Anyone ever try using ash for dirt hole sets instead of peat or dry dirt or mixed in? I was thinking about trying it this year, I've got an outdoor wood boiler so plenty of ashes. Thought it might add some curiosity with the smell

You might cause them to dig or they may avoid stepping in the ash.

That's a good point

I would just try it with a few sets and not your whole line.

ash when wet cakes , if your thinking about using it over the pan

I was talking with a guy who actually saves his ash as sells it to gardeners in feed sacks

I put mine on my garden all winter long every time the ash can gets full.

you can also use it on ice it adds traction and color and lye so that the ice melts faster

Try it right now with a camera set and see what they do. The fire ash certainly do attract them

If you named it the "Ash Hole" set it may attract some folks from here.

I was told along time ago could catch elephants using ash. Dig you a big hole. Line it with the ash you have and uses peas for bait. When an elephant comes to take a pea. You kick him in the ash hole. Got your self an elephant.

Mac

Wax wouldn't help. Ash+Water=Lye

Good one Mac^^^

Wood ash soaks up water like crazy, and that makes Lye, that will eat up the steel pretty quick.

Some really good points I might try for that elephant

If it gets damp then sun hits it it will be hard as a rock

Yes I have heard of it and I did say "might". I know of an old trapper from way back when who would set a couple of straw bales in a field. He would set several traps on drags around it and cover with the straw. After throwing meat scraps in the pile he would set the whole thing ablaze. The traps would be covered in ash and the smell of burnt meat would draw in the fox. Since the traps where on drags, he could make several catches with that one set.

No need to over think it. If you need ashes to create enough curiosity to get a coyote to work a set I'd be finding a different bait or lure. Just a couple cents from a simple guy.

To me there are many far better options for trap bedding. I would put them in the garden for potash and find other sources. The statement about caking is real. Take about an inch in a plastic ice cream pail and add water. You won't want that stuff anywhere near your trap and being that dry it will draw moisture from the surrounding dirt as well.

Bryce