It’s stored in a shed that’s actually an old walk-in cooler. There’s nothing in there with it that smells, at least to me. I suppose it’s possible but don’t think it’s probable.

I store all my wax dirt in 5 gallon or 30 gallon barrels . No prob here. My opinion is they either feel something or its the polyfil.

I suppose it could be the polyfill. They haven’t been pulling the poly out from the pans but that’s no real surprise to me. Their curiosity is over by that time. I could make a few sets with a regular pan cover and see if that works.

Waxed dirt is hard to bed a trap solid, and can always be a problem with tipping traps and digging. They feel a trap rock they dig, and do it light enough to not even trip a trap. I have tried a lot of methods, I find crumpled waxed paper over and under a trap works very well, on a rock solid bedded trap with just a thin coat of dirt over it. Even if it freezes in most cases a solid commitment of a coyote foot will break it free. Waxed dirt like others said, will hold smells and I doubt it ever loses its petroleum chemicals can cause problems, last it is expensive and takes time to make. No method is foolproof but if your getting constant digging with any method your doing something else wrong.

Where was the wax stored before you bought it. I have seen trap wax on the shelves below the lure plenty of times at deals. Throw the flaked wax on the floor under the shelves. Who knows.

Even if stored right take some and put in on the ground and let a dog walk around seen them plenty of time go over to smell it. Not saying it will always spook them but a dog that has a good nose can tell it smells different from the rest of the area. Nothing is perfect but if your getting a lot of diggers you do have a setting problem going on.

Used waxed dirt last year and the light snow showed a lot of refusals , they just wouldn't commit. Went back to peat moss again this year and been getting them again. I'm going to just stick with what works, plus peat is a lot lighter on a walk only line.

MJM - bought from MTP, put bags of wax directly into that store room.
Danvee - I’ve been told I am a bit fanatical about bedding traps.... a bedding issue could come up occasionally, but not this often. I agree that the petroleum base odor probably never totally leaves. I was really hoping to get away from the remaking of sets once the freeze/thaw and solid freeze starts. I will try the dog test, see if our Weimaraner picks up on it.

Kyron - I have had the refusals show up in snow also. Usually when I used an antifreeze on the set. I don’t know why the coyotes really shy away from a bare spot. I swear they walk around all the melted off bare spots and stay on snow. Just about opposite of a cat! Peat moss may be something to try also.

I've used that mostly, dried on a tarp...sifted and stored in a metal garbage can

Works for me

A lot going on, wd, poly, speed dip, wax pot.
Being stingy with wd, only using at bed may be telling on you.
Another trapper watching you make set nay help.

Good luck, I've had my share of frustrating freeze thaw freeze.
When froze they dance on it. I'd like to hear that magnetics guys opinion on this?

Here is some reading from the past.

https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1460035/all/coyotes

https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/390295/all/diggers

I've made and used waxed sand for 5 or 6 years. Mine is stored in 35 gallon plastic trash cans. I don't feel that I've ever had any refusals. I do know that the material has to be bone dry before you wax. Could be a bedding issue, as I have read waxed dirt doesn't bed real well. Waxed sand beds like a dream, packs great. If your concerned about the color, just sift a very, very fine layer of your native dirt over the top.

We made it commercially for the trade in the 1990's. Called it "Freeze-Proof Dirt." We used triple-ply paper bags sewn at the ends.
I think in 9 years we sold 215 tons of it. About 21,500 @ 20 lb bags.
I had 3 hernia surgeries for my efforts!!!!!
We have much experience so if you need to PM me, I'd offer at any time.
Waxed dirt, while awesome, will not out produce native dirt. It is a substitute with other smell.
Coyote are the boogers but we use waxed dirt to catch many with it.
Some won't play ball.

I've used it since 1979 so if I can help in any way, holler.

Blessings,
Mark

Maybe its like remakes, some areas they work better than others. Ive heard from two different guys that make their living in the trapping business say that wax dirt does have an effect on the coyotes response at the set.

My wax had a smell to it last year smelled like Fox urine when it arrived so was it the bag or the wax that smelled? I keep my waxed dirt out of the fur shed until it’s made, cooled and sealed to keep from picking up unwanted odors.

Not trying to be "that guy", but I've stored my waxed dirt in 5 gallon plastic buckets for years with no problems.

If I throw a dirt clod and then take my dog out, he will go right to it. He smells the fresh dirt, thinks something was digging and checks it. That even happens in a field that has been worked and is full on dirt clods. He can smell the fresh dirt. I feel if the dog can a coyote can, and when a coyote smell fresh dirt and something it does not like you get refusals. I also would think if the wax is contaminated with lure smells the traps would be dug up.

Thanks for the replies everyone! Gives me several options to check out and hopefully decipher the issue. Who knows, maybe my 3 yr old kneeling pad is the culprit! Something I am doing consistently though. As was said - a lot of things going on.
Started a new section of line, setting with native dirt, coffee filter pan covers, no antifreeze. If it’s a trap issue these sets will probably get dug out also.Still using the kneeling pad, my old knees require it!

Come on folks,,,, set the game cam (the thing that made us all look stupid in our theories) up so it won't spook the yote and actually see what is going on---- then fix that.......... the mike

I think you meant....."the wife"^^^