I see some old lure and bait recipes that used seal oil. Does anyone know if there was something particularly appealing about seal oil? Is there another kind of oil that is currently available that might be substituted for seal oil for some of these old recipes? The thanks for any information on the topic.

I have never used the replacement oil. There is a seal replacement oil out there though. I know Grawes Lures out of North Dakota has some. I wonder since you are from Alaska if there would be some of the real stuff available to you? I dont know if it would be you to have it in possession unless you are an Eskimo native? Hope other will have more info for you.

I've been intrigued with seal oil as well. I've been trying to acquire a sample of genuine product for reference material. Wasn't sure if it would be possible to replicate with natural ingredients or not. I have read that it has a fishy odor, which would make sense due to their diet, but I'd like to reiterate that I have NO personal experience with it and I'm just regurgitating what I've read elsewhere.

I find it hard to beat any true authentic rendered fish oil in quality, durability and odor push. Trout Oil, Salmon Oil and Paddlefish Oils are the best oils i have made and worked with over the years. I would put them up against any other rendered oil in attractiveness and they are available if you look. They aren't cheap but you get what you pay for as the saying goes.

The seal oil ive smelled reminds me greatly of weak BTO.

If I were to use it as a substitute I think I’d cut the amount by 50% to start as the BTO is much louder.

sure does work good for me. every predator is attracted to it

I am only familiar with seal oil from my time when I was out in the bush. It was interesting that it would render at room temperature. Fish oil on the other hand - I tried sun rendering some salmon bellies, and I just don’t think it gets hot enough here.

Seems from memory I was talking with someone that had tried real seal oil and as far as predators there experience was good sun rendered fish oil was better but I can't remember who it was that shared that with me

I have referred to Pure sun rendered Trout Oil as Black Gold in years gone bye. It is difficult to describe its odor. Sweet, smooth and very long lasting.

Seal fat has a low melting point compared to fish fat. I start getting oil release on trout fat and by product oil @ 65 > 70 degrees. It renders quickly at a sustained 75 > 80 degrees. The smaller the container the faster the oil release.

one thing is seal and whale oil doesn't seem to freeze at least in my experience. i Have used both and it seems very attractive to wolves at least in my experience. I've stuck my nose in a lot of different bottles of lure ingredients as well as have rendered a bunch of stuff including many different fishes threw the years and never have found anything that really has the unique odor.

I recall the same thing, so maybe it was someone on here. I've never used or smelled seal oil, but I recall someone saying that the closest thing they had smelled to it was BTO. Having never smelled seal oil, I can't comment on Boone's assertion that it is much milder than BTO, but starting at a lower quantity would be very good advice.

I've used both Grawes synthetic and real seal oil.
The wolves dig up and roll in both of them.
Grawes was nasty smelling to my nose...the rendered seal oil is pure and almost has no smell...maybe slightly sweet. It was gifted to me by a full native friend.

Herring oil from the fishing section can work. I once caught a wolf on a beach tide pool set with just 2 herring and a squirt of Mike's herring oil.

I put some pure seal oil on a log on a sandy beach and the wolves dug a hole to China for that stuff. Was approx 5 wide by 3 feet deep. Wish I had a game cam looking at that spot.
My yellow lab loves the seal oil more vs pure salmon oil. He licks it up.
It's his 2nd favorite lure only beaten out by good ole ground castor.