Probably a silly question, but I'm about as green as they come. Should I be applying trap tags to my traps before or after boiling/dyeing/waxing? Any help is appreciated.

I don’t know what it is but the tags on my water traps get almost unreadable in a very short amount of time so I vote for getting some wax on them.

Which style trap tag are you using? Write on? Or stamped?

Before, they won’t take dye but they will be waxed like the rest of the trap. I try not to touch my traps much after dye and wax, at least my predator traps

Stamped copper

I just put them on after treating trap . The copper will darken like a penny over time.

Before. They’ll be on when you dye and wax next year and onward….

Mine are all on before, permanently. Rivet to bottom of base, they never get chewed up when on bottom of base.
Jim

Like this, and before treatment....

This....

I put mine on before I dye and wax and I wrap them around the side of the swivel

There are also trap tags that are engraved and tags that are stamped. The engraved tags are garbage and are unreadable after some time. I get mine from www.traptags.com and they last.

That is what I do as well.

This. You don't want the catch to focus in on the shiny object, and start chewing on the chain, and destroy the tag that you might get a ticket for not having on the trap.
The law say's it must be ON the trap, Doesn't say it has to be readable.

Our says it has to be readable.
I treat my traps and wrap the new tag around the swivel immediately under the trap base. Never lost one to a coyote or beaver.
They cant get to it.

Due to the salt environment here trap tags oxidize in a day in the sand or salt marsh or brackish swamps

Yup…roll them up tight on a chain link….then treat. Just put your name on the trap tag…that’s all.

Our state wants address and phone # on trap tags also. I refuse to do that. I put my sports card # on it. Last thing I want is some jerk shoes dog got caught in my trap k owing where my family lives.

They can stick that where the sun don’t shine. Your correct ! ..Fish &Game can look up your name through the licenses sold…if they want you bad enough.