Dig ups

[krank]

The scourge of the land trapper. We have all been there. You do such a good job of prepping and setting and something is wise to it.
You find a set and a little corner of the trap is exposed. Something knew it was there and you can even see the claw marks. When I was a kid, something used to flip my traps over without tripping them. (fox I think)

Here you are mid-season and something stinks. Literally.

Old timers told me to throw the traps in a creek and let the moving water do its job. I think a muddy pond does a good job and let the mud scour the steel and rinse off.

What is it they Smell? Could be spilled fuel. Blood. Your own dog. Smoke? Exhaust fumes....etc. Chlorinated water???

I think wax holds scent and the cure is a 3 second dunk in hot water.

I never set then lure then set then lure. I make all my sets and then turn around a go back and do lure. Traps and lures in separate buckets. I think that might me #1 cause is getting lure on a trap.

Over the years, trappers have admitted in confidence they are having this issue. Its like they are ashamed and nobody talks about it because it is embarrassing. For the sake of all, let us discuss this.

[tryinhard]

I set a farm over Christmas. Had fox scratching the first night. Never caught there because of it. I did read a thread on Facebook that a guy had the same issue with clean traps. He solved his issue by burying his trap a little deeper & putting more cover on it. Food for discussion right there.

[krank]

Big concern with freezing. Old trick is to double set as critter isn't looking for two traps.

[Walleye Joe]

Could it be the smell of freshly dug dirt? You know how we like the smell when something is plowed or bulldozed.

[krank]

Old timers claimed predators were alarmed by the scent of steel. Sure doesn't stop them from going through a barb wire fence held up by t-posts. Sure doesn't stop them from getting on top of my hay baler and digging for mice.

[bigjohn]

I've caught enough coyotes in exposed trap sets to know steel smell doesn't bother them. I'm not your most scent free person when it comes to trapping but still manage to catch respectable numbers.
I'd say dig ups are either coon messing with the soft dirt at sets or the most likely, trap not bedded solid.

[krank]

Yup, a trap that rocks is a give away. I watched Cletis do a demo and he didn't wear gloves. He said he didn't but you can if it makes you feel better.

[trkyslyr]

One thing I've noticed on my line is those darn armadillos like to dig in a new trapbed. Also, RABBITS, if u use calcium chloride or salt for antifreeze. Especially the corners of the trapbed by the levers where I usually apply alot.

[krank]

I have had rabbits attracted to fox urine. I guess it has enough salt in it.

[krank]

Maybe the reason critters know about your set is because they watched you make it? Far fetched but so are these dig ups.

[tjm]

Skunks and coons dig new dirt and skunks were out last week, saw three road kills in five miles up north of me. Critters that read know all your tricks though, so, try them all.
I'm real lucky here, we are a poor county and can't afford to school the fox and such, so when they ever accidentally see one of my traps they just assume it's an odd shaped rock. If they happen to step on it and it moves they will move away just as if they stepped on a stick that rolled over. I thank the Lord for ignorant creatures and hope mine never learn to read.
My wax all smells like walnut hulls and sumac berries and fortunately so does a lot of the land I trap.

[krank]

And the mystery goes on.