I keep finding spagmoss while looking for peat moss. I know spagmoss is the top soil and peat moss is the bottom soil but can I use spagmoss just like peat moss?

Jay this is what I use ... says sphagnum peat moss..

I use the same thing as Savell.

But I take mine out of the bag and dry it preseason.

Same here and sift it also. Good stuff that has it's place and definitely cheap enough.

... why do y’all dry it when it’s just going to get rained on at the set most likely

I want no moisture in it or it turns to a brick in cold temps

.. I get that ... but won’t that happen after precipitation followed by cold even if dried ? ( luckily I don’t deal with much Sub freezing temps for long anyway)

I have found that if I dry it out first (its always wet in the bag) that it can take a lot more wet weather before it absorbs too much and freezes solid . It seems like if its already wet/damp straight from the bag it soaks up water much easier .

It is the same thing.
Peat moss is ground up sphagnum moss.
It usually comes from Canada.
Tourbe de sphaigne may be on the bag.
That is French for Canadians.
It means …… peat moss

.. makes sense... I’ve noticed that not all bags are real moist ... when you pick out your bags, get the lightest ones ... they’re usually already pretty dry

Not if it's just dry snow. Yankee trapping is different, and in some ways easier, once it gets down below 32 and stays there for months on end. Bed the trap in DRY peat moss and it'll stay that way until it gets above freezing which might be weeks. Down here with constant rain all season and weather getting below freezing at night, it's tougher to keep sets working.

Spagmoss is NOT the same as sphagnum peat moss. I guess it might be made out of the same stuff (I dunno) but the texture is definitely different. Check it out. Spagmoss Basically, what we call peat moss, is composted sphagnum moss.

Have you guys ever had issues with digging when using peat? And has anyone ever noticed a vinegar like smell from your peat? Thanks ahead of time....

... never noticed a vinegar smell MChewk... not much issues with digging either... but I only use just enough peat to get level with the jaws in a small bed( maybe a handful) .. then finish the covering out with local dirt or dry dirt I brought depending on conditions

I dry mine out on a black plastic sheet same time I'm making waxed dirt
Bone dry it tends to repel water for quite some time, but damp it will turn into a brick first freeze.
Never noticed a vinegar smell. Dry it has a slight earthy smell

All peat moss and touribe de sphaigne is the same. That is why labeled both on the same bag. I have used truckloads of the stuff. Near where I grew up was a peat bog. They used a drag line to get out the decayed sphagnum moss = peat moss. The let it dry and sold it.

Sphagnum moss that is not processed. It is in the undeclared and unground form.

To dry it, I transfer it from the bags which are called bales into unused vented poly feed sacks. Over a few months in the garage or barn it is very dry.

If you put damp peat in an air tight container in the south, it will sweat and definitely develop a moldy smelling odor. I never noticed it smelling like vinegar but it definitely has more odor when damp and it sweats than when it is dry.

"Sphagnum moss has a neutral pH as compared to the lower, more acidic pH (3.0 to 4.0) sphagnum peat moss. Peat moss is also high in tannins.
Water retention is excellent for both. Peat moss can retain up to 70% water.

Sphagnum moss has discernable plant parts, is very pliable, long-fibered, and has a soft spongy texture while the sphagnum peat moss is more decomposed with no recognizable plant parts, has short fibers, and finer texture."

https://www.plantssparkjoy.com/peat-moss-vs-sphagnum-moss/

Yeah, some, the lighter ones, are pretty dry right out of the bag. Here in southeast PA the freeze/thaw cycle sucks to deal with. The peat can take a good raining on and then a freeze overnight will only freeze the top layer that soaked up some moisture, the trap will still function. I flip a l lot of those frozen pancakes off and sprinkle some fresh, dry peat on and good to go.