trap prep

[trace]

hey i am bout to get some traps from a buddy of mine got a coat of rust on em but i was wondering what all id need to do to em to get em ready to use trappin coyotes mostly... sumthin quick any advice appreciated

[four coil]

Knock the dirt off of them, then simmer them in logwood dye. Follow directions on the package. If you're also doing conibears, remove them from your kettle before the next step. I then add trap wax to the kettle. Add enough to have about 1/2 inch melted wax on top of the kettle. When the wax is just below simmering, start pulling the traps out of the kettle through the wax. Not too fast or too slow. There should be a thin layer of wax on your traps. If they come out with too much or too little, dunk them back in and let them reheat, then try again till right.The reason you don't wax conibears is that it makes them too touchy. One other word  of caution, wax is very flamable. When the kettle cools take the wax out and save for next year. Logwood dye  is available at any trapping supply. Now they are ready for the field. There are other ways to do it, but this works for me. Good luck.

[trace]

thanks appreciate it

[jim-NE]

trace, you could try speed dip also if you have a little time to air them out before using them. I use speed dip now almost exclusively on all of my traps, water and land-predator traps alike, and am very satisfied with the results. I have used several brands and all have been fairly consistent in results. Use either white gas (lantern fuel) or a high grade lead-free gasoline to mix and follow directions on the product container. You do want all of the excess rust off of them, and any dirt, etc. but a light rusting is OK. I have an old canner that I mix about two gallons up in and then can dip just about any sized trap in that big old canner. For #330s I sometimes have to use a paint brush to get the dip mixture onto every surface area. Then just hang them up for several days until the fuel/dip scent is gone. A breezy area works best. Warmer weather seems to work best for dipping but I have redipped traps in cold weather and as long as the air is moving it works OK. I also just rotate my dirty predator traps to my water line and when set underwater scent is not an issue. I also live in heart of very populated and mostly agricultural area in Southeastern Nebraska, where every field around here has some diesel, oil, or gasoline drips here and there from trucks, tractors, you name it. I think our coyotes and fox here just are very accustomed to this and as long as it has not harmed them or caused any negative learning experience then there doesn't seem to be any fear of trap odors. The dip is very convenient for me anyway.
Good luck and congratulations on the gift!!!
Jim

[trace]

thanks