Dry Dirt

[Hern]

Make Hay while the Sun shines
With the remodel of the kitchen and 2+weeks family vacation, I still managed to sift alot of dry dirt.
This summer sure has been dry in my area and good for drying dirt.
Might skip fish'n tomorrow and do up and extra 20 gallon or so. Still have to clean and wax about 4-5 dozen traps then that job is finished.
Still have to sift and air out peat moss too.
Season will be here before we know it.

[foxtrot]

what ratio of peat moss to dirt do you use?

[Hern]

When I mix dirt with peat, usually 30%-50& peat.
I use a variety of materials...
waxed dirt
waxed dirt/peat mix
dry dirt
peat moss
cover hulls
dry dirt mixed with peat

If you use peat to cover canine sets..
sift peat to get the heavier material out
Spread out  sifted peat in open area to 'air out'. Bagged peat smells like the plastic bag it's packaged in.

[uncle buck]

Yep that the way to do it..Get dirt now and it makes it a lot easier for you when freezing temps freeze up your set.

I have used trap antifreeze and that works OK. But commercial grade can cost you a bit if you have a large number of sets..
I try to get glycerin but have used mineral oil in my baits so they don't freeze.. Only thing when you use Mineral oil this could occur:

[foxtrot]

Whats the advantage of having peat mixed with your dirt?

[Leglifter]

peat sheds water

[Hern]

also, peat makes dirt lite, doesn't weight as much as dirt

[Hern]

who pooped on this post?

[Renny]

Did about 50 gallons today.  More to go........

[uncle buck]

who pooped on this post?

A Red Fox that worked my cable restraint set in winter but got away with the treated bait..

[Hern]

Renny,  but you have help. Cool. She's a cutie, thank God she looks like her Mother. (See you in a few weeks)

[Hern]

UB says-
A Red Fox that worked my cable restraint set in winter but got away with the treated bait..
UB, I would guess (or bet) the bait stealer did not poop on your set.
Bait stealer did just that and left.
Another Fox did #2 after bait was gone.

UB,
How do you use CR's with bait?

[uncle buck]

I don't use bait until the restraints are not productive... then I do a dirt hole...Use canned cannine food with glycerin or in this case it was mineral oil so it does not freeze.. Most times I rely on blind set without food.. That is the most productive.. But instead of pulling them the last week I will put bait around close to the loop.  Hoping the critter will go through to loop to get to the dirt hole with the bait in it.



I have used previous year deer meat too for bait..

All and all with cables restraints I find that it's best to read the land and place them where the predator will move from point A to Point B. Instead of using bait..