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Post by wolfer on Jan 7, 2007 22:39:25 GMT -6
I am wondering if anyone out there uses this fine coal for bedding in their coyote sets.
I think it's also called 'coal slack' but am not sure. At any rate its fine particles of broken up coal.
I've been having troubles with beding materials here in thiese up and down temperatures, and tried some of this coal 'slack' and it works darn good. Won't freeze and gives a solid bed.
If anyone uses it, can you tell me what sort of place would have it around? I mean where do you get it - a mine, coal seller, etc..
Any info would help. Thanks.
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Post by 17HMR on Jan 8, 2007 19:53:05 GMT -6
Wolfer, you might try rail yards that have coal move through them, its all over around the one I work in.
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Post by wolfer on Jan 8, 2007 22:52:07 GMT -6
Yeah, thanks 17.
I'll give that a try. Sure like the stuff and apparently so do the coyotes... they keep stepping on it anyway!
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Post by Freak( Jim V.) on Jan 9, 2007 9:01:40 GMT -6
I have used it in the past several seasons. Love it , but hate collecting it. Talk about black boogers!!! Naw it aint that bad. I have had good luck calling people who sell coal for home heating. They usually give me the fine settled stuff if I come scoop it up. Saves them cleaning it up themselves anyways. It is nice cause , even covered , it thaws out quivker when sunshine is present.
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Post by romans117 on Jan 9, 2007 13:15:12 GMT -6
Do you mix with dirt or just use the dust?
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Post by Freak( Jim V.) on Jan 9, 2007 16:16:42 GMT -6
I top dressed real thin with dirt.
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Post by Clefus on Jan 9, 2007 18:33:57 GMT -6
I'd look like I worked in a coal yard if I used it..... ;D It would start out in the bucket if I tried it but would be stickin everywhere at the end of the day... I burn nut coal and stay away from the dust..... Might try it next year.... I have used the cleanings dried and sifted this year....worked decent, had a gray color that I top dressed though...
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Post by wolfer on Jan 9, 2007 20:10:20 GMT -6
The little bit that I have used so far I've blended over with dirt from the bedding hole and it's just worked great.
I don't find it messy at all and find it works great with screen pan covers or poyfill under the pan. Either way those traps bed tight and don't freeze down.
Thanks for the tips on where to get it. I think I'm going to be using lots of it from now on!
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Post by motrapperjohn on Jan 9, 2007 20:16:30 GMT -6
I call it coal shale, and I find it around old surface mines. I now stock up and use it at all land sets. Works great!
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Post by Clefus on Jan 11, 2007 17:36:45 GMT -6
I thought we were talking about actual coal dust... .Ive used what we call "reject" or " bony" around here from the old mines...
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Post by wolfer on Jan 11, 2007 18:17:40 GMT -6
Sure seems to be a lot of different names for it.
I know one guy locally here who calls it 'slack'. Took me a while to realize he did not say 'shale' so specifically asked him. Yup. Coal slack.
but whatever it's called wherever, it sure works good.
thanks for the info guys
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Rod17
Demoman...
Posts: 229
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Post by Rod17 on Jan 13, 2007 16:19:47 GMT -6
Do you think crushed charcol or simple charcol powder would work? It would be much easier to come by (for most) versus coal dust and you could crush it to the desired particle size that works best for your conditions.
In fact, charcol (powder form) could probably be purchased from a variety of industrial vendors and, therefore, avoid the step of crushing. My guess is that it woud also be lighter to carry compared to coal shale.
any thoughts?
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magnus
Tenderfoot...
Posts: 13
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Post by magnus on Jan 13, 2007 16:52:06 GMT -6
What's the big advantage of coal dust/shale/etc, compared to more standard cold weather bedding materials like peat or buckwheat hulls??
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Post by trappnman on Jan 13, 2007 18:17:59 GMT -6
I just set a few more today using a coal dust /shale mixture. The main advantage is its density- easier to bed a trap.
I've yet to use it in wet then hard freeze, but it sure keeps moisture from wicking up.
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Rod17
Demoman...
Posts: 229
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Post by Rod17 on Jan 13, 2007 18:30:22 GMT -6
Tman...how fine is the coal dust you use? and what do you think of the charcol idea?
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Post by rk660 on Jan 15, 2007 9:33:36 GMT -6
the ash/cinders from any place that burns coal are nice to use than coal dust. Lighter weight andnot as messy. Any place that burns coal, power plants and lot of other industrail plants should have coal cinders. Older the better, some newer coal burners dont put out much cinders as its burned more effenctly and caught as dust in super effeinct bag houses. Look for old red brick buildings with smoke stacks. They should have cinders.
17HRM, up your way in Morrell NE is an old sugar mill with a 1 acre pile of coal cinders, think plant is closed so just drive into west side of old building till you see a black pile, and help yourself.
Can you pick me up 5-6 barrels for next year too while your at it? LOL.
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Post by Steve Gappa on Jan 15, 2007 10:32:31 GMT -6
It's a pretty fine grade- not quite dust but close. Wiley also gave me a greenish looking shale- told me to mix them both together, so thats what I did. The shale is small pieces.
I don't know how charcoal would work- perhaps the kind sold for aquarium filters would work. I don't recall that having an obvious smell.
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Post by harryleggs on Jan 15, 2007 12:15:04 GMT -6
I used it in the md 80's near Gillette, WY. Got it at one of the many strip mines in the area. I built a big screen to sift it through and put it in 5 gal. buckets. It is great bedding material and native to that geo.area. Works great after a snow. Best stuff I ever used but a pain haulin it around.
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Post by trappnman on Jan 15, 2007 15:12:37 GMT -6
so no snow for a week hey? Heres this morning after 5-6 inches last night.... In both thee 2 pics, at a slightly different angle- yo ucan see where the coyote was coming across a picked corn field (ravine in middle, tracks came from it) and turned and went straight to the set. Judging by snow in tracks and snow pattern- I'd say almost certainly this coyote taken after sun up. me trap bedded in coal/shale mixture. Flat set- Pikabua and XLDC.
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Post by musher on Jan 15, 2007 18:18:04 GMT -6
Given that canids like chewing burnt wood, wouldn't charcoal (Hibachi stuff) cause problems?
Aquarium filters use "activated" charcoal. I don't know what it is.
I wonder what coal would cause as a reaction in an animal that wasn't familiar with it in its area.
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