Seeking any advice for trapping in very dry conditions. Started trapping last season in Southern New Mexico. Typically used loud (lots of eye appeal) dirt hole sets. Used big chunks of jackrabbit for bait, a splash of urine outside of the hole, and no lure.. Caught a few bobcat and kit fox.

This year I'm running a bigger trap line and trying to catch a few song dogs. I started grinding the jack rabbit for bait and using a commercial additive and using a commercial mouse based bait. I also started adding a predator lure to my sets. I'm noticing everything is bone dry by the next day.

Is the bait and lure still effective when its dried out? Should I go back to a bigger chunk bait? What are the best ways to freshen up a dried out set?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Use lots of human urine. You thank me later.

I'm guessing that's an attempt at humor, and I'll thank you now.

I dont live in the desert but i think it would be best to just leave the set
Alone instead of freshening every day. Its been dry where i live for a while
And i dont freshen. Just let them hunt. The lure and bait will still work
After its dry if its a quality product and moat all are that you can buy.
My 2 cents. Good luck tight chains

Hey, I'm here in Southern Nevada so I know what it's like to have the bait dry out.
1) If you're using jackrabbit meat make sure to salt it and it won't dry out so quickly.
2) when you check your traps, spray some bobcat/coyote/fox urine on the bait to wet it again. Not only does the pee help but it gets the bait wet again.

Bryce,

This batch of jack bait I made I used sodium benzoate. Not sure how much different that is from salt.

I'll definitely use urine to freshen things up.. wondering if I should water it down a bit to stretch it out.

I feel like the sets in this type of country can be cold for awhile before they really pop off. But, New Mexico law says we have to check them daily.

Thanks!

Leave them be.. they’ll be fine

Ya what savell said

Yeah I feel terrible for you guys, that you actually have to check them daily. I also try to set my scents/lures in the shade, so that the sun doesn't sit on them all day and dry them out super quick. It really comes down to each individual sets. Some sets you want extra smelly and you want them to really pop. Some sets are better off lowkey. I check my traps every 3-4 days and I usually hit them with urine every 3rd check. But once again, it's always a little different. Good luck in NM this season!

I was actually being serious.

The human urine idea is something I got from other Virginia trappers.