Hey guys, I usually buy my own peat moss. My buddy on the other hand sifts the powder from really dead/ rotten trees. He ends up with a dry and fluffy powder that acts the same as peat moss and smells really earthy . He insists that its the same stuff that is bought at the store and told me I should give it a try. Anybody ever tried this? Would it really matter what you used if it still kept dirt from getting under the pan? He's usually right on these things but now I'm not so sure lol. thanks

Test it with water ! Peat resists quite a bit of water and does more than just keep dirt from getting under your pan .

Yeah test it, it may work we've used dried pounded siffted horse manure a few time it caught fox coon and yote with no problems!!!
Colt

I suppose your buddies plan could work. I don't think you'll see people rushing out to try it though.

A, It's NOT the same thing.
B, That spalted (dry rotted) powder, from a Red Oak tree is what I use for trap dye, takes several days of pre soaking to get it ready to boil.
C. Leaves powder on the trap, but it rinses off OK.
D. Probably will work OK as a trap set water proofing.

Another thang to consider is I just bought 4.4 cubic yards on sale at TSC for $4.95
Now if you new me in person you'd know that I'll squezz a nickle till the buff poops, especially when trying to turn a profit on something this this I fuiger I'll catch enuff possum first check to cover that cost.
Colt

rotted wood is rotted wood, peat moss is a bog plant called sphagnum; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphagnum
It's really really old and dead by the time we get it and it still is not rotten, nor is it a tree. Trees are plants and sphagnums are plants though, so maybe that has him confused.

That is a great price! What brand? I get Premier brand sphagnum peat moss. I pay a little more because it takes very litte drying unlike other brands. I can usually use it right out of the bag.

4.4 yards?

2 bags 2.2 yards yrs I know weird size got 2 bags 2 bucks a bag!

Yes I usually get premier it's top shelf this is greensmix it's seems pretty good for a dollar a yards I can deal not tomention it'll go in the ginseng if it's no good for traps!
Colt

Are you sure that’s not cubic feet instead of yards?

Available at Tractor Supply:

I use to use something similar (I think). We had tub grinders that would grind up logging slash and sell it for fuel wood to burn in boilers at various mills. I would go out where they had set up and get the fines that fell off the loading belt and it worked great. No market for fuel wood now so I just use peat. It was hydrophobic much like peat.

Yeah I know it's feet don't know why I said yards, i work on the rd dept. You know concrete black top! Don't know were my head was!
Colt

Still a dang good price.

Anyone ever try this?
http://www.mosserlee.com/product/527_Long-FiberedSphagnumMoss.aspx

OUCH...$22 for 2 cu.ft. Never seen it, but just from reading the description, it doesn’t sound like what you want. Says it will retain 20 times it’s weight in water. That’s definitely not what you are looking for. You want to repel water.

I tried it once Dfabs & it seemed to work, but that was in cold dry conditions

I have used dry material from under fallen logs or dead tree stumps when out on the line. Never any problems. As long as it's dry it wont matter