I'v e ordered and received half a dozen Sleepy Creek 1 1/2's. I'll admit I am partial to snaring, it's so easy, but now that I live in Vermont I find this is not allowed. Very backwards thinking. So I got these traps and I really don't know what to do with them.

There is four feet of snow here but the foxes like to come down the roads and into the driveway looking for chickens. So I have hard pack snow where I can dig some holes for a set. I don't know how deep the holes need to be.

Setting these traps looks like a PITA. I took a set of lock pliers to hold one open to see if the pan is flat/level once set. This is very cumbersome and looks dangerous. I sure don't want to get caught in the damn thing.

There are also some screws and nuts that came with the traps and it looks like they are inserted under the pan. I am not sure what this is supposed to do.

Got answers? I'm looking for help.

You should be able to set them in your hands, 1 1/2's are not that strong. I suspect the hardware is replacemant pan screws, but I'm guessing...Fox in 4ft of snow...tough, I would make a dirt hole set of a flat set along the road where you see tracks, maybe even a hay set, just a mound of hay with the trap set right along side and lightly covered with hay. Use some lure and fox urine on it. How about under some balsam trees where the snow in not too deep. You will just have to experiment with it...Off the record I would set an occasional wire too!!!

You can set the trap by standing on the levers, that's what i do. But if you have wet ground or snow, take along a piece of board to put underneath the trap while you set it so it won't sink in the mud. After setting, you of course remove the board and place the trap in your dug out trap bed. Be sure to anchor the trap with two crossed rebar stakes. Hopefully you ordered some staking hardware. If you didn't, you can use three links of chain. You drive your stakes through the first and third link and attach your trap chain to the middle link with a quick connect fastner.


Good luck i hope you catch some and show pictures of them.


Plinker

Sounds like you have a prefect situation there. If they're coming for the chickens, will you just be setting the traps around the outside of the pen?

Plinker

I have made a plan and am setting traps out tonight after work. I boiled and cleaned them last night and finished with a baking soda rinse.

There is no mud here, arctic express, but I think I can funnel the fox through a cut out in the snow with a scent drag. Hopefully he will step into one of the traps doing so.

Pictures promised upon success.

Ann

No need for scent drags, just set your trap on the upwind side of his travel. Flat sets are the way to go with deep snow. Using a drag is also very effective, no staking to worry about. Just remember, the longer the chain, the sooner he will be hung up.

Check out this site. Lots of info, see the "trapping info" on the left after you enter the site.

www.traps4kids.com

Good luck
John

Traps and trapping is a blast. Use a few small sticks and make a V so the step over the sticks and into the trap ( in middle of V).

Get Ray Milligans book Cyote Fever it will give you alot of info on predator trapping from IMO the best pro trapper there was. Jim Helfritch is also a great author on foothold trapping for predators.