As usual, I'm running late on getting things done. But, If nothing happens, tomorrow I'm gonna work on my traps. Clean, adjust, and wax.... git them suckers ready to use. Got a pack of coyotes that need thinning or hopefully eliminating, but I doubt that will happen. Always manage to catch a skunk, few possums, fox or two, and several coons (4 legged kind), and usually a bobcat or two.

Come to think of it, I need to work on my box stand, too.

I believe all of my stuff is ready. I even over achieved and made waxed dirt this summer. Our water opener is only a couple weeks away and bobcat, fisher and marten are still over 2 months away.

Waxed dirt.... never heard of that. I'm guessing that's used to prevent the ground from absorbing water and freezing. We dont have that problem here in the far northern reaches of Louisiana.

Dyed and waxed my traps this past weekend. Our trapping season begins this weekend and I am loaded with Fox and Coyotes and coons here. Should be a good season! Been trying hunt the yotes and have shot 2 so far-one with the bow while deer hunting, but too busy with work to go out at all hours of the night after them, so the traps being out 24/7 should be a big benefit!

Our water season opens a week from today and I was all geared up and ready. We got 3-4 inches of snow today and highs this week will be around 35. I guess I may as well put them all back away.

Does anyone use Black
Walnut hulls to die traps any more?

I have some someone gave me years ago and I guess I should wax them just to stop the rusting.
What do you suggest since I am not likely to be using them any time soon, just rust prevention.

No walnuts here anywhere close.
Just me- after I use up the bag of
powder and can of dip I have, I'll be
painting my traps from now on.
Probably buy some full metal jacket and
try that over the paint.
The few I painted a couple of years ago
are the only ones that don't need anything
other than to be staked and set.
When I was greener than I am now about
trapping and didn't think about asking online,
everyone that gave me advice said " oh no!
You can't paint a trap! The animals will smell
it and you'll never catch anything! "
Well that's a big bunch of doo-doo.
Foot traps and body grips both work just fine
when painted

Walnut hulls is what I use to dye the traps and then I wax them.

I use walnut hulls exclusively. It helps stops the rust and of course wax.

My mentor never waxed, just dyed his traps.
He caught what he sought no problems including plenty of coyotes, when we still had them here. He caught plenty of incidental wolves as have I while not using wax.
If it works for coyotes and wolves i think it will work for any other noses out there.
I don’t mind skipping the waxing time.

Osky

I cant speak about the wolves, cause we dont have them around here. Waxing never caused any problems with the catching of coyotes that I'm aware of. Just as painting snares never seemed to cause a problem.

I painted some traps with red oxide primer and let it dry for a couple of weeks before I set the traps. They did fine, too.

One of the joys of trapping, there’s always prep work to do.