The mink that are trapped in February during the rut smell different than in November. Hard to describe

will we be able to buy some of your secret put up mink glands in the future?

All my ground glands are like that now. The glands are the same as others but the difference is they will not fade like regular ground glands. Adam

Mink gland odor as a rule generally softens and mellows to a degree after grinding and opening the pods, but if handled right they won't degrade much further odor wise with proper handling and containment.

I have some mink glands in inventory that have been processed and contained for 9-12 years now. These glands are just as good now as when I originally processed them and probably better now. Good stuff. Ole Blackie wanted to buy my inventory of the aged material a few years back before his death.

I wouldn't do that but I did part with some to help him out. This was a time when there wasn't an abundance of mink glands on the market. Some formulators work with a relatively short term gland ingredient inventory and tend to only buy what they absolutely need for each season. Then they get in a pinch. Not a good way to be. That is how a formula can change real fast.

I have always preferred to get way ahead on the projected need for glands while available and work them up for use for many years ahead.

I save the older aged material for our own brand formulation work. This material is priceless in that condition. I have various states of processed mink glands stored in-house. Volume used per formula determines much of the gland presence as does other ingredients.

Each type of specifically handled mink gland material has its own role in a specific formula. It depends upon the presence that I want that ingredient to have in that product. A mellow subtle presence or a more sharp stark obvious representation.

Good glands will permeate thru a formula in time. Just the way aging works.

I would caution using much salt prepared glands in an intended active working formula. Salt "depending upon the transfer amount" can depress the aging process and the interaction age blending of other ingredients within a formula.

Preservation and stopping a batch is the last procedure in the process.

Shake and Bake formulas it matters little.

Adam, I make my own bait.Gets 4 oz glands to gal of bait.Not the measly 1 oz per gal that is barely detectable. That is why I prefer to make my own.

That's fine tbn. If something works good stick with it.

I don't think the preservative is honestly that important as what the glands are added or mixed to. Again I just salt them because they can sit on a shelf forever and not go bad. I have had mink glands or pods fade to nothing after a week of grinding and have learned the hard way. Adam

Great thread. We got 5 professionals to share their thoughts on here. Thank you guys! I enjoy it when you share some of your experience with the rest of us.

Good glands will permeate thru a formula in time. Just the way aging works.

I would caution using salt prepared glands in an intended active working formula as salt "depending upon the transfer amount" can depress the aging process and the interaction aging of other ingredients within a formula. I don't like using salt for any glands for active formulation work at a later date.
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100% Agree. Don't preserve your glands unless your formula make up calls for it.

Gbus I couldn't agree more february mink have a super strong smell that sticks to every thing! I knicked a sac skining one the smell stayed in my shed for a week! Even trumped the skunk odor! I honestly cant say it was refreshing

That can be true Andy I agree on the aging. You don't want any kind of preservative if aging. I normally add mink glands for the lift and odor they offer to already aged lure or material. When salted I should mention I always rinse them in a strainer to get rid of as much salt as possible before grinding. Adam

I always use SB to stop a batch of bait. It has been stated here, that SB and mink glands don't go together well. What should I use to "fix" a batch of bait that has mink glands added, so as to not degrade the effectiveness of the glands, in the bait mixture? MP?

I have always used pickling salt to preserve/stop bait with or without gland adds. And add glycerin to get the constancy I want. May be wrong, seems to work though.

zinc tablets from health food store added to mink or otter glands is supposed to preserve the fresh smell.

Going to have to try that. Thanks for the tip.