Who use it?
In what manner or formulation?
and...
Who sells the best stuff?

Can you expand that abbreviation? Did you mean: "Squirrel Fur Enhanced?"

Just teasing - couldn't resist.

I have never used SFE = Synthetic Fermented Egg. If not mistaken, when Jim Helfrich from Ohio started marketing his lures in the 1980's, he had a canine lure called "Fetid Egg." Do you recall that one?

Jonathan

When SFE and other chemicals became the rage back in the early 80's or so I experimented with them extensively. I experimented in two ways, #1 by formulating all new ideas and #2 by adding SFE to already proven formulas. Then I tried them all personally at real and mock sets, sent test lures one after another to well known professional trappers that were regular customers. The bottles were marked Test lure #1, #2, #3, etc. Not one trapper in any region after trying them thought that any one of the test lures was as good or any better than the old proven formulas. Same with my personal experiments, I couldn't detect any added benefit or calling that made even one animal work a set in a more intense way. One thing I did note and something that was mentioned by some of the testers was its attraction to skunks which increased by a significant number. Asa

Asa, You have any of that Skunk All Call left?

Asa, Thanks for that refreshing account.

I think I still have an ounce of Helfrich Fetid Egg hiding in my inventory somewhere. As I recall, I used it once or twice at a dirt hole set for red fox - don't remember if I caught anything on it or not.

I put it away without really testing it to any extent because it seemed too raunchy and putrid - offensively malodorous - to be using for red fox. I settled for my gland lures.

Jonathan

Thanks for the input.
I use some egg base in some lures because I have access to thousands of fresh eggs.
I am working with 4 different batches now, which I will send some out to a few individuals, whom I've already notified, when they are done.

I never used S.F.E. but I have read some goverment studies on coyotes with it.
I also heard that handling and/or sniffing it too much, could cause cancer...I don't know that to be true however.

So far, the real eggs have been good to me and of course, I get them for free!

Fish eggs get intense reactions from every meat eating animal species. Asa

After over 30 years I think I can sniff out the snake oil!
Buy it , try it , give it a whif . DO you think it will work?

I used it per charlie dobbins formula in his land trapping book to call from a long distance about 5 years ago, the formyla called for rotted fish oil, skunk essence and sfe. I remember being rather generous with the sfe amount as i doubted the purity of winklers version of it, the same stuff did a fabulous job on about 60 skunks i trapped in january, i remember turning a couple of coon and a small cat loose while after the skunks and had to run down one coyote in the snow that got the hook loose and took off for parts unknown fer a bit. Russ carmen mentioned in one of his books that he thought sfe caused cancer plus bad headaches.

I use SFE in 2 of my lures,it seems to work better for me on early season Coyotes and its death on skunks which I don't mind at all....B...

Many of my back-up sets are pisssin' posts. On these I usually use urine and 3 (that's 3, not 2, or not 4) drops of SFE. I do notice a difference in these sets w/SFG and w/o it. I add my urine to these sets after I have applied the SFG.

As to who makes the best, I have a supply of Pete Askins' formula.
Having tried some of the others, I believe Askins' to be the best of the lot.

Adios,
45/70,
RKBA!

Thanks, always could make a skunk lure. We use them in ADC work all the time!

I ordered a bottle from Minnesotta this past year, I was told to use it post sets for red fox with no results. Not a high population of reds in this region so cant really say if it works or not.

Do you find that your own urine works as well as that purchased from commercial suppliers?

I have some old and newer SFE both are very strong formulas.It is very caustic in its pure form. A few drops goes a long ways. Much stronger then Tonquin in similiar comparisons of strength.I only handle pure uncut materials unless otherwise stated. Enough diluted versions floating around these days.

I have had good results in using SFE in two products as it creates a significant push for other ingredients as well as its own distinct odor.It has its merits as an ingredient but care must be taken to not overpower a formula as a result of its use.

Does your own urine work better than fox urine or coyote urine?

I agree with 45/70.Askins is the only one I have had consistent luck with. I believe it is currently being sold by Murray's Lures, or at least it was when Don owned it.--JT

At the time that I bought a couple of dozen bottles of Askins
SFE from Don Murry, he said that it was the last he had, and didn't know if there would be any more, as he was sellin his business.

I got most of my education on SFE from the great Red Edgemon. The three drops per set was his rule.
Bob Jameson, Mr. Red said the stuff was so caustic it would burn a fox or coyote's nasal cavities.

LA Trapper, I have bought some fine urines. I bought some junk that about ruined my season in the late 80s.

As for bobcat urine, I like bladder urine over anything else. It's hard to get enough of it.

Later,
45/70,
RKBA!

I was talking with Russ Carman and he said that SFE was something that could potentially cause cancer when inhaled. I've avoided it like the plague ever since. I know Russ and I trust what he says. He researches in depth everything he uses, or intends to use.