Besides buying logwood or other dye from a trapper supply, I have heard of folks using Walnuts and Oak leaves. I don't have much of either of that around here. What else? My trapline is full of cedar (I think you yankees call it juniper lol). Anything off of a cedar work for dye?

What other materials can be used to make trap dye?

Well i am a yank and we call our cedar cedar.. Lmao nothing else.


I have heard of Oak Bark,Maple Bark, Tag Alder Bark, Oak and Maple leaves i have also heard about using sumac i think it is called.


I have never tried any of these just what i have seen on this website as i was looking at cheaper ways of dyeing my traps.

I use Oak bark or oak leaves. The leaves need to be dead, fall leaves.
About only other thing I know of to add to Rob's list is walnut hulls.

the sumac berries is what most use

Black Walnut, leaves, bark, nuts, all work so does maple leaves and bark. Tom

hey Mr chicken do the oak leaves work good?

Anything high in acedic or citric acid. Your cedar needles will work lacking anything else.
WOOPS, My mind is elsewhere scratch above, add tannic acid.
Sorry,
Adios,
45/70

Or high in tanic acid like walnuts and tree bark. .... Garry-

at 2.50 a bag why even bother with natural stuff that does not do as good a job?..Ive used natures dye in a pinch but was never satisfied..

If you let your traps get a light coat of rust, red oak bark or walnut hulls will get them BLACK. I never use the BUY word iffin I can help it...

They don't really have to be so black anyway.....rust would really be a better color to blend in with most any background, black stands out when you think about it...

I've used the summac berries, stuffed em in a pair of panty hose. Ended up a little purple but worked fine.

Aprophet ...here's a pic of what oak leaves will do for dye. I'm more than pleased with them and they are free for the raking. I also like to use it as they are a native vegetation in my area...so the traps smell right.


That's a fully decked out Duke #3...and that's the first time it was dyed. Now after 3 seasons...they look even better...LOL.

Dead and dries oak leaves, correct?

Yes. I always rake up a coupe extra garbage bags in the fall and store them in the garage rafters with the top somewhat open for moisture exchange.

I've been using tag alder bark for 30+ years, you get a nice black if you use enough.