ESSENTIAL OILSThere are so many essential oils available for lure and bait making that I'm sure people are confused by them. Add to this that some of them are available in pure liquid form, while other are only available as powders, pastes, crystals, or tinctures, and it becomes even more bewildering. In this section, I'll try to explain what they are, how they are used, and try to take some of the mystery out of them.
No one knows when man first began to distill essential oils from plant life. Long before Jesus walked the earth, skilled craftsmen were extracting the oils from certain plants for perfumes, as seasonings for food, and probably for trapping. The equipment used today is a little more sophisticated, but in most cases the actual process remains the same.
Many oils are not made today, or their costs make them prohibitively expensive. The last I heard, genuine catnip oil was selling for about $400 an ounce--and that was thirty years ago. However, manufactured substitutes are available, and in many cases they are equal to or even superior to the original product.
So, with all that being said, here are some of the essential oils and other ingredients available for baits and lures. In most cases, I have used these at one time or another; if I have not, I will say so.
AMBER OILThis is one of the oils I haven't personally used. Actually a resin, it has a harsh odor, but just a few drops of Lovage Oil to a gallon of Amber is enough to remove the harshness and give it a minty odor, which is supposed to be farther-reaching than other mint odors. Often used as a straight lure (with the harshness gone) for muskrat, raccoon beaver, fox, coyote, and even wolf.
AMBERGRIS OILBelieve it or not, this comes from sperm whale vomit. it is a product of the diseased intestinal tracts of sperm whales, which washes up on certain shores in the Far East. It's extremely valuable to both the trapping and perfume industry, but is seldom available today. In fact, I don't even know if it's legal to sell it in the U.S. now, and if it were, we couldn't afford it. However, the manufactured substitute is quite good.
It's usually thought of as a carrier of scent, but I think it's greatest value is as a
fixative. Like most fixatives, it should be used sparingly.
AMBRETTE MUSKOften mistaken for muskrat musk by everybody except muskrats, it's good for any lure formula which calls for a full-strength musk odor. A powerful fixative, and so concentrated that only a few drops is enough for as much as a gallon of bait.
It's usually available in tinctured or crystal form. It's mostly used for muskrat, raccoon, beaver, and fox lures.
ANISE OILI have a couple "secret ingredients" of my own, and this is one of them. When I need a lure for raccoon, anise oil alone is the first thing I try. One of my favorite sets is a combination set for muskrat and raccoon just on the bank of a creek, and this is the only lure I use for that. a little expensive compared to some other oils, but well worth the price. it's also attractive to beaver, though my own beaver-trapping experience is limited. it's sometimes available in crystalline form, which is a little cheaper.
APPLE EXTRACTIf I had to choose just one essential oil for all of you meat and survival trappers, this would be it. Apple slices and apple extract go together like pizza and beer, and I've caught many squirrels, rabbits, moles, and gophers in box traps with this combination. Deer are especially attracted to it.
Apple essence is also available, but I think the extract is better.
BERGAMOTExtracted from pears, and used much the same as apple extract. It's especially attractive to beaver. I haven't used this one, and know little about it.
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That should be enough to get this section started. I'll continue this later. As always, I welcome your questions and comments. Criticisms are less welcome, but I'll even take them.
Onward and upward,
airforce
