Inexperienced lure makers selling did not start with the internet. In the fur boom, I would guess there were just as many or more who were selling "inexperienced lures." The truth is, tho, a lure doesn't have to be complicated to take animals. So, when you throw that in the mix, how does the average trapper know who have decent lure and who has great ones? Because a good trapper is still going to do ok with a simple mix of glands and an preservative. Either a lot of trial and error goes into finding the great lures, or you can just go with an established name like Carmen or Grawe, or Lenons, someone who has been around for decades or longer.
My biggest pet peeve is not so much selling lures that don't have 20 years of testings, it's lure that is very weak and has little staying power. What you end up with is having to use three times as much for lesser results. I sometimes wonder if the real secret to lure making is making intense odors that last and last at a set. I mean, you can catch lot of fur with just a simple gland mix, but if it's gone on the third day, you are wasting money replacing it often, or you are missing animals.

Ok, that got off topic a bit. Back in fur boom, I know we bought a few lures that were just stuff like rotted meat or molasses and a couple extracts. Now, I want a lure that is intense and lasting, and it's not hard to pick them out with one wiff.

When a guy says that about himself it means nothing then! LOL Turd was a closer description for sure.

Larry, You get what I'm talking about in my post. Judging from some responses, the theme is floating past some. Good post!
The theme is that "why is it viewed as a negative if a trapper builds a successful lure biz and they promote the fact that they are trappers who own a lure biz. Why is there skepticism if the person is in biz for quite a while and is "selling stuff"?"

What what Catch22?

Well when you paint it in that light, I would say who cares! I mean, maybe someone is competitive or jealous. Or maybe they have met you and don't like you as a person. Maybe they tried your product and don't like it. Maybe maybe maybe lol. I truly don't think if the old timers were selling there wares successfully they would take the time to worry about it, they'd just keep at it.

We’re certainly at each other’s throats far more than I can remember. We seem less content with what we have, who we are and what we’ve achieved. As a result, individual success if it’s not our own becomes a threat. So to avoid animosity towards one another and feelings of inadequacy the entire group must be the recipient of success not the individual. The problem is that just the opposite happens – jealousy and ruthless competition increase.

The more strongly our achievements (our work) as individuals are tied to a group, the less meaningful and valued they become - just one cog among many. So the only way to achieve recognition among peers is by climbing to the top of the heap (by any and all means) rather than being content with our accomplishments and who we are in their own right. It's a paradoxical outcome that fails because it misconstrues human nature.

I hated group projects in school as a kid.

Some people are just negative of anyone who is successful, but I suspect some assume that the guy promoting his own stuff is going to be stretching the truth. The perception is, that if a guy has nothing to sell, he has no reason to be dishonest.
In some cases this is understandable, if a person has been ripped off by self promoters selling snake oil.

It's like the fellow who gets sold a bad car once, and instantly every one selling cars is a rip off artist in his eyes.
But common sense should tell us that if a lure maker has been in business over the long haul and is going strong, he is putting something good in the bottle.

I think the only Skepticism for my self when buying would be.. Is the Trapper/lure maker using the lures he's promoting ,to catch the 300 coyotes/bobcats he shows in the Pictures while promoting. Or is there more to that story.

All I'll add is ,, I tip my hat to you trapper/lure makers. I have been a trapper since the 70s and have dabbled in making my own lures (canine). It is a painstaking process that takes time to get it even close to being right. For me, more trouble than it's worth.

So I happily buy proven lures from experienced trappers and don't worry about it.
Sure there are snake oil salesmen out there, in this industry though, word of mouth travels fast and they won't be around long.

Keep on keeping on i guess.

I don't automatically see trappers rejecting new lure businesses. I do however see a similarity in that thinking and our past presidential election. The forgotten trappers, the ones who know and love their sport are in general very accepting of new businesses. However when someone comes on the scene new and portrays themselves as something people assume is not on the up and up there is the problem. They see this example set by the establishment and follow the lead. The instant success guy is met with some skepticism and I think rightly so. Trappers are more adept at the smell test and what passes it than most realize. The list of lure making gentlemen mentioned earlier carried themselves with class and a humility that seems to be more and more lacking nowadays. In what is arguably one of the smallest of the outdoor sports we have no shortage of huge ego's when it comes to the marketing front.
The bigger problem is few want to earn their stripes anymore. it's quicker to make a name by making ridiculous claims that can't be proven or disproved than it is to be humble, treat customers with respect, and additionally produce a good product. There is a huge difference between a lure maker and a lure salesman. My pride comes from my ability to formulate lures not fabricate stories. You can and should learn from history and the example that the Dobbins family as well as a few others in the lure making business set for us is a good model to follow.

I think it's more of a trust issue. Especially if the trappers been around a while and has his/her favorites and hasn't seen much about a new lure maker.

I still remember Ray Milligan's barn picture of 500+ critters. Love that picture and I respected that picture as it was portrayed (marketed) but would today's trapper view that as chest thumping? I would say more today than when that pic was marketed 3 decades ago. Should Ray be proud and market his lures that way? Sure, why not. A ton of work on that barn IMO. Or should, (as has now been offered on this TMan thread for consideration), a lure maker be "humble" quiet and go about his business and word of mouth will carry the day, and pay the mortgage? Hmmm...

Some here may not have ever seen or read ads by the old timers but I have magazines from "the day" and grandiose claims were typical. Very typical. Much more than today's luremakers. Hawbakers claimed to have their products used by 250,000 trappers for years when I wondered.... "Are there even 250,000 trappers left?" Go team go was my thinking for these ads.

I’ll throw in my 2 cents y’all, I’m making my first ever beaver tail oil, does that make me a lure maker?? Heck no!!! Does that make me a trapper that makes my own beaver tail oil?? Heck yeah!! Beyond that I’ll buy lure from the experts. I’ve got nothing against anyone who wants to try to make lure. And I’ll give an once from a new maker an honest try, if it works then I’ll buy more, if not I won’t. All 3 of my lure suppliers are trappers. But as far as me making lure. I may in a few years try my hand at it. But for now that’s what the experts are dern good at.

Trust and fear of change are the big hurdles! I buy from guys that act genuine among every one not just trappers. The days of good ole boys are gone! Most wont lift a finger unless they are rewarded greatly. I make and use my own because I know without a doubt what's in it! But then again i'm the type that feels like I can make a better steak than I can buy! Owning your own business you will always have nay sayers. Its impossible to make everyone happy. I say treat every one as you wish to be treated. Leave the stone throwers behind Eventually they will only have each other.

Another thing is social media has made people more leary of potential fly by night guys. Not that there are that many but like crime reports... there are less of those today but the reporting of the same incidents is wider spread so it appears to be more than what it is now.

Of course there were tyro lure makers before the internet. But now it’s a click away. Want to change yer fuel pump on the truck, do some gunsmithing, make some lure, jump yer bicycle into a volcano? Every expert is one click away.

The more things a trapper does,(Like make baits or lures, make snares, etc.) the more I admire them and try to imitate them to show greater support for trapping.

I'm going to throw a little more gas on this and mention my friend Craig O'Gorman. The thing that got me to buy his ''Legendary Oil Slick'' was his full page ad in the Trapper in the 80's. It made me laugh. Not because it was funny but because it claimed to be a lure that would ''suck those mink and coon into your pocket sets like a vacuum cleaner." Well it was true! That's the difference. More power to you guys living the dream.

I buy your lures Mark and your ads are a good description of what they do. Ads these days are not as much fun as they used to be. I think you need a new ad. I can see it now. All these coyotes caught on one bottle of Coyote Frenzy. With a picture of a pile of coyotes.

Why tear people down for their success? We are being taught to do it ever day on the 24 hr news channels... a cucumber is going to become a pickle if you leave it in the juice long enough. Sometimes I think people are just different today. Growing up we used to stop on the road and visit with the neighbor or pull into their barn lot and visit. Now it's hurry hurry and give me the best deal that's better than my neighbor got and then show off to the neighbor and run him down. Maybe it's just me but I don't care. I've started working with some kids to show them how respect their elders and be good to their parents, ect. We need to get back to the things that really matter most.

Larry great reply, I hope more people follow your example.
I also miss those great adds from the late 70's and early 80's.

Larry,

Rusty Johnson and I are hanging out this week at a "ma-and-pa" motel in Salem, MO, splitting costs as best we can, waiting on this next weekends MO convention. Since we were both a ton of miles from our homes, we decided to stay out on the road after the Ohio convention in Lancaster this past weekend and it's kinda nice to sit here on this wonderful bench in the shade, under tall pines, and catch up on this-that-and the other while I'm here. My lovely bride, Ms. Donna, is home scratching and fetching orders since it's that time of the year!

I read your post(s) and we think very much alike. In the same vane that I like the tiny cafe here in Salem, MO where grandma is fixing breakfast like she has for God knows how long, I admire her grit and determination. If I owned a cafe right across the street from her, I'd feel exactly the same way about her. But some would open a restaurant and they would operate differently.

I grew up being taught that a man or woman who works is a biblical thing to be admired and respected.
I'm sticking to it!
Larry, come on down to MO and I'll buy you and the horse you rode in on a big 'ol breakfast at grandma's cafe (she closes after lunch)!