I read peaple suggesting wrinkling wax paper to keep it from making noise when stepped on.
I've used both methods to wrinkling or not .
Trapping from bone dry conditions to wet and freezing.
I'm not a real stickler about cleanliness and I would say if I ever had problems with wax paper it was From wrinkling it. Maybe spending more time at the set.
I've never had issues with it when using it not wrinkled. With many hundred of fox and coyote cought using it as is.
Just thought this may be a time saver on those using wax paper and wrinkling it.
I personally don't believe it's beneficial.

Is this the experience of any one else by chance?

I found the wrinkles in the paper exposed the untreated paper and drew moisture from the set.

Only ever took me a few seconds to crinkle it, so I am no help just my experiences.

Just my way but I cut a bunch before the season crumple em, flatten back out and put them in a zip lock bag with baking soda, not saying it's right its just how I've always done it

You really think (1) the paper makes noise when stepped on, and (2) the animal, hearing the crinkle, associates it with danger and has fast enough reflexes to pull its foot off the trap pan before the trap fires??? Asking for a friend.

What I was thinking ^^^^

I've always used polyfil....never waxed paper.

Nope like I said, never said it was right just what I've always done now it's a habit

crinkle it up and stick it under the end of the pan unless your pan has to drop an inch plus it wont blow away when your trying to cover it up

Always read to crinkle it up, but I don't think it matters...I cut the roll of wax paper the width I want and flatten the roll . tear off what length needed, tear a slot for the dog and tuck the ends under the jaws....I've done this in beach sand and no sand backfilled under the pan...

Thanks for the replies. I seldom use wax paper any more.
Mainly because I almost exclusively snair canines any more. Most of my foot trap set on dry land are exposed cat sets with a tar shingle.
When trapping Coyotes in harsh freeze and wet I would use galvanized screen and coal slack or coal shale as some call it. That was a very good weather resistant set and the screen. Allows moisture through.

Mi little friend fell for the shingle yesterday.
The set is not the set the cat was caught it .
Just showing the setup.

I would do the same, exept I tear it off as needed. I don't cut or tair a slot .
Just set paper under jaws and set trap with wax paper in place . You can put your thumb under the pan with the loose jaw lifted and give a slight tug on the paper to punch through the paper .
You can do the same with screen no cutting a slot just pull the pan post though the screen .
Works great. Saves lots of time not cutting slots.

I don't doubt it. Even when it's not compromised it absorbs moisture and traps it in.

Don't crinkle mine. Works just fine.

Yes, sorta. I use crumpled wax paper on all my wolf sets and carefully tuck it around pan as I pour waxed dirt over the trap. When the set is done if you take a stick and tap the pan you can hear the paper. Not a big deal for a wolf because you can block them to commit a foot but foxes that step on the trap will dig up every one they come across if they're pan tensioned out. Just had to remake a bunch today. Little booger was like an archeologist.

I've not noticed crumpled paper getting soggy. It's very wet here and I've had sets work after months of rain.

I've noticed the paper getting soggy, and limper, but I fail to see the problem with that. The soggy paper is quieter, and if it freezes because it is soggy it doesn't affect anything, that frozen sheet of wax paper isn't stiff enough to hold a decent sized mouse up, it isn't going to affect your trap going off. If using waxed sand I don't notice the paper ever getting soggy, because the waxed sand keeps it dry. But making snow sets I usually put wax paper under the trap and another piece over it. That piece under the trap helps prevent the trap freezing down, I've used it both crinkled and smooth. Usually as a matter of course I crinkle it, crinkled paper forms around the pan and such better without humps and bubbles, as well as being quieter. But if I have some dirt on my "clean" setting gloves and I am making snow sets I will often use it smooth, leaving it much whiter than if I balled it up with dirty gloves, and I often don't bother to crinkle the piece underneath anyways. I've never noticed a difference in using crinkled vs. smooth other than the ease of forming the crinkled to the trap.

As Jumper says, I've had critters dig or pull up the waxed paper on wolf sets, never a wolf but smaller critters. I don't know if they hear it, feel it, or what, but something alerts them to paw at the waxed paper.

Enjoying the insight on different peaples Sanarios the wolf trapping in interesting to read about.
I'm guessing the fox dig because the kill aria is so bog on a wolf trap that they bust through the wax paper between the jaw and pan. Fax will dig at any void .