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Post by nhad on Jan 28, 2010 16:44:12 GMT -5
I've been using peat-moss to bed and cover my dirt holes and can't seem to get the trap bedded solid enough. Have had three misses in the last week, seems to me there feeling the trap move. One trap did not even get moved just sprung. Is anyone bedding their traps with peat-moss the ground seems to frozen to work with. Any suggestions?
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Post by Itrapny on Jan 28, 2010 17:07:17 GMT -5
Couple of ways to steady up your trap, the easiest being to make the bed just slight bigger than the trap and I do mean slightly so that you have to almost wedge it in there. The other way is to use wooden pegs or nails & pound them down into the ground around the outside edges of the jaws to firm up the trap.
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Post by otter04 on Jan 28, 2010 18:06:36 GMT -5
Like i said months ago, you can not bed traps in peat moss. You have to do what Wayne just told ya. Chop a bed just slightly bigger than the trap and try and wedge it in place. than cover your trap with the peat moss or hulls.
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Post by Brunner on Jan 28, 2010 18:16:51 GMT -5
Bedding traps in peat moss is not much different then bedding in regular dirt. Just keep putting the peat moss in the bed and pack it around the jaws. After a little practice you will have a rock solid trap.
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Post by otter04 on Jan 28, 2010 19:39:23 GMT -5
on frozen ground when you chop out your trap bed, that trap will be wedged in place. then you will fill in with peat moss and cover. But believe me you cant bed a trap in peat moss without wedging that trap in that bed. peat moss has no holding quality's like dirt. and if you dont believe me, then hit it with a little water and see what it turns into.peat moss and buckwheat hulls are just that, a cover material, nothing more.Take a hand full of dirt and blow on it and then take a hand full of peat and blow on it, see what stays and what blows away.
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Post by Brunner on Jan 28, 2010 19:53:44 GMT -5
Make sure you don't tell the animals that I'm doing it wrong.
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Post by trappermac on Jan 28, 2010 20:52:19 GMT -5
I'm with Brunner here, I'll dig the trap bed a little deeper than normal, fill it in with peat moss and pack it down, then a little more on top of that. Then I'll push the trap down into the peat, use that last layer to pack around the trap until it feels solid, then cover with peat. I'll pack around the jaws again. This may use more peat than normal, but it has worked for me. I'm sure its not rock solid like dirt, but like Brunner says, a little practice with it and you'll get a feel for it.
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Post by Aaron Fields on Jan 29, 2010 18:07:16 GMT -5
Ive been using peat moss since ground froze and after a few practice tries my traps bed solid in it, again not like reg dirt but there not moving. Ive been digging a little larger bed and filling it with peat moss, bedding applying more peat, repeat, repeat use small rocks frozen dirt around the jaws etc. and they are solid. I did have a trap snap but it wasnt from a canine it was my pan tension was to light. Im no pro or high numbers guy but I will say my traps are bedded solid in peat moss.
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Post by flatiron on Jan 29, 2010 18:14:04 GMT -5
GEEEZZZ ! All I use is peat moss , I bed the traps in it , cover the traps w/ it , even throw a bit over my shoulder now and again . What am I doing wrong ? Hey Ken , I lived where the cover hulls came to surface , they make nice pillows and IMO thats about it . Try putting them things down around here when the winds are a blowing! ;D ;D
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Post by pettit877 on Jan 29, 2010 18:19:25 GMT -5
i just peat under and over and wont leave a set until its solidly bedded.
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Post by otter04 on Jan 29, 2010 18:48:03 GMT -5
ok this is the last thing im saying about peat. no sense trying to fight the masses. Take a box with 3 inches of peat moss and try and bed that trap, now take the same box with dirt and see the difference when you twist that trap down. bedding in peet is like trying to bed a trap in marbles. and Von, you may be throwing down peet and covering with peet but your still locking that trap in the trap bed.But its not the peet that holding that trap but the wedging of that trap. your still just covering that trap, not bedding it. But this is the last time ill take up this argument. And im done trying to help,ive had enough. it just keeps getting worse in here. one guy lies and another three swear to it. all independant thought is gone.
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Post by jimd on Jan 29, 2010 20:55:06 GMT -5
why is it lying if something works for others and not for you? There is so much trial and error in trapping. there is no definite right or wrong way of doing things. If something works, great. If not, move on.
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Post by flatiron on Jan 29, 2010 21:13:54 GMT -5
ok this is the last thing im saying about peat. no sense trying to fight the masses. Take a box with 3 inches of peat moss and try and bed that trap, now take the same box with dirt and see the difference when you twist that trap down. bedding in peet is like trying to bed a trap in marbles. and Von, you may be throwing down peet and covering with peet but your still locking that trap in the trap bed.But its not the peet that holding that trap but the wedging of that trap. your still just covering that trap, not bedding it. But this is the last time ill take up this argument. And im done trying to help,ive had enough. it just keeps getting worse in here. one guy lies and another three swear to it. all independant thought is gone. Ken , I'm offended a little BUT not much ! I've shown many others how to do it and then had them try it ----------they couldn't get it done . Ask a few who have rode w/ me . I won't tell anyone something I can't do OR can't prove --------NO BRAG -----JUST FACT ! I tell it the way I see things AND be damned to lie for someone else . Sorry if this got ya so riled , remember this ------no two baseball pitchers throw alike ! and very kindly yours , Von OOPS ! forgot to mention ------------really tough to find any dirt to bed a trap in when its all frozen like stone.
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Post by hunterchub on Jan 30, 2010 1:49:20 GMT -5
I love peat. Been using it alot the last few weeks. Yea its tough to bed in but you can get it done. I like to spread a little dry dirt over when set it complete. Dont really need to but it keep from blowin around and blends in the color. Always wondered if the discolored peat would make a difference. I found it dont. We have had extremely frozen ground here. I finally found an old cow barn with great dirt. Bone dry. I have been mixing it in when I can. Been working great on these mangy coyotes. Im sure glad the farmers happy cuz Im sick of catching them. Anytime anyone want to come kill coyotes. Skies the limit. Another thing to try is to make your trap bed area just big enough for the trap to fit into it. This way the chance of the critter tipping your trap is less.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2010 10:04:53 GMT -5
Wow - Not sure if I want to enter into this one, getting a little volatile in here.... I just bought my first bag of Peat this year after reading about all the success in here with it. Before using it, I rarely had a dig out with my pre-sifted dirt. Once I used it, I started getting a couple each day. I HATE dig-outs, so I mixed the peat and pre-sifted dirt together. It made a nice fluffy type of dirt. I have been using this mixture for a couple weeks now and I like it.. Bedding - it is defenetely a different animal when it comes to bedding in peat moss, but i'm leaving that debate alone.....
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Post by johnrockwood on Jan 30, 2010 10:22:06 GMT -5
I believe each of us does what works for us. Some of us have different soil types which help dictate what we use. Some of us have completely different weather conditions than others. That does not mean that what someone says is wrong. It may not work for you, but if it does work for them, it is not wrong. Just a different way of doing things.
I think that maybe these different ways of bedding traps in different conditions would make an excellent demo at the Summer Rondy. Otter04 could present his way of using peat moss as well as explain his soil and weather conditions and why he does things the way he does. That could be followed by Flatiron doing the same thing, then any others that want to join in. That way the trappers watching can make their own choices. What do you think guys ?
Making broad statements about right and wrong ways of doing things is foolish. We all have to do what works for us. I long ago found out that others have a better understanding of things if we quailfy our statements. In other words, why we do things the way we do on our own traplines.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2010 10:29:33 GMT -5
John - Well said!!!
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Post by flatiron on Jan 30, 2010 11:51:49 GMT -5
Great idea Rocky ! This is one no one would want to miss for sure ! hows about it Ken? And I'm sure evryone involved or attending will learn something .
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Post by nhad on Jan 30, 2010 12:59:16 GMT -5
Didn't mean to cause a stir. Just when I thought I was geting them bedded solid enough guess again. 2 misses yesterday and one today maybe it's not the peat after all.
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Post by Itrapny on Jan 30, 2010 13:30:40 GMT -5
Are the traps pulled out of the beds (weak springs or deer) or just sprung setting there (not enough pan tension)?
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Post by nhad on Jan 30, 2010 16:09:41 GMT -5
No deer. Yote tracks all around the last two and both traps pulled out. traps are pretty new seem to have good springs(my index finger can second that) Should I up the pan tension? Area seems to be loaded with coyotes atleast 8-10 different sets just this morning on the way in.
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Post by Itrapny on Jan 30, 2010 16:20:12 GMT -5
What size traps are you using? Any stray furs or just empty traps? Could be pan tension, but usually when you gte multiple pull-outs it from weak traps in my opinion.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2010 18:41:42 GMT -5
Increase the pan tension to about 1-2 lbs. You want the animal to put some weight on the pan before engagement!! A quick reference for tension, the pan should not be able to move freely in the sprung position, but it shoud not be difficult to move the pan in he sprung position either.... It just takes practice..
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Post by nhad on Jan 30, 2010 18:44:44 GMT -5
Thanks I guess i'll be resetting tommorrow with increased pan tension. what about the traps that I have had misses in will they be back or should they be moved a little?
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Post by flatiron on Jan 30, 2010 21:07:02 GMT -5
Thanks I guess i'll be resetting tommorrow with increased pan tension. what about the traps that I have had misses in will they be back or should they be moved a little? reset ! there more than those critters that worked that set around !
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