Howdy,
I'm gonna make my own trailing scent for skunks.
What's an ideal base?
Should I just use glycol and pump it full of pungent odors and sweet tasting oils. Or would it be best to use a type of syrup?

Thanks
Ken

buy some sfe or real egg.

If you're going to use an egg base, glycol will thin it out really nice. Personally think you'd be wasting a product attempting to make a trailing scent for a skunk. But if that's what you want to make I'd use glycol skunks aren't picky.

Ok good info..
I don't necessarily want to be wasting any thing. My goal is to lead the skunks into the trap and run off the non-tragets.
What are the best scents and flavors for skunks that will ward off cats?

I've heard that the sweet stuff keeps cats away.

Trailing scents work for all wildlife. We have had a variety of trailing scents for many years and have used and sold them probably longer then most have in the industry. If they didn't work or have a place in what we do I wouldn't waste my time and product making them.

They sure work in leading an animal and help to direct traffic to the door of a trap. Set some traps up using a trailing scent and learn a few things from what you see.

What have you previously trapped in the cages or traps prior to setting for the skunk's? A lot of times cats will enter traps based off of odors from other animals you've trapped in those traps. Not necessarily because of the bait and lure you're using, they are curious animals. There is no magic bait or lure that is just for skunk.

There are things you can make that will cater to skunk, but there is no guarantee that another animal won't come and investigate that odor. It doesn't matter who's magic bait and lure you're using. Sometimes it all depends on what passes that trap first.

If you're going to use a trailing scent with a bunch of different oils. The amount of money you will spend on the oil, you could easily go out and purchase a pellet size dog food for half the price and accomplish the same goal. Because neither would ward off cats. A well formulated cultured egg base puts out a nice odor. Apple peanut butter paste/liquid is also another good skunk taker.

The traps are new. I buying #6 tuff traps as a skunk specific trap. So the point is to only have skunk scent on then if any, but I'm sure I will pick up some small coons and possums from time to time.

I definitely think a trailing scent will increase my catch and will hopefully decrease non target catches.

Ken, when it comes to skunks, I just use fish oil for a trailing scent. If you really want to avoid fish, I have had success with cultured eggs thinned down with corn oil, used sparingly.

If you really want to avoid cats, using an appropriately sized cage trap is the most important consideration, imo. Use a skunk sized trap, not a cat sized trap. Cats don't like squeezing into small traps. 6" to 8"(max) sized cages will catch every skunk around while cats will refuse to commit at least long enough for the skunk to get in there first.

I ordered a 6" and will see how much I like it if it works out I'm gonna order a few more.
I have salmon and shellfish oil altgat I use for coons.

I had originally got this idea after reading some threads about skunk lure and was pointed to Bob Jameson's trailing scents. However when I ordered the trap they had grubstake but no trailing scents. So in a effort to keep from making another order this month I figured I would try my hand at something that will work in a pinch.

I am going to try and make something sweet and loud that works. If I'm not satisfied I'll have to make an order for some of the good stuff next month.

I have some of the 6" tube traps and don't really like them. Some skunks will refuse to enter. Covered cages work better for me and are less expensive.

Cultured eggs and bananas will catch plenty of skunks. Any kind of smelly cheese will catch plenty of skunks too. I don't really have any experience with sweet baits.

Cultured egg made properly has many uses and is a proven universal attraction to a wide variety of fur bearing wildlife species. I found its value many years back when testing products for formulation use. I use it in several products both lures and baits. Over the last 36 years or so I have been spreading the word about its value. Many are finding out for themselves its many uses.

Bob, I also have been making trailing scents for many years, and like yourself have found they have a value.