Time to start putting a few together. I look over at the collection of new formulas waiting to be tested and always wonder if it is too much, or not enough? I’m very conscious about always trying new formulas. Just curious, how much time and inventory do you commit to new lure/bait development?

Some years I only test one or at the most two newly developed lures/baits. I want a thorough test though out the entire season. Also still testing new lures and or baits from previous seasons. I want to have at least 3 seasons of use before I will conclude if it is a good lure or bait. I also have a few friends or students doing some testing for me in other parts of the country.

I would have replied the same as EJ.

FDC, very nice looking Oils and Glands??
Care to share what is the base material for the orange oil? I sun rendered some bobcat fat and it is a dark orange color.
Just for my own use. It is more about learning the correct processes of ageing times, rotting and preserving excellent base materials. Testing is important.

I assumed the orange stuff was asafoetida….

Correct on the Asafoetida. Half gallon of vanilla bean extract on the left, half gallon of Asafoetida tincture, and a gallon of ground castor from Montana/Minnesota. The Asafoetida picture kind of made me laugh as it isn’t that orange standing in front of it. Both tinctures are high octane though, threefold or better. The vanilla beans get diced like scallions and the gum gets pulverized to reduce the size and expose more surface material direct to the 151.

I can see it now. Tinctured Asafoetida! Vanilla and liquid beaver castor good ingredients. lol...151?
Mustelid Glands and Civet musk are some more good ones.
Currently working on two bait bases. Ground mink carcasses and Bobcat meat tainted long and slow.
Fun hobby for me. Pretty rewarding to harvest animals with lures and snares that you have made!

I agree!! Sure is fun!! I love hearing from customers when they have success. One of my favorites was last year- a man that took my and a buddy raccoon hunting (and by raccoon hunting I mean we chased his dogs).... ran into him at a district trapper/trainer weekend where I was set up selling. We stood there shooting the crap for a couple hours catching up. He asked what I was up to and I showed him.... He asked what my favorite was so I shrugged and got a bag and loaded him up with one of everything, told him "you tell me".... He was happier than a pig in pooh.... I got a message from his daughter that's a year younger than me later that night that he called her up telling her he ran into me and I gave him a truck load of bait and lure. Watching the catch pictures roll in last year was awesome. He doesn't run a long line- but he had fun and caught a good amount of fur on what he did have out. Felt good to kind of return the favor for what he did for me so many years ago.

any hints you're willing to share on working with civet musk?

I have a bit of that I'm going to try. hate to waste it, though...

Do you have the actual paste, or tincture made by another lure maker?

Civet musk is definitely valuable enough to warrant a person learning how to handle it from beginning to end sort of speak. Do the math of obtaining it in its raw form to tincturing or suspending it in oil. The added value in knowing ratios and exactly how it has been handled is worth it alone. The math makes it a no-brainer on top of it.

I have tinctures from Paul, Dave Edwards, and Bob Jameson.

was thinking of buying a small amount of the paste from Paul...

I think everyone who is interested in lure making should have even a 1/4 oz. of the genuine Civet Paste!! I wont spoil it for you.
Like FDC suggests learn how to handle it? Bob Jameson has shared some excellent information with pictures about tincturing etc. Thanks Bob!
IMHO. bobcats like the musky smells plus the smell of other bobcats and of course they need to eat. Other predators should be curious or want to rub some of the civet smell on them.

coyotes like civet too.

I have some vanilla bean sitting in some 151 and wondering how it will be since it already been a year now.

The challenging part for me is trying to determine when the 151 has maxed out its ability to draw in more from the base material. Once you hit that point, additional time isn’t gaining you anything in that regard. The odor may still change but once the 151 reaches its saturation point, that’s a wrap on that aspect. Also, all of my tinctures, except for castor, are done in half gallon jars. I avoid straining them out completely and my belief is that leaving some of the material in strengthens the long term durability in the lure or bait I’m using it in. I could be off on my thinking there and would stand to be corrected without issue if I’m not on point.