Clint:
This is really difficult when one isn't there to see it for oneself. I'm sure there is a simple solution if I could actually survey the area. What comes to mind from your description, is finding the places where canines enter and exit the plantation. Certainly I wouldn't want to walk up and down the rows, leaving human scent and tracks again and again in the sand and snow right within inches of set made along the rows. You said that there is too much activity from snowmachines outside of the plantation, forcing you to mke sets inside. How about making sets just a few feet inside of a row where canines have been known to enter, say a dirt hole because of the nice sand you described, so you could just peek into the row and check your set without walking right up every time. Once the set was made, you would only have to brush out your tracks back as far as the row entrance. There is alread enough human activity on the outside that it would probably be normal to the canines. Good luck Clint, I would like to see you get initiated into the coyote trapping art. I've met you, you are a sharp guy with apparent common sense and good judgement so I know you can do it.
Rick: I've met you too and you are not a guy with sound judgement and common sense so I know you could never harvest a coyote, LOL
:-D . Really Rick, just kidding of course. You mentioned when we walked into your deer blind in a cedar swamp. About half way in we crossed an open area where the ground was dry and higher than the surrounding swamp. That place is a natural for bobcats and probably coyotes too. I know every cat would stalk that minor open ridge bordering the heavy cover, in search of rabbits, grouse and small game for lunch. One could just see and hear trap chains jingleing by crossin this area.
Ace
