Dirty trap philosophies.

[blakcoyote]

I didnt want to hijack another thread,and I stated I use dirty trapsNow I'm wondering,am I really reusing dirty traps.After a catch,I'll reset it in the catch circle,but if I set it in a new set,I'll actually take and hose it off at home,and then throw in my old dye solution for a day,but not go through the boiling or rewaxing,if the traps bad enough where it'll rust too bad I wont reuse it.I do get an occasional digger with them,so maybe I should rethink my method.A while back,I was thinking,that by doing this,would atleast minimize the animal odors that direct attention to the trap.A plain dirty trap around here would definately get noticed.But another thought comes to mind.Do you think that depending on areas of high population of canines vs. low to moderate numbers,that dirty traps can be used without to much consequence,due to the fact that more canines in an area doesnt alarm there senses as to low population areas,where it may cause more curiousity as to who moved in there house.Or could it be climate,high humidity vs low humidity,that has an effect on odor.Or is it something else.

[trappnman]

I resisted changing traps for year...for years.

But slowly had to admit that having a dirty trap in the ground rusting... alerted coyotes that something was amiss- I'd either get digging at the lure holes from the side- or more likely- a careful effort on the yotes part NOT to step on the ground in which the dirty trap was hidden.

Ron Leggett believes in the 3 day theroy- that if you have a catch- leave that trap. If you get another catch within 3 days- keep using that trap.

If no catch in 3 days- replace the trap. The 3 days was the point where a dirty trap really started to matter.

I wasn't quite that accurate in replacing traps- but I do believe in the theroy also.

As stated elsewhere- this was my first year in redoing traps during the season, and I found it to be worth the effort. I simply took traps to car wash, washed good, rinsed well at home and waxed. Back in the ground the next day.

I am firmly convinced that a trap that is rusting, is bad.

Urine over the pattern helps- but doesn't eliminate the problem.

[dj88ryr]

I this area, for fox, I do not think it makes a hell of a lot of difference. Coyotes may be a different story, we have a lot of fox here, and with the farming practices of the Amish, there are rusting pieces of metal in the ground every where, I do not think it spooks fox, but I also do not use traps over the same year if it starts to rust, I just replace it, with a fresh one. Lynn keeps telling me, I have too many traps.

[briankroberts]

I'll have to agree with Steve on this one, if you have a rusting trap or digging at all, thats your problem.....B....

[blakcoyote]

I used to be super paranoid when it came to dying and waxing,now I've gotten somewhat relaxed,and more confident.I've been seeing where alot of trappers are just power washing then waxing,and I may give that a try.When I first started trapping canines I used to spray all my dirt patterns with fox urine and got alot of digging.Then I read something where about how some urines actually had food particals in it,which would elicit digging, with the way some manufactures collected it under pens and what not,so along with bedding better and no use of urine on the pattern,I reduced digging dramatically,along with using native dyes.But thats not to say all urine will cause this,because all urine is not the same in quality.I guess keeping ones mind open,increases your chances of success.

[bblwi]

Blackcoyote,
I have been wranglilng this catch dirt remake with dirty trap thing for a few years now. I think the concept is solid. Time, proper containment and keeping other stuff clean are logistical issues.
Steve you bring up the rust issue. Rust does continue to increase and thus change, that is probably bad.
I see now you are power washing and waxing and re-setting. What do you think about a good swishing at home, wax in a pot of wax just for waxing the contaminated traps and in the ground with catch dirt?
The last red I caught in a chisel plowed field had about 10-15 quarts of dirt all gathered up for me and it sure was ready to use there and in several other places if I was ready to put it to use.

Bryce

[blakcoyote]

bblwi,I just may have to give that a try,I havent had too much problems with diggers in the last few years,only 2 this year.I do like DJ's idea though,just get more traps

[NevadaTrapper]

blakcoyote said:

Then I read something where about how some urines actually had food particals in it,which would elicit digging

What if you sprayed food lure or urine directly on the pan, being careful that it only got on the pan, then wouldn't the coyote start digging where the smell is strongest, and slap his feet right onto the pan?

[3n]

The only logical way to collect animal urines is to have a drain board tray of some sort under your animal cages that will direct the urine into a container. The urine will have to drain through droppings and scattered food particles that have also fell through the cages. Would you scatter dust particles from droppings, and food over your trap? Isn't that what you would have left as the urine drys when you sprinkle urine over your set pattern? Slim Pedersen's Problems and Solutions.

[trappnman]

Bryce- honestly, the last 2 times I rewaxed- I just scrubbed the traps in a bucket of water at home to get off the crud and mud- rewaxed and they were fine.

[coyote]

DJ88RYR said:

Lynn keeps telling me, I have too many traps.

this does not compute. what does it mean?

;D

[dj88ryr]

Don, She hasn't been able to satisfactorily explain that to me yet either, I told her that there is still plenty of room in the cellar after the shed is too full.

[coyote]

Wayne, my wife has said the same thing.

It's WEIRD! I KNOW she has WAAAAY too many shoes. That's a concept I can grasp...but "too many traps"?? ??

doesn't make any sense "atoll".

[coydog]

Well, definitions of "dirty trap" can really vary.
If the trap has an obvious odor to me, then its contaminated. If it has been shot by a skunk or has obvious blood/fecal matter on it its contaminated.

Contaminated traps , with animal odor are prone to digging regardless how you look at it. Maybe not from all but from most.

A rust, or non-animal smell is less likely to cause a reaction, but from a certain percent.

A clean trap will cause the least in most cases.

Staked remakes almost always get the same trap, unless its unbearable, or an obvious avoidance occurs.

New sets, new trap. Rule -o- thumb.

[guidestick]

I remake the set with the dirty trap. If the trap has a lot of blood or urine on it I simply rub it off with dirt from the catch circle. If there is heavy red rust I get a new, or not as dirty trap, to re-set. I haven't had any problems with this method but, I always have another set in the area some where, so if a coyote decides to avoid my set I have a back up plan. Another thing I do is to "mess up" the catch circle so it dosen't look like a circle. Maybe it just to satisfy me but, I figure it dosen't look so out of place to a coyote. The coyote population around here may not be exploited to heavy trapping pressure enough to put them on guard to avoid a trap that has made a catch. Where I trap it just dosen't seem to make a whole lot of difference. I figure if he is curious enough to be in the catch circle digging around he is going to get caught some where down the line. If he gets close and then turns and runs he is a smart one. There is my philosophy on dirty traps and more. LOL

[ChrisM]

Hmmmmm......so on a 72 hr check, a set that makes a catch has to have another critter every check. The first time it doesn't I should change traps?

Yea right!

Man them critters must be thick where they trap. Out here, another critter in the same trap three days later would be a very rare exception to the rule.

[trappnman]

I think you asked the same question before and I'll give you the same answer-

the number of "CHEWING " incidentals in most of the eastern part of the country as well as the midwest and east- is much higher than your western areas.

the traps get shiny overnight on 1 catch.

and with our humidity- they get rusty---fast.

I'm estatic if a trap goes untouched by an incidental for 3 days- bonus for me!

add in our mandatory 24 hour checks- commotion, in and out, etc...and I find here-

that a rusty trap hurts my catch.

If you don't- thats great.

[Possum]

A dirty trap is one which has made a catch which holds the animal or at least holds it long enough to make a catch circle--coon, coyote, rabbit, anything. A deer snap/pullout isn't a dirty trap. My definition.

I'll use a contaminated trap in a remake at the same place. Otherwise, when I pull a contaminated trap, all I do is boil it on a fish cooker for 10 min or so, dunk it into a bucket of F-1 dip. It dries almost instantly and I let it "air out" outdoors overnight. The next day I'll reset it and I don't have any problems with "diggers." Plenty of 1st or 2nd night catches.

Because of this method I don't have much rust (or rusting) on my traps but even so, I wouldn't worry about it like T-man does. My rerod stakes are rusty and rusting and they don't get dug up--neither do my traps very often. Probably not more than 1%. The only untoward digging I get is coyotes digging my holes up while standing in the wrong spot, like on the backing or off to the side. Probably as much wind wrong as anything. If one does this 2 or 3 times, I move the trap--same trap--to the place the animal stands to dig and usually connect the next time it shows up. My conclusion it's not the trap's fault it's the placement.

[trappnman]

The only untoward digging I get is coyotes digging my holes up while standing in the wrong spot, like on the backing or off to the side.

yeppers!

[guidestick]

Something to think about. If a coyote is digging off to the side is he really trap shy? Or is he just trying to "sneak" up on his prey? A very respected trapper once told me "if you depended on the food in that hole to live would you stand right in front of it hoping it would come back out? After pondering that I decided that a little more guiding was in order. Since then I have had no trouble with coyotes digging from the side. Just some food for thought on the coyotes digging from the back or sides.
Ryan