pvc works great. steel traps have many different techniques to useing them. i have some with pvc pipe around them if im on open ground. when im in creeks or on river banks i like to dig a hole in the creek bank about eye level for a coon and set my trap under the hole. Either one of these ways are effective. I like to use sticks to funnel the coon into the bait so he has to walk over my trap increaseing my chances. covering traps with leaves is okay but i dont like it. i put my traps in water. if im trapping an area with no water i dig a small hole that puts my trap level with the rest of the ground and use loose dirt. to many times ive seen a trap covered with leaves and the coon will push it to the side and never set it off. I use body traps but mainly for otter. But if i find a tree layed over across a creek bottom or river a body trap is perfect. put it at the end where they are climbing up and put a little bait around it and whalaa. Ive only been trapping for two years now and i still dont know all the tricks and what not. but trapping coon isnt too hard. if you know they are there you can almost put your trap out with alittle bait and catch one. but if you wanna catch everytime your trap is set you really gotta know what your doing.