Mold on bait

Made my first batch of bait last spring. Ground some beaver meat, let taint, stopped with SB and kept in a sealed bucket. Opened the lid today to try putting some in jars with some added ingredients and found the top has a thin layer of moldy slime. Is this batch of bait ruined?

Skim and scrape it off the top of the meat first and any that is on the sides and lid. Mix some Methyl Paraben in some liquid of choice enough to dissolve it and stir in and around thru the bait. This will stop the growth from developing.

You can get your methyl paraben here - http://www.jamesonsultrablend.com/Specialty.html

Much obliged, Gentlemen!

Should I be using methyl paraben in all future bait concoctions?

it wouldn't hurt
typically only if you're not going to use it that season though

how much SB did you use/gal of meat?.........did you dissolve it first?

I used a cup of SB per gallon of meat. I dumped in the SB, then added water until It seemed to dissolve. Burped and stirred every day until no gas. It’s been stored inside an old broken freezer out in the pole barn.

The boss suggests to dissolve it first in a cup or two of water.
Since he has been making bait longer than I have been alive,, I just do what he says and have never had problems In 10 years of bait making.
Plus all the books on bait making teach to dissolve prior
Didn’t you get the collection of free bait and lure making books last Christmas? Or for your birthday? Or anniversary?

Thanks for the advice Traprjohn. It does make sense, a solution would mix better than trying to dissolve the flakes spread throughout the meat.

glad to help
don't forget to sign up for the FREE trapping/bait/lure book club.

How do you sign up, ive been trapping a while but am interested in starting making my own lures and bait. Ive just always used goose guts i let green slightly and moose scraps.

Get catalogs from several suppliers like Schmitts, MTP, FnT, PCS, Sterling Fur, Southeastern Outdoors, Cumberlands, etc etc,
THEN circle the books/gear/oils/glands you want/need
THEN give catalogs to loved ones that buy you birthday/anniversary/Christmas/Labor Day/Halloween gifts..........explaining you want their money to be used wisely, on things you'll use, as opposed to a sweater in your closet you'll only wear once/yr.
Works great in our family!