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Post by richg072 on Dec 19, 2012 22:28:14 GMT -5
I used peat moss in all my k9 sets and had a bunch of traps fail to go off, most likely my fault. The traps were in the ground for 5 days, no rain, but freezing conditions over night. When I went to pull my traps I noticed the sets had been worked with no catch, then went to set off the traps with stick and they did not fire. I even took the end of my shovel and pressed as hard as I could with no trip. When I pulled them out of ground I noticed the peat was bunched up under pans. I was under the impression that you didnt need pan covers with peat, so I didnt use any. I also used peat straight out of the bag, tried to sift it but made peat dust which went everywhere, so I used it straight. Where did I go wrong?
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bdfisher
To date: 34 Muskrat, 3 Mink, 9 Raccoon, 4 Beaver, 1 Rabbit, 3 grinners
Posts: 246
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Post by bdfisher on Dec 19, 2012 22:50:50 GMT -5
I always sift my peat moss, Their is a lot of debris in it sticks small pcs bark. I always use pan covers. I've been using coffee filters. I buy a large size filter. Cut to fit. I have not had any frozen traps. Good luck in the future
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Post by mexicantrapper on Dec 19, 2012 22:56:06 GMT -5
A couple suggestions. Sift your peat. The only time I use pan covers is when I bed in peat because it is so fine that the rain will filter it in under the pan. Probably most importaintly, spend time tuning your traps. Night latch and get the pan travel down to 1/16th of an inch. That way they'll fire even if some bedding gets under the pan. Best of luck to you!! If it's ant consolation, this has been a tough year for K9 trapping. Coditions have been much less than ideal.
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traps82
#3 Newhouse
Hope is always alive
Posts: 3,208
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Post by traps82 on Dec 19, 2012 23:14:55 GMT -5
I will echo the same.. Pan covers.. Guys don't.. But I am so used to it, I just do it.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2012 23:33:09 GMT -5
I mix top soil with my peat. 1 part top soil to 2 part peat. Takes the powdery texture out of it... I also use a trappers cap without anything above or below the pan.. I struggle with straight peat too....
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Post by Itrapny on Dec 20, 2012 5:38:22 GMT -5
I usually use a 50/50 mix of sifted peat and bone dry dirt w/asandy texture but have & will use straight peat if I run out. One important thing to remember is that peat straight from the bag contains moisture and you need to dry it first before you use it or it will freeze. Once you have dry peat, it actually repels A LOT of water before it gets wet. I've had sets where it's rained on them all day/night and all I had to do was skim off the top layer of my mixture and replace it with new. I don't use pan cover's either and if properly dried and prepared, even if the peat does get under your pan, it doesn't gunkup like wet dirtwilland the trap still fires.
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Post by claythomas on Dec 20, 2012 9:52:29 GMT -5
Yep Rich, I learned the same lesson last year on some dogless Monties that have a very low pan to start with. Definetly a pan cover with peat from now on especially those traps.
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Post by richg072 on Dec 20, 2012 9:58:26 GMT -5
Would you guys recommend using ant hill dirt to mix with peat to make that mixture, or is ant hill dirt used by its self?
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Post by snoeblind on Dec 20, 2012 10:18:52 GMT -5
Ant hill dirt works well but needs to be dry also. It has water proofing qualities all by itself. It is best when you know it is an active hill. older ones start to loose their ability to shed water.
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Post by richg072 on Dec 20, 2012 13:47:30 GMT -5
Ok good info, thanks guys!
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Post by mole on Dec 20, 2012 15:50:34 GMT -5
Thank you, learned some of this the hard way. Excellent thread.
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cooper67
#2 Newhouse
oswego county trappers ,nysta,jefferson county
Posts: 2,554
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Post by cooper67 on Dec 24, 2012 10:14:17 GMT -5
a lot of the bedding with out a pan cover depends on traps & pan travel , on my mb550,mb 650s, & kbs i use peat straight sifted & dried then a thin layer of ant dirt on top with out trap failure till freeze up after rain storms then freezing nights.my northwoods, victors, dukes, get pillow fill under pan, lightlyso if freezing conditions come they still work . good luck.
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Post by oldman50 on Dec 24, 2012 17:36:43 GMT -5
A couple suggestions. Sift your peat. The only time I use pan covers is when I bed in peat because it is so fine that the rain will filter it in under the pan. Probably most importaintly, spend time tuning your traps. Night latch and get the pan travel down to 1/16th of an inch. That way they'll fire even if some bedding gets under the pan. Best of luck to you!! If it's ant consolation, this has been a tough year for K9 trapping. Coditions have been much less than ideal. Totally agree. That was my biggest problem last year. I use pan covers also but that pan pressure is most important. You can't have any slop at all on the pan. Last year my pans were so bad that a few sets the fox had stepped on the pan and backed off un touched. The pans were half way down and unsprung.
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Post by superduty on Dec 25, 2012 17:50:16 GMT -5
For pan covers i have been using hamburger papers you get them 1000 per box for around 8 dollars. they sell them at gander mt or bass pro. they are for putting between burgers when you freeze them.
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Post by superduty on Dec 25, 2012 17:51:41 GMT -5
For pan covers i have been using hamburger papers you get them 1000 per box for around 8 dollars. they sell them at gander mt or bass pro. they are for putting between burgers when you freeze them.
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Post by bmtrapper on Dec 26, 2012 21:52:35 GMT -5
I use wax paper all the time. I just pulled 7 sets this morning that had 6" of snow on it. Those sets had been their 3weeks , 5fox wwere take during this time .Once I ran out waxed dirt,I went to peat. I wanted to use peat correctly and I took Itrapny advice dry dirt with dry peat and those sets were still in working condition when pulled. Thanks Itrapny and hoped this helps
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