Hello everybody,
Long time lurker first time poster. I wanted to say Hi and ask a question of course.
I have a large surplus of really well mixed sandy/peaty garden compost pre-screened ready to use.
It does contain small amounts of composted manure in it though.

This is my first season using wax dirt. Does anybody think Using the composted soil to make wax dirt will cause Refusals or too much focus on the trap bed? K9 of course
It’s about four years old. And it just smells like good soil to me.

I plan to give it a whirl and see what the outcome is, but I thought I would ask and see if anyone had experience with the particular material.

Im in South Central Alaska and plan on using wax paper or 1/16 packing foam sheet.
But I want have some wax dirt on hand for whatever scenario comes up earlier in the season.

Thanks in advance, and have a great summer.
Matt

Seems to me that any kind of manure is a naturally found part of the woods, 4 yrs old?, i doubt it will cause any problems. Might want to try some fake sets now to see if there's any reaction. Let us know. Welcome to the group.

Thanks BigBob,
Yup, it was made/processed by landscaping company four years ago and delivered. didn’t get to use all of it , it’s been sitting covered.

Sounds like it would absorb a lot of wax. Hard to beat sand.

around here 4 year old manure is just rich dirt

I’ve used powdered manure (almost the same) on tons of sets. Don’t worry about it. Glorified peat moss

Thanks Danny, thats how I feel about it as well

Thank you Pawnee! that is really good to know. Will definitely be using it

I have been reading that people seem to really like 100% sand

My house cat's dump in my waxed sand before I get it stored.
Never had a problem, no worries it will be fine.

Eeek! Thank you.
This is definitely an extreme example beartooth!
My worries are assuage.

Should be fine.
Sprinkling a hand full a few feet around set is always good.
Sometimes you want the animal to smell that different scent before it gets to your trap bed

If its not to far go out and make a set sans trap or just s[pread out a circle of your dirt with an attractor in the middle

Awesome idea! Definitely will spread it a bit.

I like this idea also. All great advice.
Feeling a lot better about using this batch now.

Don’t some folks use actual turds at sets?

My observation, what critters check out when looking for something to eat can be a real head scratcher. This can and does change depending on what they are used to. Trapping a field in the middle of three housing developments is probably much different than walking to the unexplored center of a thousand acre woods and making sets. Still, there will be critters cautious of your scent and some will be just curious enough to get them.

Ive seen the statement pop up a few times as well. The fact that their habits can be unpredictable.
Very good point about the conditions that that particular critter is used to.