Anyone here ever buy waxed dirt from MTP or FnT post? Experiences with the products? In a pickle here and just wondering if it’s worth buying in a jam. Could make myself but the ground is to saturated here to dig up dry and make any at this point. Set avoidance? Contaminated dirt? Product consistency?

I make my own in the summer. I go out to where I trap and collect gopher mound dirt. Give pounds of flake wax makes ten gallons. My concern would be cost of shipping. Peat moss will work better then nothing. There is an article in the archives related to using nails to stabilize the trap when using just peat..Haven't t tied it but sounds like it works. You would need to blend a bit of local debris over it

I've used it from fnt Works but expensive per set for sure

I've learned to maximize it by using other fillers than the wax dirt. Just make sure it's something that won't freeze. I'll leave it at that. You can make an awful lot of sets with 1 cup of wax dirt on the top.

Some people I know wax sand, you can buy that by the bag

I’ve used peat moss in the past and just never liked the way it packs down it just isn’t the same as dirt in my opinion. I am however considering incorporating peat moss in with some purchased waxed dirt to see if it helps the peat moss pack better. If not I will just use all waxed dirt.

You have to make sure your peat moss is dried out COMPLETELY or it will freeze. If you have dry peat, you should be able to snap your trap after it has taken rain for days and still see dust fly. Peat moss top coated with waxed dirt will work, and will stretch your waxed dirt significantly.

The thing with peat is you don't try to pack it. Just pour it on and sweep it off flat and add guides, use it like chaff. I have used peat in garden projects for years and have yet to buy any that was not dry enough. I will use it on the traps sometimes but usually I like to use what is already there.

I end up buying some every year as I run out. I have bought from the following and my opinion.

Trapper Arts - Nice black rich looking soil, beds well but didn't blend in very well in the lousy Montana soil here. I would give a top coating of dry gopher hill dirt to blend it in and look natural. But when the wind blew the top coat would shift around and the set looked like a swirl cake. Coyotes never cared though and would be caught.

Minnesota Trapline, Lamoreaux Bros Freeze proof dirt - This stuff is the bomb for the lousy soil conditions here. It is a brownish tan color dirt, no blending necessary other than a dusting of surrounding dry dirt to eliminate that fine sifted look.

Both worked very well for me.
Be sure to check them for sales or quantity discounts. In the temps I deal with I have a layer of wax dirt under the trap and outside of the jaws. Otherwise, my trap will freeze to the original soil where it makes contact. I use screen pan covers as the wax dirt is usually very fine.

Sand is what we have where I trap and it is what I wax. Works well.

Minnesota Trapline, Lamoreaux Bros Freeze proof dirt I have purchased in the past couple of years. X2 on it can be expensive per set though. Would like to learn to make my own but I guess I am afraid of going through the work and it not turning out.

Wax dirt is simple to make. I use old trap wax. Grind it and use low heat.

As horse creek fur had said or just go to the hardware store masonry store buy sand in the bag and make it.

It really is easy to do. I collect gopher mound dirt/sand in the area i trap, then sift it before adding the wax. I bought two large roasters with lids. I have a propane burner which can handle both at same time. When it starts to darken around the edges it is important to stir it up...when it all starts to look wet, I dump it in a small plastic cement making tub. You must stir it frequently until it cools or it will cake.. Once cool, store it in containers. Harry from F & T did a YouTube video on it which is how I learned.

Horse Creek Fur I never thought of looking under the bridges..
It’s been awfully wet this year and the streams have been up but i think it’s worth a look to see what I can find thanks for that tip. Didn’t think I would get to trap again this year and found some time over Christmas to go for 2 weeks. I’m a little un prepared to say the least. Thanks everyone for the replies I won’t be afraid to buy now if I can’t find a way to make it.

That's what I do. I put it in a turkey roasting pan over a large propane torch and heat it just enough so I can still stir it by hand wearing heavy rubber gloves. I add wax in increments as the sand starts heating up. You'll see the wet look appear. I don't have a specific ration of wax to sand but a good indication I have enough wax is the sand will bind up as it cools.

Most likely Murray’s

Jim, have you ever tried some glycerine in a squeeze bottle like your urine comes in? That’s what I use to keep mine from freezing down. Just squirt a little under the jaws and levers. Might save you some WD if you don’t have to line the trap bed with it. Lee Steinmeyer suggested this to me and I have been happy with the results so far.

The best dry grass type covering I have used was the dry fines picked off the the top the green chopper boxes. Second best was the fines picked up under the silo un loader. Non were freeze proof but made great trap coverings.

Was probably John Coakley. Trapper's Haven.