I just purchased my first dozen traps and hopefully, going out to set them this weekend. My mentor is a well experienced predator hunter and trapper. However, when I asked, "Why dye", he didn't have a good answer. He has trapped in the Southwest (dry) all his life off and on, and as far as I know has never purchased traps new.
If it's for rust, I don't think I'll have that problem. If it's for visual concerns, it's underground, nothing will see it anyway. I went with him this weekend to set some, and all of his traps had a very light coat of rust on them, but like he says, them banging around in his box on the back of the 4 wheeler actually keeps them quite clean. So why dye? He told me to get on the bulletin board that I've been telling him about and ask.
If it's for rust, I don't think I'll have that problem. If it's for visual concerns, it's underground, nothing will see it anyway. I went with him this weekend to set some, and all of his traps had a very light coat of rust on them, but like he says, them banging around in his box on the back of the 4 wheeler actually keeps them quite clean. So why dye? He told me to get on the bulletin board that I've been telling him about and ask.