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peat
Feb 25, 2008 8:33:39 GMT -6
Post by trappnman on Feb 25, 2008 8:33:39 GMT -6
thats about what i do also Tim....
It also seems like there is different types of peat. The bales I bought here, were very fine peat- no sifting needed. But the peat I "borrowed" from Jeff in KS, was coarser and had sticks, etc in it.
when I knew it wsn't going to freeze, it sure was a nice feeling having that trap sandwiched into dry peat- when it starts out dry and quick, it can can up through mud lots better.
the only way to really try something, is to bite the bullet and do it. Like learning to fly fish- one needs to take only his fly road for a few weeks- you will learn.
I "didn't like" peat based on using it years ago, but like Zags heard too much good about it, not to know that it had to be ME, and not the peat that wasn't working right.
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peat
Feb 25, 2008 8:49:48 GMT -6
Post by ohiyotee on Feb 25, 2008 8:49:48 GMT -6
Peat Moss
Peat in its natural state Peat moss is derived from the decomposition in bogs of organic material, including mosses, reeds and shrubs. Peat bogs are found throughout the world but are principally located in the northern hemisphere with significant numbers of peat bogs found in Canada, Finland, Ireland and Russia. During the last ice age, melting glaciers left large bodies of water suitable for the formation of peat bogs. The natural accumulation of sedimentary deposits in these bodies of water was conducive to the growth of herbaceous organisms such as moss. As these organisms invaded the organic deposits, grew and died, they formed a bed of partially decomposed organic residue, commonly referred to as peat or peat moss. The types of peat in a peat bog depend upon the particular species of plant growing in the bog. Although there are several types of peat moss, sphagnum peat moss is the high quality peat moss preferred for horticultural purposes.
Peat Harvesting
Prior to a peat bog being harvested, it is first drained of near-surface water and cleared of all surface vegetation. The bog is then harrowed to a depth of three to four inches to expose the top layer of peat to the sun and wind. Once dried, the peat is vacuumed with harvesting machinery. A vacuum harvester can harvest an average of 100 acres per day and ideally the number of harvesters per bog should enable the entire exposed portion of bog area to be harvested each day. Given the location of Canada's peat bogs in northern wetland areas, the peat harvesting season is generally limited to April through October, with 40 to 50 suitable harvest days during this period. Once harvested, the peat is stored in large piles, or stacks, adjacent to the bog area until it is transported to the processing facility. For a typical peat bog, the more valuable professional-grade peat is found near the surface. As the harvest depth increases during the life of the bog, the volume of older, more decomposed, retail-grade peat increases. The harvest from a new bog is typically 75% professional-grade peat and 25% retail-grade peat.
Canadian Peatland Reserves
Digging in the bog There are more than 270 million acres of peat lands in Canada representing 25% of the world's supply; however, harvesting currently takes place on less than 40,000 acres in Canada and has been completed on less than 3,000 acres. Rights to virtually all of the economically accessible Canadian peat lands are held by a small number of industry participants, each of whom has been involved in the industry for some time. The majority of Canada's peat bogs over which industry participants hold rights contain sphagnum peat moss, uniquely positioning Canadian producers as the primary suppliers of peat to the North American horticultural market because of the lack of sphagnum peat moss in the United States. Canadian Peat Production The chart below sets out peat moss production levels in Canada for the years 1989 to 2000, with peat production for 2000 totalling 1.2 million tonnes.
Founded in 1988 to promote the benefits of peat moss to horticulturists and home gardeners throughout North America, the Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association is comprised of 18 peat moss producers and marketers representing 95 percent of Canada's total production. Canada, the world's largest producer and exporter of sphagnum peat moss for horticultural use, produces more than 98 percent of the sphagnum peat moss used in the United States.
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peat
Feb 25, 2008 8:51:17 GMT -6
Post by ohiyotee on Feb 25, 2008 8:51:17 GMT -6
This will explain the difference in the quality
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peat
Feb 25, 2008 8:53:22 GMT -6
Post by trappnman on Feb 25, 2008 8:53:22 GMT -6
I also know, that the rumors abotu peat burning for weeks or more underground, is true.
Grew up on a farm with a peat bog- don't try smoking out a bunny from a hole...
as my dad said "what was I thinking?"
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peat
Feb 25, 2008 9:03:21 GMT -6
Post by ohiyotee on Feb 25, 2008 9:03:21 GMT -6
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peat
Feb 25, 2008 9:29:49 GMT -6
Post by Stef on Feb 25, 2008 9:29:49 GMT -6
I did use peat a lottttttt in the past.... In fact, its all I've been using until I've found waxed dirt and lately, waxed sand.
When we did not have coyotes of just a few... Using peat was not really a problem catching fox with it. Later, when coyotes were more abundant... it becomes a real refusal problem especially before the ground was frozen with coyotes. I've noticed.... at coyote sets, later in the season when the ground was stiff and frozen.... refusal was reduced to a minimum and had better luck using peat when the ground was frozen. It was very good... Not much problem using it later.
In the fall, when we're dealing with the rain ( almost every day), snow...you know, thawing conditions and in the low 20s at night I've found that the best thing to use is waxed sand or dirt ( I prefer sand).
(take note that in my area... we're dealing with thawing problems at the beginning of the season and I really don't know what looks like bedding a trap in natural dirt from the set) I stopped using peat because of the refusals with coyotes early and my principal reason was line maintenance. In my part of the country... I'm in frozen mud, frozen sand, rain/snow and sometime... its dry...LoL Some seasons, using peat... I had to re-do my sets almost everyday because of the bad weather. Yes I was still catching a few k-9s because i was using peat in those bad conditions but I would have catch as many if not more using waxed sand or dirt. Yes peat does help when its raining or snowing and freeze at night but its not the last answer. Removing wet peat from trap beds every day was a problem and when you do that almost every day.... it kills your motivation pretty quick after a week of re-do everything all week. I can deal with wet pants everyday but soaked trap beds everyday is a no no anymore.
With all that said.... one day I tried waxed dirt = My god... My answer, why did I not use that before...LoL
And later... I've found waxed sand and its the stuff I'm using now.
Why sand?
I can collect dry sand in sand pit for free. No need for sifting No need for drying, I collect the dry stuff only And you can make waxed sand now that works well for about... 0.30¢ per 1 to 3 gallons of waxed sand depending of the ratio wax/sand you're using.
At 0.30¢... I think its pretty cheap. If you think about that 0.30¢ again... when my traps are out and bedded in waxed sand, I don't have to re-do everything everyday when the weather don't collaborate. With peat, I had to... I've seen it many times... I had to re-do all my sets... That cost more than 0.30¢ for gallon(s) in time and frustration in the long run.
I can understand why going trapping out of state with a few bale of peat... That's probably what I would do but at home.... Not anymore for me.
I prefer loosing a few hours in late summer making my waxed sand while turning my hot-dogs on the BBQ than loosing my precious time both knees in the mud and wet snow removing wet peat from my trap beds.
Good luck!
Stef
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peat
Feb 25, 2008 10:06:02 GMT -6
Post by 17HMR on Feb 25, 2008 10:06:02 GMT -6
What Stef said! 100% agree with him.
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peat
Feb 25, 2008 10:57:42 GMT -6
Post by trappnman on Feb 25, 2008 10:57:42 GMT -6
Im lucky in that I don't have to deal with a lot of freeze/thaw/freeze thaw cycles- its either thawed- or frooze solid.
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peat
Feb 25, 2008 14:05:36 GMT -6
Post by Zagman on Feb 25, 2008 14:05:36 GMT -6
Rain/Freeze/Thaw/Snow......with the ground still unfrozen and muddy is by far the worst of the worst.......I'd rather have a foot of snow and frozen ground. Even the coyotes are more miserable than normal under these conditions. Its so cloudy, even the pics taken at midday look to be taken in the half light. There is no better word to describe this stuff than it: SUCKS MZ
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peat
Feb 25, 2008 14:27:49 GMT -6
Post by ohiyotee on Feb 25, 2008 14:27:49 GMT -6
thats ohio............
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peat
Feb 25, 2008 14:50:57 GMT -6
Post by bobwendt on Feb 25, 2008 14:50:57 GMT -6
and indiana. at some point even waxed dirt is worthless as if you don`t have a hover craft you can`t get to the traps anyweay, not even walking. something the western guys can`t comprehend. they think they have mud. reminds me of the crocodile dundee movie where the thug pulls a knife and then mik pulls out this machete and say, mi-taye, thats a knafe!
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peat
Feb 25, 2008 15:10:10 GMT -6
Post by trappnman on Feb 25, 2008 15:10:10 GMT -6
the difference being- in small farm country, you do have roads- and yes, you can indeed walk from these roads, into good areas during bad weather. While I certainly couldn't access all my line in wet weather, I could access most of it. At least to within 2-300 yards.
And no, I don't like walking that far to each location, but it can be done.
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peat
Feb 25, 2008 15:53:54 GMT -6
Post by romans117 on Feb 25, 2008 15:53:54 GMT -6
I posted previously I bought three bales from walmart and got another from a friend. The three bales from walmart did not have the dust like the bale I got from my friend. The dusty bale was horrible to work with and I was defiantly hacking and coughing. The three bales from walmart did have a few more sticks but no enough to sift out before use. I observed very few refusals and the ones I did see were in high catch areas and almost always a remake. I can't say they were permanent refusals as I knew in my soul the dogs that sat off from the set would be caught it was just a matter of when. Alot of times it only took a shot of urine on the backing and they were there the next few days. So IMO it was not the peat.
As if a salted dry dirt pattern wouldn't smell a little odd to a yote. Especially a dry dirt spot in a sea of wet ground. With the peat I could use a little of the wetter dirt for top covering and still feel good about the set working.
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peat
Feb 25, 2008 15:55:19 GMT -6
Post by castiron on Feb 25, 2008 15:55:19 GMT -6
Can anybody help me on making waxed dirt or sand. Had never heard of it until this forum. I have a lot of miserable conditions to trap in where I live and this sounds like if might be the answer to my troubles. Thanks
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peat
Feb 25, 2008 15:56:42 GMT -6
Post by trappnman on Feb 25, 2008 15:56:42 GMT -6
castiron- somewhere in archives, is a tutorial-
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