co.Pa
wetdog Offline
trapper
wetdog  Offline
trapper

Joined: Oct 2017
perry co.Pa
Originally Posted by alaska viking
salt will rust your traps like you wouldn't believe. Chain, too.

Only if you make a catch
And then it's easy to nutrilize the salt with a baking soda bath
I've been doing it for years now with no problems

Re: Fresh snow on dirt hole sets [Re: PennaTrapper] #8547265
01/18/26 07:36 PM
01/18/26 07:36 PM
Joined: Jun 2022
Manitoba
Shakeyjake Offline
trapper
Shakeyjake  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jun 2022
Manitoba
Round here, I’m hoping it’s snowing as I’m setting. This morning I just cracked the sets on the sled trail loose to make sure they’re still functional and barely dusted them, they’re still visible after we went over them. Can guarantee they’re covered within 5 minutes as there was some blizzard action today, just have to make sure they’re set where it won’t drift in. Good times!


Wind Blew, crap flew, out came the line crew
Re: Fresh snow on dirt hole sets [Re: PennaTrapper] #8547404
01/18/26 09:59 PM
01/18/26 09:59 PM
Joined: Mar 2010
SD
Boone Liane Offline
trapper
Boone Liane  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2010
SD
As long as I’m confident the set is still working under the snow, leave it alone.

If the snow is of a type and amount to not impede the function of the set or trap, leave it alone.

If the snow conditions aren’t going to change in a way to impede the function of the set or trap, leave it alone.

4” of cold dry snow is not the same as 1” of heavy wet snow.

If it’s gonna warm up and melt before I get back to that set, may as well get the snow off that set now before it has a chance to make everything a mess.

Re: Fresh snow on dirt hole sets [Re: Boone Liane] #8547434
01/18/26 10:32 PM
01/18/26 10:32 PM
Joined: Oct 2011
Idaho
B
bearcat2 Offline
trapper
bearcat2  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Oct 2011
Idaho
Originally Posted by Boone Liane
As long as I’m confident the set is still working under the snow, leave it alone.

If the snow is of a type and amount to not impede the function of the set or trap, leave it alone.

If the snow conditions aren’t going to change in a way to impede the function of the set or trap, leave it alone.

4” of cold dry snow is not the same as 1” of heavy wet snow.

If it’s gonna warm up and melt before I get back to that set, may as well get the snow off that set now before it has a chance to make everything a mess.

This
Like Shakey, I like to set when it is snowing or just before. Nothing blends a set like a fresh covering of snow, and it is very difficult to clean it off and make it look natural. But the set has to be working or it doesn't matter what it looks like.

Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

Moderated by  Drifter 

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1