How to Set a Fox Trap Without Your Scent Being There

Foxes hunt by scent as much as by sight; their sense of smell is acute. A fox will avoid any scent he considers to be a threat. Human scent at a trap site will repel a fox no matter what attraction the bait or lure offers. Professional fox trappers are careful to leave no human scent anywhere near a set. The process of keeping a trap set free of human scent begins with proper care of all trapping equipment at home before going into the field.

Things You'll Need

  • Logwood crystals
  • Rubber gloves
  • Rubber-bottom boots
  • Fox urine
  • Trappers backpack
  • Scent-free bags
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Instructions

    • 1

      Dye all traps in logwood dye crystals to make them black and leave a wood smell on them. Store the traps outside away from human, household, or garage odors. Once they are dyed, always handle traps with rubber gloves.

    • 2

      Purchase two pairs of snug-fitting chemical resistant rubber gloves. Put the gloves on and wash them in the cold logwood dye solution to remove the rubber and human odor. Rub two drops of fox urine all over the gloves so they leave a natural fox scent at the set and then store them in a scent-free plastic bag.

    • 3

      Stuff a new trapping basket or backpack with branches and leaves of native trees to impart a natural odor. Leave the pack like this for one week and then remove the material and keep the pack outside.

    • 4

      Dip all trapping tools such as trowels and sifters in the logwood dye solution and store them outside in the trapping pack.

    • 5

      Wear only rubber boots or rubber-bottom boots when trapping fox. Store the boots away from human odors to keep them clean. Rub two or three drops of fox urine on each boot so a fox scent is left behind where the boots have been.

    • 6

      Walk directly to the spot where the trap is to be set with all of your scent-free equipment in the pack. Set the pack on the ground next to the site so you don't have to walk around to reach the tools.

    • 7

      Make the set by squatting over the spot. Do not kneel on the ground to make the set. Put on the rubber gloves and handle everything with the gloves on. When the set has been completed, remove the gloves, pick up the pack, and walk directly away from the site.