PHENYL ACETIC ACID CRYSTALS

This has a honey-like odor, and is one of the best ingredients to use when a honey odor is needed. I've even heard it claimed that this surpasses even the odor of natural strained honey. It's attractive to muskrat, beaver, fox, and especially raccoon. It's often used in conjunction with muskrat musk, and sometimes ambrette.

ALCOHOL

This always refers to grain alcohol, never to wood, isopropyl, or denatured alcohol. A lot of my old recipes call for "good quality moonshine." Since the grandkids of the old moonshiners around here have discovered that meth is more lucrative, it's hard to find around here anymore. Fortunately, cheap vodka works just as well.

GLYCERINE or GLYCERINE OIL

See the section on urines. This product is only of importance in urine-based baits and lures. I also use it to preserve lower-quality "fish juice."

PROPYLENE GLYCOL

Another preservative, it is also used for tincturing powders, crystals, and other materials.

SODIUM BENZOATE

Also known as "Bait Maker's Compound." Back in the olden days, folks with dairy cows would add a spoonful or so of this compound to their milk containers, before placing them out on the road for pickup, particularly on warm days, to slow spoilage of the milk. It's use for trappers is much the same, to prevent flesh bait and other materials from decomposing further after reaching the desired level of taint. it's also used to "quiet down" glands and secretions during the aging process.

ZINC VALERATE

Not to be confused with valerian, it has the same usage as sodium benzoate. Much more powerful, only about 1/6 of zinc valerate is needed as is sodium benzoate.

20 MULE TEAM BORAX

Ths has been used as a preservative of flesh baits, much like sodium benzoate, though I don't think it's quite as effective. Some old-time trapping articles suggest placing some of this powder in raccoon, fox, and coyote tails to aid in the stretching and drying process. however, don't do this without checking with your fur buyer first. If this interferes with whatever tanning process he uses, it could make your pelts worthless.

SEAL OIL
TURTLE OIL
RATTLESNAKE OIL

Used as a base, much like fish oil, in some old-time recipes. I've never used any of them. And I don't even think seal oil is available at all anymore.

As always, your questions and comments are welcome.

Onward and upward,
airforce