Dry dirt

[Ohiotrapper]

If i get dry dirt before the season for canines, what if the area i need dry dirt in has a different type of soil?  Won't they notice a different color or kind of soil is there?  I have many different types of soil through out the places i trap.  What is your suggestions/solutions??

[Fatcatbuster]

I usally put my screened dirt up in the middle of the summer, i spread a 4x8 piece of plywood on saw horses and dry it out.  Sometimes i agree that the dirt dont match the dirt there, i then sift some duff or dirt from that area over the pattern lightly. It seems to work ok for me. I like to carry in dirt instead of walking around the site area. I use the carry in dirt mostly for bedding and then use the hole dirt for the top covering, Hope this gives you some answers.

[Wackyquacker]

I'm with Catbuster...you just need to blend in the top layer.  I wax dirt and the process darkens the dirt a bit, blending does the trick.  Now, mind you that doesn't mean that anything goes.  I'll bet you can get dirt from different locals that has dramatically different odors...this could present problems.  I use "road" dirt and have had no problems.

[Asa Lenon]

I suppose that the answer to this question may vary from locality to locality.  I find in my locality that a different color sand enhances the sets effectiveness by adding great visibility and eye appeal.  I've never even once saw evidence that the different color caused a canine to avoid a set.  There is one place i've trapped for years where the surface dirt is gray along with patches of gray moss. When one digs down 8" the sand is as red as a fox.  I love to make sets in the drab gray and finish them with the red dirt dug from down in the dirt hole.  I've experimented with these sets and found just about every passing animal will investigate the holes even if an attractor is not added.  I recommend you try making sets both showing the different color dirt and blended.  One wouldn't want to pass on a possible good calling card in your locality.  Ace

[RdFx]

When ive trapped during very wet weather and run out of dry dirt ive dug it out of barns, under bridges and anywhere it was dry  and canines still came in and got caught of course LOL   :grin:   So  give it a try in yr locale and see what you can do.

[trappnman]

It must be another of those regional things. The coyotes here are very suspious of color changes in dirt- in fact, so much so that simple color changes can be used to guide coyotes.  

Just like wet spots stand out from dry spots- a color change acts the same way on my coyotes here.

I either blend in the top layer of imported dirt with local dirt- or if that is not possible,  I have to make a very large pattern, say 4-6 feet to allieve the suspicion over the different colored dirt.

On another thread somewhere. A trapper from out west used coal shale- and reported excellent results EVEN IF THE SHALE WAS NOT COMMON TO THAT AREA- but he later moved to further east and found he was getting a very high refusal rate- and it was solved by top blendeing the shale so it matched the surrounding area.

Interesting to see what spooks coyotes in some areas. I have friends in upper NY that state any obvious sets such as stepdowns are not worked and have little success. Yet here stepdowns are a very good set.

So my advice- try a few sets without blending the imported dirt and the same amount with the top layer blended. See what happens. the coyotes wil tell you what is righht for you.....t'man

[Asa Lenon]

I think that layers of different color soil deposited by the glaciers throughout the Great Lakes area is quite common and would look quite natural to the canine here.  Wherever holes are dug would generally result in a different color layer underneath so they see this on a regular basis.  Ace

[trappnman]

Makes sense- but here I trap 99% on tilled land- good black loam is the norm.  

Speaking of glaciers- our area is the Great Driftless Area- the only place in northern US last Ice Age missed- SE Minnesota, NE Iowa and SW Ws. Very unique area.

[Wackyquacker]

I'm thinkin the blend don't blend (for lack of a better name) issue seems more related to the type of set than the type of soils.  When we dig a dirt hole we often intend to make a disturbance to attract the critters.  I have to say that my observations are in line with Asa's relative to this set (now mind I make big holes with a big pattern, often with a step down like form.  With flat sets or blinds, my experience  tells me to  blend and blend well.  Hide the sucker good and leave no indication of the trap if you expect to catch the sly bugger.