Now is the perfect time to get out and prepare for next trapping season. Whether you have new traps that need a lot of work to get ready, or used traps that need to be cleaned and repaired — there’s no time like the present to get it done.
CLEANING
Both new and old traps need to be cleaned before using. There is a lot of work that goes into cleaning traps, but it is well worth the time and effort when you start seeing the results.
New traps arrive from the manufacturer with a light film of oil on them. Before anything can be done with new traps, they first must be cleaned to remove the oil. This is accomplished by boiling water in a large kettle. Many trappers add a caustic such as a toilet bowl cleaner or lye to aid in the cleaning process. Do not add caustics to the boiling water as this could cause the water to erupt and injure anyone nearby. Always add the cleaning agent to cold water before it begins to boil. Avoid contact with boiling water. Always wear eye protection and protective clothing, including rubber gloves when handling caustics. I CANNOT OVER EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY WHEN DEALING
