Trap Preparation | HOW TO Wax and Dye Traps

Trap preparation is key to successfully trapping predators. Waxing and dying traps is a huge part of the preparation process. In this video we show you how to clean (old or brand new) traps, dye and wax them. Also, some tips and tricks that will help your trapping preparation skills.

[@lasado27]

Awesome video. I'm just starting out and it's really helped me understand. Thank you!

[@jeffstillings8624]

Good video. Thanks for sharing

[@joycebrownrigg330]

With a 24 hour acid bath ,and through cleaning the traps come out spotless. Using two turkey cookers . One has 40 pounds of melted wax. Once melted turn the heat off of it. It take about 15 minutes only at boiling the coat the traps totally black. Straight out of the dying solution , I shake the traps, and wipe anything off with a clean paper towel. Within in a minute they go into the melted wax, which is crystal clear. Within five seconds they are out and onto the rack. I keep the dye solution boiling all this time. Twenty traps this run about two hours to prep and run them through. I can only fit like five traps at a time in the dye turkey cooker, If I had a way bigger boiling dye pot I could cut the time down to less then one hour.

[@llatkinson6676]

Thank you so much for taking the time to make this video. I am brand new to trapping and I found this extremely helpful. I had no idea there were so many nuances to trapping. A coyote recently snached up some of my chickens and even my beloved cat right in my yard. After a few days of ugly crying I decided that this is going to be an all-out war. There is a ton of construction where I live and it is forcing them all onto my land. I haven't seen a fawn or any small game in quite some time. Hopefully he will have a good pelt because I'm planning on making a cat bed out of him.🫡

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Sorry to hear about your cat and your chickens.. Coyotes are very opportunistic predator and don't discriminate on pray. We're glad you found the video helpful! We have an entire playlist on trapping that you could probably benefit from if you're going to take it up seriously. Best of luck!

[@cartersbossaccount8287]

amazing video you helped me out SO MUCH. THANK YOU SOOO MUCHHH.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Thanks for watching! Glad you found it helpful!

[@MichiganGoneWild]

Thank you. This is very informative.

[@chrismcpeck5996]

I cant get the state or the county to come in and take care of the coyotes we have around here. The last time I heard was about 5 packs. So I bought a few Duke #3 Traps to get them. I never trap before. And am learning. ( life at 60 yrs old ) I love to hunt and the rabbits & Foxes are gone. Deer are not the same in the fall. I seen they have pups in Feb march. So soon mama will be looking for food. And step by step am learning how to hunt coyote. I call them at night and they call back. ( good thing ) so I know about were they are in the day time I ride on the 4 wheeler and seen there tracks. Now I had a friend tell me about waxing my new traps. And told to watch your video. Thank you so much for the step by step. The only problem I have is i need one more burner. And off to True Value today to buy a pot & burner. Set up my waxing and next week march 20th 2021 I will clean & wax my traps. Leave the wax & brown in the pots to reused again Rock on.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Very cool! Happy to have you here. Hopefully you get proficient enough to knock back the coyotes and bring your deer and small game hunting back!! We're rootin' for ya!

[@R_Arizona]

Thank you for the video. Very new to using traps. I just had a couple arrive today. I plan on setting them without doing this since I ordered the supplies. I have a coyote hopping into my yard over a wall, eating my chickens, and leaving. I know where he's coming in so I plan on setting where he is landing and exiting. Once I get the supplies I will definitely do this to help preserve the trap. I'm not worried about scent since I'm hoping he lands or exits on the traps. His focus is on my chickens. He's killed 18 so far so I don't think he's focusing on scent. More like a snatch and kill op for him.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

We have had many people watch our trapping videos because predators are affecting livestock, and in some instances pets. We hope you catch It!

[@R_Arizona]

@@Whitetail_Properties I will let ya know!

[@jamesyork6752]

Thanks for the awesome video.. very helpful. Am curious to what type of wax he is using?

[@thebaron_8033]

Have you tried speed dip? Would you recommend it?

[@mickhymes9864]

Rather than pouring the oil out of the bucket you can stick a garden hose in the bucket, turn on the water and let the oil flow down the side of the bucket. Just a suggestion. Thanks for the video

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Great tip!

[@douglasrader35]

Thanks so much for the video. Muriatic acid was a new one to me. I have 6 new Bridgers coming from Hoosier Trapper. Definitely borrowing that tip for ya"ll. This Hoosier is gonna show these Texas boys in the Hill country how us real Hillbillies do it.

[@JakeyCrackOutdoors]

Good information thanks for sharing

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Thanks for watching!

[@fredtransburg2407]

He said Menards and limestone gravel....he’s from the Midwest 🍻

[@Eric-gi9kg]

Thanks for the great content. This is the 2nd version of prep..dying..coating. The 1st..used vinegar & water..powder dye w/cold water..and spray paint. What's your take on the 1st? Pro's & Con's.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

The only con we would see in the 1st version would be the smell of the spray paint.

[@72MAV]

Thank you for the instructions and the tips! I have a coyote starter kit with 6 traps on their way from F&T and your info definitely helped. I have never trapped before but I am going to give it a try. I have a little more than a month left of trapping season in Pennsylvania so we’ll see what happens! Take care and thanks!

[@Whitetail_Properties]

We love to see new people getting into trapping! Check out our coyote trapping playlist, I'm sure there's a few other videos we've done that could help you get started! Good luck!

[@72MAV]

@@Whitetail_Properties Thank you!

[@chrismcpeck5996]

Am in north Carolina. Its open season all year around for coyotes. For your sake I wish it was in your state too

[@SouthernHS]

I also have a kit coming in. Any updates on how the trapping went?

[@jumperstartful]

muratic acid can be found in pool supplies.

[@congamike1]

Thanks!

[@BOHUNTER]

Great video

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Thanks!

[@Shawncsc]

Love the video. I've inherited some old traps and am going to use this, ive always snared so im excited to start trapping. Question, aren't you dying being in the closed off area with that acid kicking off? You've got to feel those fumes

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Glad you found the video helpful! The fumes really aren't bad off of the muriatic acid.

[@allywilkeforsenate]

I never will do anything with my traps except adjust the triggers.Works just fine for me.

[@bektas1981]

Never done this with my traps. Just a day ago got six brand new duke traps shipped to me from eBay, I’ve set them right out of the box. Went to check them the next morning and three out of six had caught animals. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Yea the dying and waxing process can help with scent, if thats of importance to you. But, it also reconditions the traps. After repeated years of use the rust, dirt and grime can start to take a toll on how the trap functions, leading to more misses, and ultimately educated predators. Hope this helps!

[@bektas1981]

Whitetail Properties , makes sense what you are saying. I was just so excited to kill a few of them, I couldn’t wait to set the traps. So far I got 5 coyotes and one raccoon.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Esad81 Nice!! Good to see some people getting into trapping!

[@fredtransburg2407]

Thanks for the video. What type of dye do you use?

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Not sure exactly what dye Tom was using in this video. Logwood Trap dye is a solid well know dye.

[@boe4448]

Thanks WP, I'm a new subscriber. For wax do you use 100% perfin or a mix with bee's wax? Thanks, Boe

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Paraffin wax

[@gaelewis6623]

Love your video!Dose the pot of wax have to be just wax or do you add something else to it?

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Just wax!

[@Dunlap-uj5zl]

👍

[@jacksonginn6851]

Does the wax/dye mess up for stain the turkey fryer

[@Whitetail_Properties]

The dye usually stains it. The wax isn’t really an issue. I wouldn’t suggest cooking your thanksgiving turkey in it after waxing and dying traps 😆

[@fireman9093]

You said you do dozens at a time. Do you have bigger pots or just a few go in wait and repeat.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

It just depends on how many we are going to run. In this video we used a 5 gallon turkey frying pot and did 3-4 at a time.

[@bucktalk69]

I used this method on some new traps really did not do a good job had to scrub them with dawn after the acid !!! I left them in for over an hour!!!

[@bobmangal1533]

What about purple blaster to clean the factory oils

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Haven't heard of that before..

[@dryfireoutdoors9830]

What kind of wax do you use? I'm just wondering because I have beehives and wondering if I can use beeswax as well. Thanks.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

We just use a standard odorless wax. We haven't used beeswax before, but, surely if its just 100% wax it would work just fine!

[@donpayne562]

No,you will get your traps dug up.bees wax has a really strong Oder that animals love

[@ctfan1486]

Going into second year of trapping. Expanding a bit this year. I have bins full of traps from my father in law. They are quite rusty as he hadn't trapped in a log time. Will the muratic acid clean the rust? Not familiar with it.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Yes it will! Depending on how rusty they are you may have to do a little scrubbing after soaking them in the acid.

[@ctfan1486]

Thanks. Sounds like a summer project

[@sethstachlowski5571]

Do you do this to the earth anchors as well?

[@Whitetail_Properties]

We do not. But you certainly could.

[@bones987123]

what about seasoning it like a pan ..oil and heat ?

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Never heard of that but it could work!

[@alleightcylinders1295]

Do you also die and wax the chains you use anchoring?

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Typically no, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt!

[@midwest8six607]

I’m new to trapping. Looking into giving coyote trapping a try. Would it be okay to maybe heat your traps up in the oven? If you can’t go from dye to wax right away? To make sure your traps are warm when you go to wax them.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

The wax will be melted so there wouldn't be any need necessarily to heat up the trap before putting it into the wax. We love to see new people getting into trapping! Good luck!

[@midwest8six607]

@@Whitetail_Properties i was going off of what you said about being able to do it one after another. With your comment about the trap being warm already when you go wax it. Thanks! I’m being hopeful! It sounds like a lot of fun

[@Whitetail_Properties]

@@midwest8six607 If you wanted to heat them up boiling water would work just fine!

[@chetcogar3758]

@@Whitetail_Properties You can also just add the wax on top of the boiling water and save yourself 5# of wax and not have to worry about burning the wax or catching it on fire. Pull the traps out slowly and it accomplishes the same results safely and no extra buildup.

[@savages_3002]

So you use wax dirt an still wax your traps ?

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Tom was using wax dirt because of the freezing conditions. So, yes his traps were waxed and he also was using wax dirt. Totally preferential.

[@harrywang8919]

Do you have a link for the wax used?

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Here you go: www.amazon.com/Pete-Rickards-Best-Trap-5-Pound/dp/B0095I5HA6/ref=sr_1_2?gclid=CjwKCAiAxvGfBhB-EiwAMPakqlcBHdw4EWHcBSSh3LR5K7ios7Bb28DF1gHPXQwKwkhq8ds4JoVrfxoCDGAQAvD_BwE&hvadid=616931527438&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9022455&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=14162167221100781333&hvtargid=kwd-6317463732&hydadcr=24663_13611861&keywords=trapping+wax&qid=1677504791&sr=8-2

[@tucobenedictopacificojuanm3543]

Galvanizing would protect against rust much better and way longer than waxing rusted surface. That rust will thrive underneath the wax. Oxidation would also protect better.

[@Astech31]

Coyotes can smell that metal and oxidation. Dobbins talks about that, they will dig up the untreated metal parts of a trap like the swivels and not the parts that are treated, as if they can smell it.

[@chs9627]

What size pots are your wax and dye pots?

[@lesschattermoresplatter5769]

Two things... 1- always add acid to water, NEVER add water to acid. 2- never use acid indoors. It fumes as it’s working and anything in that garage made of steel (ie tools, car parts, guns) will rust afterwards.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Good tip!

[@KirtonAdventures]

Can anyone tell me what brand wax works best?

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Really any odorless wax will work just fine.

[@KirtonAdventures]

@@Whitetail_Properties thank you. I’m very new. Never trapped before but I have half dozen traps on the way. Thank you for for all the information

[@Whitetail_Properties]

@@KirtonAdventures That's awesome, good luck! Hopefully some of our videos will help you out!

[@walnuthillfarms7579]

How do I keep raccoons from slipping out of my DP trap

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Have you made sure that your traps are clean and functioning properly before setting them?

[@walnuthillfarms7579]

@@Whitetail_Properties they are brand new traps. I have a picture on my trail camera of it pull it’s hand out twice

[@Whitetail_Properties]

@@walnuthillfarms7579 That's strange, we haven't really seen that happen, especially multiple times in a row...

[@53kills]

Might be putting in too much bait. Only put enough bait in to barely cover the trigger.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

@@53kills Good advice! Thanks for sharing.

[@jack0903]

I use to dye my traps now I spray paint them.

[@augustinemontes9493]

Can i reuse the wax agian or do i throw it away

[@Whitetail_Properties]

You can re-use the wax multiple times, especially if you are dying new traps. Once you get into the old/used traps that are full of rust, dirt and other debris the wax can get a mucked up. But ultimately its a personal call when you want to change it out.

[@Flatlander94]

I have been Using the same wax for three or four years now by Walmart sells 1 pound boxes of wax for like $1.30 so I just add three or four boxes every year when I redo my traps My wax looks gross but it has no odor!

[@jackriley5974]

It's a year since my last comment so here's another. If your going to bury the trap why do you need to color it ??

[@Whitetail_Properties]

The dye helps hide foreign odors.

[@jackriley5974]

@@Whitetail_Properties Nice try?? SO, why cover it with wax??

[@Whitetail_Properties]

@@jackriley5974 Help keep from rusting

[@jackriley5974]

@@Whitetail_PropertiesSo, you dye them with the earthy smell of logwood to cover the detergent you used to clean them, then you cover them with wax to keep them from rusting and bury the smell of everything???

[@brianwalker6670]

Thanks for the video. But I see you have your deer heads hanging in the garage they are nice they should be hanging in your living room so everyone can see them.

[@jackriley5974]

From my perspective, the reason trappers today dye and wax their traps is unproven and based on theory. If dying is for scent, why cover it up with wax? If wax is used to keep in the scent, how is the critter going to smell it. Especially at a distance and considering most trappers don't consider prevailing wind direction when setting? Key word here is "theoretically". A hundred years ago a trapper would have pissed himself laughing if anyone had suggested this.

[@billeehighsmith7983]

I use wax to keep the trap lightning fast and to protect against rust. I use salt as an antifreeze and without the wax covering the trap would be a ball of rust at the end of the season. Even without salt, the trap will still rust more over time than without wax. So no, wax isn't unproven and based on theory. In respect to scent, you are correct in that it is debatable. But weather proofing with wax is a fact.

[@allywilkeforsenate]

I don’t do squat with my traps except set them.

[@53kills]

@@billeehighsmith7983 Do you time the traps? How much faster is a waxed trap compared to a nonwaxed trap. I have 6 traps that are dyed and waxed and 5 are painted with Rustoleum. I cant tell any difference in speed and the painted traps are catching most of the animals.

[@brianhoxworth3881]

I believe that traps, clothing or really anything will never be scent free. It will reduce the odor to a point that the animal will think its not recent human activity. In turn, it's safe to investigate.

[@jackriley5974]

@@billeehighsmith7983 Back in time again? A hundred years ago salt was available but never used as antifreeze. The primary friction in a trap is between the levers and the jaws and once the trap is tripped the wax is scraped off. No one has proven the reduction in spring tension due to rust??

[@DHWhatisittoya]

Is the wax pure wax or is it water and wax?

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Sorry for the delayed response. Yes, it is pure wax, no water.

[@ronmoore276]

Natural acid, charcoal or wood stove ashes!

[@Whitetail_Properties]

That works too!

[@WildernessMedic]

You know what else gives traps an earthy scent? Earth.

[@WildernessMedic]

Vincent Nothstine I wasn’t trying to be funny lmfao

[@WildernessMedic]

Vincent Nothstine extremely sorry I triggered you on such a warm day. Please don’t melt any further.

[@WildernessMedic]

Vincent Nothstine someone had to thaw it out. Clearly it was frozen and causing you issues 😂

[@livingproof9622]

Running a propane tank in a closed space displaces the oxygen in that room.

[@kevinwimmer4159]

That might work on dozen traps but I have several hundred traps. Can I drop them off and you clean them up for me? Lol

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Sure but we charge by the hour! LOL

[@fireman9093]

How do you do yours. I don't have spare time much less a hole day

[@Whitetail_Properties]

@@fireman9093 There are products like formula one, that are one step applications for prepping traps. If you are prepping dozens of traps that might be an easier way to prep your traps.

[@fireman9093]

@@Whitetail_Properties i have never waxed was going to give i a try. I run year-round and don't have much moisture so not much rust. I just brush them off and keep going.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

@@fireman9093 And with little moisture/humidity you probably don't have to worry about rusting as much!

[@ellobo1326]

It’s sad that your wife makes you keep those nice bucks out in the garage !

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Only have so much wall space in the house..

[@sixfivecreedmoor]

Those large panned traps you use intrigue me. I'm curious as to would it possibly be better to orient the trap 90 degrees from the way you bed them? It seems that any situation that throws the trap with the target's foot on the central perimiter (middle of the jaw) of the trap over the jaw, could that possibly tend to maybe at times throw the foot upward and out of the jaws before they close? Granted, the situation would be similar if the situation presented the trap throwing with the foot positioned over the central side area over the jaw with it bedded 90 degrees to your norm, but it seems easier to steer this way, and it seems as if even then, its still significantly more likely to sling the foot up and out the original way...wholly out or to a toe catch. Its likely not much difference, if any at all, but any little advantage should be expkoited Id think....again, if it's an advantage! Believe me, I'm asking, not advising per se!!

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Every trapper does things slightly different from our experience. There isn’t an exact science per se. We would just recommend trying different things on different sets and analyzing your results!!