I will be trapping for a bobcat this fall in Wisconsin.... Lots of information out there on using or not using peat moss to bed the trap and cover it.... Just wondering what you guys think of it?

Like I said, I live in wisconsin, so we can get into some cold nights in Nov-December. I will be trapping in hill country, and seems like a lot of the soil in my area is a rocky clay base. I was thinking maybe use more peat moss than the clay based soil, and maybe that would help from not freezing up. But then I also read that Peat can be spongy and they might feel that. Could I do a mixture of clay, peat, salt?

Thanks in advance for your ideas?

used peat moss for a lot of years here but find myself goin more and more to the chopped straw sold in bales at tractor supply.

I used waxed dirt last year. It seemed to hold up better than peat during the typical late fall Wisconsin weather.

I've been hearing a lot about waxed sand. Several of the demo folks at the NTA Southeast regional talked about the advantages.

If you are trapping bobcats then look into exposed trap sets. When I am setting a cat specific set I don'tt cover it. Don't need to cover it. Just need something under trap so it doesn't freeze down.

X2 makes for a very weather resistant set. I do put a small amount of very fine ground duff on the pan to make it look like a soft spot to step.

I used waxed sand last winter and was very happy with the results. I can buy tubes of sand at the local hardware store in my area and it makes it very handy to make up small batches as I go. The smell of waxed dirt nauseates me but I can handle the sand with no problem. Supper easy to make and it beds great.

I use peat moss and works for me. just put some sure you put some dry dirt on it or cut up grass.I works for me for years now. Make sure that the peat moss is dry before season.

If you use double longs at your exposed cat sets, then there isn't even a concern of them freezing down



I used textured spray paint on my pans, makes it look like a nice flat rock to step on. Has worked great so far.

I have got to try this. But I am going to use grass this yr too. But I will also carry peat moss too.

Peat being spongy isn't an issue if you can keep your beds small and tight.

I like peat early in the year when freezing isn't an issue and later in the year when ground is frozen solid and you don't have freeze thaw coming. It's just so much lighter, cheaper,and easy to get a lot of.

I hate dealing with salt so when freeze thaw season comes in, wax sand for me.

you guys using wax sand are you making it yourself? if so can anyone point me in the direction of a tutorial for wax sand? I have always bought waxed dirt from my local trap supply house volkers but want to try the sand I feel like it would pack better in the bed than wax dirt. anyway thanks guys.

Waxed sand is easy to make, Mike. I use a turkey roaster and a turkey pan to make mine. I'll post some pics later.

I buy sand that comes in a tube (50 lbs.) from the local hardware store. I think folks use it to toss in the back of vehicles during the winter to add some weight on their traction tires. The sand is course but it doesn't have any large aggregate in it. Just about the same consistency as masonry sand.

I put two or three inches of sand in the turkey roaster pan and turn on the propane torch. I wear heavy rubber gloves and work the sand as its heating to keep the heat uniform throughout the sand. When it starts to get uncomfortably warm wearing the heavy rubber gloves, I kill the heat and sprinkle flake wax over the top of the sand. It doesn't take much. You can learn fairy quickly how much is enough. Once the wax turns the sand dark, I start mixing with my gloved hands. Mixing it as it cools down keeps it from clumping, but even if it does clump, you can crush the clumps with your hand and it will not clump again.

Traps bed nicely in the sand and I had very good luck keeping my traps in working conditions last winter in northern Maine conditions. Heavy, crusted snow was about the only thing that would put me out of commission.

posco thank you for explaining that I have a few bags of that same tube sand for the back of trucks I just need to get some flake wax to get it done. I will let you know how it turns out or if I have issues. thanks again sir I appreciate it.

There are some good videos on YouTube, especially one done by an F & T employee. I use gopher mound dirt which here is mostly sand. You do have to screen it

I’ve tried about everything, with my soil type waxed dirt was the most bullet proof for me between the dirt, sand and peat moss. It also seemed the most natural, but they all will work if you get a system down. Even better yet is Zaggers bedding system. I’ve cut my waxed dirt consumption down from 50+ gallons to 10-20 gallons. And you don’t have to tote around a ton of dirt.

What's the best way to learn Zagger's bedding system? I've never tried it.

Wat h the video and then practice. It is so easy I bet I could teach a monkey to do it.

Go to his school, Coyote U. You will get first hand instructions, plus way more than bedding.

Is video on you tube?