Mink Glands

Are mink gland effective in k9 or cat lures? Are they commonly used in these formulations?

Mink glands are very effective to both. A good ingredient alone but in formulation it makes a great curiosity lure for canines and cats. Adam

I used a lure for the first time this year that had a strong presence of mink glands in it and it probably accounted for the most coyotes. I was so impressed I bought bought a pint of glands from Adam to play with myself.

What is the best way to hold the mink musk so the musk odor won't die off over time?

good question! I know theres a wide variation in how mink glands smell from commercial dealers. I've smelled a few that no more resembled mink than chicken feet! My guess is they was ground up scrotums. Every thing ive read says don't grind them until just before using. I can never collect enough to ever get a opportunity to play with them. But definitely helps a predator attractant

Don't use sodium benzoate to preserve. Use salt with a little glycerine oil. Then put in a freezer. Best way I've found to carry over mink glands and keep them from freezer burn. Funky odor mink glands is a result of sodium benzoate. Learned that the hard way long ago.

Thanks for all the replies.

How do you guys grind your glands?

Meat Grinder, make sure to wear safety glasses or they will squirt you in the eye. Mink glands will definitely clear ones sinuses.

Andy do you feel as if the odd smell affects there overall performance? OR Due to their chemical make-up still being present. A nonissue

AND A BARF BAG!!!

I don't think preserving them with Sodium B. Makes them a inferior ingredient but definitely knocks down the fresh mink odor.

I salt most of my mink glands just so I don't tie up freezer space. Glands will keep almost forever packed in salt. Mink glands from my experience will fade in a short time once ground. That is why it is recommended to grind them before adding to a mixture. Some materials help hold the odor longer. I have just recently discovered a material that holds the strong mink odor and will not fade out. Secret of course but adding ground glands to a mixture right away will help. Adam

partially frozen in a 3 cup food chopper

LMAO. What is the purpose of that post?

Danny there is more to the post then that. Packing mink glands in salt is the best way to store and preserve mink glands as you can read in other post people have used sodium benzoate so that alone should be helpful. Also for the average trapper playing with lures it is just best to grind right before adding to a lure or bait to give the best chance of holding the mink odor. Adam

And in the end,to an animal,I don't think it makes any difference.

Last weekend I ground some Mink & Rat glands I bought from Adam in a cheap blender I picked up, my kitchen still has the Mink aroma!

tbn in what way does it not matter to an animal? I think there is a big difference between flat mink glands and strong mink glands.

Thanks Andy, I'll try that..

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.