Anyone else notice the change in gusto (lure)? I bought 4oz bottles from two completely separate sources and they are both very much different than what gusto has always been. These both have what is essentially a consistency of water, which it has never been in the past. It was always much thicker. It still smells very strong but the consistency and color (it’s now red-ish instead of brown) have changed since last year. Wondering what the deal is with this. I would think it was just a batch error if I hadn’t gotten them from difference places at different times. Very difficult to use now…

I've noticed a change in more than a few lures. I know a lot of the original makers no longer make the lure but sold under their name. While i've not gotten gusto in a while, i've had 3 different lures that i order in the fall as they are my cold weather skunky lures. Whether they've been on the shelf to long or have been changed, dunno but they were not the same. I did order some Jameson's and the delivery guy said he thought a skunk was in his truck, lol.

Come on...the trapping industry is the most honest, salt of the earth business you could ever find. I'm appalled you would think something has been cheapened.

I’m thinking Tim Caven is the man to ask.

Not sure about gusto but I know labeling on timber was changed. not sure if they changed the recipe or not.

Color thing might simply be because it's a fresh batch. Fresh skunk is red when it separates off the mustard.

I think they relabeled everything as I’ve bought a few other things with different style label

I know back when the Hawbaker line of lures was sold the formula changed. Red Fox Gland 100 used to be my preferred lure.

It changed so much I stopped buying it.

Haven't bought any this year, but I never considered Gusto "thicker". That was always my knock on it. It is a pain to use. Never fails I get it on something and then it drips or runs off onto me.

I know IronTrail took over MTP or part of it or something, but I guess I assumed Cavens and the gang were still making the lures. Maybe not.

It is a challenge to duplicate a formula from marginal experience, particularly when taking over the job from a skilled seasoned formulator. It isn't as easy as it seems. It isn't like following a cake making recipe for many formulas. Procedure and steps are involved beyond the ingredients list.

Not a lure maker but even in electronics “IT”, if you don’t follow proper procedures in a particular order, you can cause some serious problems. You may have hit all the steps, but not in the time or order of how it’s supposed to be done.
I’d imagine these guys have a set way of doing things. Maybe mixing something and letting it sit for a certain time before adding something else vs dumping XYZ in a bottle and slapping a label on it.

It's that secret pinch of extra love that makes it!

Tim Caven still makes everything. Gusto has never been thick and pasty.
Far as timber goes they got new labels for all their lures. Formulas are the same..

I noticed a change on several from different lure makers both in thickness and smell.

When Fuller Laugeman used to make "Sable Oil" it was great. The first outfit that took over the lure making business made a Sable Oil that was nothing like Fuller's.
I've heard that someone else is now making his formula lures. Does anyone know who that might be? I'd like to give it another try.

J & M furs out of Roundup, MT formulates Fuller's lures now under the name Big Sky Lures. Montgomery Furs sales those products. You'll see Sable Oil listed there. You can see them in link below.

https://montgomeryfur.com/index.php?content=big-sky-lures

Doesn’t KegCreek also make the Laugeman/Nelson lures?

Thicker was relative to what it is now. I have used it for many years and it has always been consistently the same. The ones obtained this year are (literally) like water. One purchased through F&T, and another from a distributor at a convention.

It was J&M's Sable Oil that I tried that was not the same. That was fairly soon after they took over. Maybe they have fixed it by now, maybe I'll order some and see.

I think Gusto consistency has often differed. Sometimes it’s a bit thicker and sometimes more liquid. Imagine emptying a 5 gallon pail into 512 , 1 ounce bottles and it’s easy to understand the variables.

The results are always consistent though.