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Whats your freeze proof process? #6139923
01/27/18 06:52 PM
01/27/18 06:52 PM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 78
Westmoreland Co. PA
wstrnPAtrapper Offline OP
trapper
wstrnPAtrapper  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 78
Westmoreland Co. PA
New to yote trapping this year and I’ve missed 2 now because my trap was frozen to the ground. The trap fired but I’m guessing not as it should have with the huge chunk of earth on the under side of the trap. I’ve been using peat moss in the trap bed and bedding trap solid with dirt and using flake antifreeze in springs and around jaws and levers then filling trap with peat moss before sifting regular dirt on top. Stayed away from wax dirt due to price and no time to make any. This last rain and freeze I believe has me froze up pretty good any suggestions? I’d love to hear your set processes. Sorry if this is a repeat.


It’s a long road to wisdom. It’s a short one to being ignored.
Re: Whats your freeze proof process? [Re: wstrnPAtrapper] #6139934
01/27/18 07:02 PM
01/27/18 07:02 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 453
ky
R
Redsleeves Offline
trapper
Redsleeves  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 453
ky
Dig bed, Pete moss in bottom, bed trap sifft peat over top, we get a lot of rain followed by hard freeze this combo always worked for me after ALOT of rain you have to rebed, use the combo inlue of dry dirt or waxed dirt in early season too.i sift sourounding dirt over to blend or use a wisk broom! Omit the blending if it's gonna freeze up, this takes care of about all my trouble, in mucky freeze thaw ky winters!i don't like anti freeze it leave a wet looking spot in frozen ground ( peat leave an odd place to) and it eats up your traps! My 2 cents
Colt
I only put dirt around the outside of the jaws to bed, pack the aprouch side good leave peat under jaws and leavers it takes some practise to bed a trap solid in the peat but it can be done, I use my fingers to pinch up earth under trap and leave it covered in peat!

Last edited by Redsleeves; 01/27/18 07:07 PM.
Re: Whats your freeze proof process? [Re: wstrnPAtrapper] #6139945
01/27/18 07:17 PM
01/27/18 07:17 PM
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2,566
TN/OH
R
RM trapper Offline
trapper
RM trapper  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2,566
TN/OH
I'd like some advice too, I've lost at least 10 this year so far because my traps were froze. I use peat and tried salt. Just ordered some antifreeze too so maybe it'll help. We've had some tough conditions so far, it will be 40 and raining and next day be 0 then snow then warm during day and 20s at nite, so I definitely need help in this area too

Re: Whats your freeze proof process? [Re: wstrnPAtrapper] #6139955
01/27/18 07:28 PM
01/27/18 07:28 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
T
trappergbus Offline
trapper
trappergbus  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
Waxed dirt solves all those problems. The ONLY thing that shuts ya down is an ice storm..The animals you all missed would have paid for alot of waxed dirt!


Common sense catches alot of fur..
Pay homage to all you harvest..
Re: Whats your freeze proof process? [Re: wstrnPAtrapper] #6139960
01/27/18 07:40 PM
01/27/18 07:40 PM
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 5,851
perry co.Pa
wetdog Offline
trapper
wetdog  Offline
trapper

Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 5,851
perry co.Pa
I have been playing with the freeze proofing thing this year. After the first big thaw most were froze down.
I use the pound down bedding almost exclusively. The Zagger way. Well they still froze,so when I rebedded them I put a little chaff in the bed and then pounded that into the bed. And I put glycerine on the springs,leavers and jaws. Yesterday I checked them to see if they were frozen. I only had 2 of 14 frozen down. So nothing is an end all to freeze down.Imo You just have to work out what works for you and your soil and weather. I hope this helps. If someone finds a perfect way you better write a book.lol Hope this helps

Re: Whats your freeze proof process? [Re: wstrnPAtrapper] #6139968
01/27/18 07:55 PM
01/27/18 07:55 PM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 29
Van Etten, NY
NYyotekiller Offline
trapper
NYyotekiller  Offline
trapper

Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 29
Van Etten, NY
I've been using buckwheat hulls this year and only had freezing issues when we got about three inches of death crust. Nothing would have worked for that.


Cayuta Creek Outdoors
Re: Whats your freeze proof process? [Re: wstrnPAtrapper] #6139981
01/27/18 08:10 PM
01/27/18 08:10 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,835
Pa
W
Wright Brothers Offline
trapper
Wright Brothers  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,835
Pa
Where is that coal shale guy?





Re: Whats your freeze proof process? [Re: wstrnPAtrapper] #6139983
01/27/18 08:13 PM
01/27/18 08:13 PM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 972
Georgia
Y
yote65Ga Offline
trapper
yote65Ga  Offline
trapper
Y

Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 972
Georgia
I had issues with this until I read on a post by Lee Steinmeyer(? spelling) where he used straight glycol on his sets. I tried it and it worked! Here is my method. Dig bed, cover bottom of bed with flake antifreeze, cover antifreeze with peat moss, bed trap with dirt at site on outside of jaws only, pour glycol on trap jaws and dog/pan junction, cover trap with peat moss, pack peat moss over trap, spread flake antifreeze over peat moss bedding, cover peat moss with very small amount of site dirt(just enough so it doesn't blow away), blend if needed, finished. This method has worked for me. The only thing that puts me out of order is a heavy, heavy rain causing puddling and an immediate heavy freeze. Ends up with an ice covering over set. On next day check I just lift off the ice like a pie plate and continue on. The key to the glycol is to not mix it with water so you can spray if on the set!

Last edited by grey55; 01/27/18 08:15 PM.

Jim
Re: Whats your freeze proof process? [Re: trappergbus] #6139986
01/27/18 08:16 PM
01/27/18 08:16 PM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,028
West Cent IL
illinideer Offline
trapper
illinideer  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,028
West Cent IL
Originally Posted By: trappergbus
Waxed dirt solves all those problems. The ONLY thing that shuts ya down is an ice storm..The animals you all missed would have paid for alot of waxed dirt!

I used wax dirt for the first time this year will not be with out from now on. I had a trap sit under water for a couple of days once the water backed off it had a frozen crust on top. I flipped the crust off. Everything was still dry and the trap fired. The trap was bedded with the wax dirt fiberglass pad under the pan and top over with wax dirt.
On Jeff Dunlaps facebook site he has a video of a guy making wax dirt in a roaster pan. I did up 5 gal at a time doesn't take to much time at all once you get going. I'm out of dirt but I have a bucket of sand that I'm going to do up to finish out the season




Coyote 5 Badger 1
Coons 17
Bobcats 2 Released
Grinners All of them
USN AE2 VF-31 Tomcatters
Retired SMSGT IL ANG 183 Fighter Wing
Coyote U Class #4
Re: Whats your freeze proof process? [Re: wstrnPAtrapper] #6139991
01/27/18 08:20 PM
01/27/18 08:20 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
T
trappergbus Offline
trapper
trappergbus  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
I now an excellent coyote trapper upstate that used to use peat. Now he switched to waxed dirt and his peat is in the garden. Your welcome. I might just right that book!!

Last edited by trappergbus; 01/27/18 08:23 PM.

Common sense catches alot of fur..
Pay homage to all you harvest..
Re: Whats your freeze proof process? [Re: wstrnPAtrapper] #6140046
01/27/18 09:27 PM
01/27/18 09:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 453
ky
R
Redsleeves Offline
trapper
Redsleeves  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 453
ky
Waxed dirt is also a good choice, if you want to spend the time to make, money to buy I used peat on a 100 trap almost 200 mile predator line with a partner for 3 years and only can remember having 2 or 3 froze down that missed an animal! Waxed dirt is heavier than peat if you walk ant into rough terain,id wager we got some of the roughest CHANGING weather around rain snow 60 day 20 tommorow eber changeing non stop, it worked Good for me and its cheap/econmical for turning a proffit,as has neen stated waxed dirt is excilant!worked good for me in PA aswell!
Colt

Re: Whats your freeze proof process? [Re: wstrnPAtrapper] #6140057
01/27/18 09:40 PM
01/27/18 09:40 PM
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,530
Fingerlakes New York
robert.d12 Offline
trapper
robert.d12  Offline
trapper

Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,530
Fingerlakes New York
Waxed dirt it is my first year using it, It was awesome... till I ran out.


The beauty of the second amendment is it wont be needed until they try to take it. -Thomas Jefferson
Re: Whats your freeze proof process? [Re: trappergbus] #6140071
01/27/18 09:50 PM
01/27/18 09:50 PM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 7,939
Montana
B
beartooth trapr Offline
trapper
beartooth trapr  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: May 2011
Posts: 7,939
Montana
Originally Posted By: trappergbus
Waxed dirt solves all those problems. The ONLY thing that shuts ya down is an ice storm..The animals you all missed would have paid for alot of waxed dirt!
x2 wax dirt pays it doesn't cost.

Re: Whats your freeze proof process? [Re: wstrnPAtrapper] #6140074
01/27/18 09:57 PM
01/27/18 09:57 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,640
SE Nebraska
possumcatcher Offline
trapper
possumcatcher  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,640
SE Nebraska
I use dry dirt and non iodized salt. Works fine for me, but lots of remaking sets after storms. I need to figure out how to make waxed dirt

Re: Whats your freeze proof process? [Re: wstrnPAtrapper] #6140101
01/27/18 10:19 PM
01/27/18 10:19 PM
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,854
Oklahoma
Ken Smith Offline
trapper
Ken Smith  Offline
trapper

Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,854
Oklahoma
I always carry a bag or bucket of dry dirt that I collect when it's not wet out..
1.I dig the trap bed
2.add some calcium chloride pellets
3. Later of dry dirt
4. Bed trap
5. Add pan cover and fill inside of jaws with peat, dry peat.
6. Add calcium chloride
7. Sift dry dirt and pack it the repeat these last two steps again.
And before I blend the set I add another bit if calcium chloride.

The calcium chloride works like a charm. Even if the dirt u use is damp. I can use a damp sandy soil to bed in this manner and it can be 15-25° for a week and you can walk up to my set and blow the top layer of dust off. The calcium chloride keeps it from freezing and I only had one trap that was ever froze in due to using glycol. Now I use the glycol on my lure to keep it from freezing and the cloride on the set.


Matthew 7:6 KJV
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine....
-OFBA, NTA, FTA, TTFHA-
Re: Whats your freeze proof process? [Re: wstrnPAtrapper] #6140104
01/27/18 10:23 PM
01/27/18 10:23 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 453
ky
R
Redsleeves Offline
trapper
Redsleeves  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 453
ky
K Smith love your sinature!

Re: Whats your freeze proof process? [Re: Redsleeves] #6140109
01/27/18 10:27 PM
01/27/18 10:27 PM
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,854
Oklahoma
Ken Smith Offline
trapper
Ken Smith  Offline
trapper

Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,854
Oklahoma
Originally Posted By: Redsleeves
K Smith love your sinature!


Amen!


Matthew 7:6 KJV
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine....
-OFBA, NTA, FTA, TTFHA-
Re: Whats your freeze proof process? [Re: illinideer] #6140125
01/27/18 10:44 PM
01/27/18 10:44 PM
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,162
N.E. Nebr
L
LDW Offline
trapper
LDW  Offline
trapper
L

Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,162
N.E. Nebr
Originally Posted By: illinideer
Originally Posted By: trappergbus
Waxed dirt solves all those problems. The ONLY thing that shuts ya down is an ice storm..The animals you all missed would have paid for alot of waxed dirt!

I used wax dirt for the first time this year will not be with out from now on. I had a trap sit under water for a couple of days once the water backed off it had a frozen crust on top. I flipped the crust off. Everything was still dry and the trap fired. The trap was bedded with the wax dirt fiberglass pad under the pan and top over with wax dirt.
On Jeff Dunlaps facebook site he has a video of a guy making wax dirt in a roaster pan. I did up 5 gal at a time doesn't take to much time at all once you get going. I'm out of dirt but I have a bucket of sand that I'm going to do up to finish out the season
After you use that sand, you won't go back to dirt. Waxed sand beds a lot better than dirt.

Re: Whats your freeze proof process? [Re: wstrnPAtrapper] #6140154
01/27/18 11:16 PM
01/27/18 11:16 PM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 78
Westmoreland Co. PA
wstrnPAtrapper Offline OP
trapper
wstrnPAtrapper  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 78
Westmoreland Co. PA
Awesome stuff guys!!! Huge help but now I’m curious about waxed sand. I don’t have sandy soil in PA will it blend in my set ok ? And what kind of sand ? Play? Masonry?


It’s a long road to wisdom. It’s a short one to being ignored.
Re: Whats your freeze proof process? [Re: wstrnPAtrapper] #6140181
01/27/18 11:52 PM
01/27/18 11:52 PM
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,162
N.E. Nebr
L
LDW Offline
trapper
LDW  Offline
trapper
L

Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,162
N.E. Nebr
Originally Posted By: wstrnPAtrapper
Awesome stuff guys!!! Huge help but now I’m curious about waxed sand. I don’t have sandy soil in PA will it blend in my set ok ? And what kind of sand ? Play? Masonry?
I just sift a very fine layer of the dirt over the sand. Too much, and will freeze up just like not using any. I live on the eastern edge of the sandhills, so I have an unlimited supply. I would think either type of sand will work.

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