Wax paper on a fox trap?

[spiderclawz]

Learning to trap years ago with my brother, he would cut 5"x5" squares of wax paper to place over #2 victor square jawed traps. After bedding the trap, we would put the wax paper on the trap and cover it with the sifted dirt. Now, I still trap and have carried on this tradition. I do not catch a lot of fox, but I'm gung-ho to improve my fur intake this year and catch some mink and then try my hand at fox and maybe a cyote.

Is this "wax paper" tactic, nonsense, common, dumb, or otherwise??

Am I creating opportunity for pullouts? I've had a few.

Will this spook a yote?

[coyotero]

I have used cupcake papers,the large size,you have to get the from a bakery.They fit great in #2's and #3's.They're precut and hold up to everything except hard rain.

[Dave Lyons]

Spiderclaw

People are still using it, I am not but I am not everybody.  I use the foam under the the pans.  And everybody just looked at me like I was crazy.  All I can say is I was it for the same reason Tman wrote about it in T&C last issue.  When that trap fires I know I have him waiting in the morning or next day as I can check on a 48 hr. check.


Dave Lyons

[Asa Lenon]

Over 50 years I started out with waxed paper, went to canvas, then screen as a trap cover and now i'm back to plain old waxed paper again.  During the bounty era of trapping in the Summer and early Fall, I used foam rubber under the trap pans.  It helped prevent the trap springing from such things as grouse dusting on  the set, rabbits and skunks as well as keeping ants from filling in under the pan in certain areas.  One must be careful with foam when the weather gets cold as it will take on moisture and freeze solid.  Ace

[spiderclawz]

So what brand of wax paper works best...?

Naw...  just kiddin'!!  :-)

Thanks for the reassurance.

[jim-NE]

I bought a 25' roll of 3" "Pipe Wrap" insulation. I tear off a piece and shove this under my pan, and it works well for me to keep the dirt from sifting under the pan, plus it is extremely quiet and somewhat moisture and freeze proof (unless you get rain on the set).
After a catch, the piece of insulation is usually obliterated, so I just tear off another piece and remake the set. 1 roll lasts me most of the season, its cheap, light to carry, and seems to work well for me. I haven't gone back to any other method since I've tried using this stuff.
Jim-NE

[CoonDuke]

I use wax paper as a pan cover for fox trapping.  I works great for fall trapping.  If used with bone dry dirt, though, it can be a little "crunchy".  If you crumple it up first, you can eliminate this problem.

[Asa Lenon]

Good point about crumpleing coonduke!  Waxed paper is best for Winter trapping in my opinion because the entire trap wrapped loosely in waxed paper will not freeze down.  Crumpleing the paper helps prevent snow from drifting off the smooth surface and makes much less noise should the animal step on the jaw first before hitting the pan.  Ace

[Thumper]

I use wax paper for coon sets and fiberglass insulation for fox and dogs. Both work fine. I don't think there is any wrong answer here. I've seen guys use dried leaves as well. The end result is what counts.  Good luck!