Putting up dry dirt

[bigjohn]

Anyone else doing it? I put up 50 gallons of dry barn dirt this morning,pre-sifted. Got another 50 gallons to go.
That should take care of me unless it gets too wet,then it'll be peat.

[emt]

I need too

[krank]

We got a lot of old sheds around here for dry dirt....

[ozarkmountainman]

Anyone putting up dried Peat Moss? Sorry John, just couldn't resist.

I used to put up several 50 gallon drums of dirt before each season. But the stuff really does go bad- you need to dump old dirt every year.

A drum of well-sifted dirt is some HEAVY, I'll tell you that.

Dale

[cletisrichards]

I drive almost to Colo to get the dry dirt that I use one my sets

[bigjohn]

Coal shale,Cletis?

[bigjohn]

It takes 12 5 gal kitty litter buckets to fill a 55 gal drum. That stuff is almost like dust,so very dense. Yes sir,quite a bit of weight.

Dale,I've heard of guys spreading their peat out on tarps to get it completly dry. Never did it myself and never had a problem. I do open the tops of the bags and store in my garage,so any moisture can excape.

[76michael]

i need to do that get some dry dirt put up man i really need a bigger shed mine is too small

[ozarkmountainman]

It's just money.

Dale

[tryinhard]

I just find an old stump or log and get what I need on site. I don't suppose anyone is selling pre dried and waxed dirt yet are they? Lol! Craziest thing I've heard of!

[bigjohn]

If your just setting a few traps,getting dirt under a log,bridge ,or shed is fine. If your serious,then you need to have a supply with you. Heavy rains during the season can seriously tax your supplies and the next thing you know,your scrambing around tring to get some.
While peat is great for wet weather,it's another cost. With lower fur prices one needs to save a dollar. Besides,nothing packs as good as dry dirt and still allows the trap to fire quickly.

[krank]

I can always find another abandoned shed in the dead of winter. Never worried about finding dry dirt. I ain't big volume on predator sets but if anybody ever needs dry dirt then come on by.

[jiml]

The dirt I always find seems to be frozen in late winter, I guess that means it's not really dry. Big John I feel like I'm always scrambling around trying to get some.

[cletisrichards]

Oct 27, 2014 14:00:01 GMT -6 bigjohn said:

Coal shale,Cletis?

No coal shale out there, but usually powder dry a inch or two deep

[Robbie Page]

I got mine under a local bridge about a month ago. I'm getting ready to wax treat it before too long. This system works best for me. It's a little pricey but the other methods never seemed to work too well for me. I start off my canine trapping using it right from the get go. Rain, freeze, thaw, I have zero problems. Later in the winter when the ground is froze and the daily temperatures stay at or below 32 degrees, I will just use dry dirt when my waxed dirt gets a little low.

[krank]

It is alot dryer in western ks than here. Sandy in the smoky hills where we go.

[cletisrichards]

Oct 29, 2014 20:15:16 GMT -6 Robbie Page said:

I got mine under a local bridge about a month ago. I'm getting ready to wax treat it before too long. This system works best for me. It's a little pricey but the other methods never seemed to work too well for me. I start off my canine trapping using it right from the get go. Rain, freeze, thaw, I have zero problems. Later in the winter when the ground is froze and the daily temperatures stay at or below 32 degrees, I will just use dry dirt when my waxed dirt gets a little low.

Robbie! What method do you use to wax your dirt, want to elaborate?

[Robbie Page]

Cletis,
I used to do in in August and do the solar method on a table covered with black plastic. What I do now is when the weather turns cooler, when my wife is not home, I use our oven. It warms up the house while I wax my dirt. I use a 7:1 ratio of 7 parts dry dirt to 1 part flaked wax. I periodically mix it by hand until all the dirt looks wet. I have the oven heating at about 350 degrees. One of these days I'm going to buy me a cheap concrete mixer from Harbor Freight to wax treat my dirt. For heat, just use a fish cooker burner under it while the mixer rotates. It's a pain in the arse no matter how you do it, but you will be glad you did when the weather turns crappy.

[phillytrapper]

Ihave some dry dirt left over from last year that was mixed with peat moss and sun dried .This year I have been putting up waxed dirt takes time but I think it will be the cats ass . I have been using the summer sun but now that's gone I have a little wax left and have been cooking it on a propane burner and a cheapo spaghetti pot . About 1.50 cups of wax to a browny tray of dirt stir and heat it till all the dry dirt gets a shade darker.The land critter season opened on Saturday but I am too busy making the move to were I am at now this weekend I will begin moving the furniture and some 20 boxes my new landlord is going to lend me a box trailer . I have not moved anywere since 1968 it will be all new to me .  

[krank]

I used to have a place that had a giant anthill and it was a good supply of waxed dirt. (Ants secrete a wax) This topic has me wanting to go by there and see if its still there. I sold the land but am on good terms.