THE PROPER USE OF BAITS AND LURES

Lets take another short detour here, and consider the proper use of attractors in trapping animals. Beginning trappers--and more than a few experienced ones also--depend on baits and lures more than their own trapping skills. They use far too much bait and lure, often attracting nontarget animals from some distance away that ordinarily would not visit the location. Or, just as often, they provide too little, so that the set quits working because what odors were there--if any--is soon dissipated.

I'll try to cover some of the factors of odor attractors, and try to clear up some of the mystery. I should note here that, whatever the bait or lure is, it is the odor that is important. If the sight of a bait plays any part at all in attracting animals, I have yet to notice it.

It seems obvious, but the entire concept of attractor placement is that the animal must trigger the trap to get to it. If the animal backs away from the trap and reaches the bait or lure from some other direction without triggering a trap, then the design of the set was faulty. (Often, a lure is placed higher up in a bush or weed. In this case the lure was used to attract the animal to the vicinity of the set, where the bait itself becomes the primary attractor. But this really is not an exception to this basic rule.)

(Note also that this means the bait should not be placed on the trap pan or trigger. We want to catch the animal by the leg, not the nose.)

The amount of food odors needed at a set is based on the strength of the scent, but only to a certain extent. A half bottle of lure may not provide anymore attraction than a few drops, depending on the concentration and the materials comprising the attractor. By way of example, you will need about twice as much tincture of skunk essence as you would straight essence to get the same effect.

However, just to complicate this further, weather conditions will affect the call of the attractor. Sometimes wind currents can cause the odors to merely move around the immediate vicinity of the set, out of reach of any passing animal. In such cases, the lure should be placed higher up, on a weed or bush, to catch the wind currents and carry the odor further. Likewise, dry or humid air, dampness, snow, rain, and cloudy conditions can all help to stifle odors. Quantity and placement may have to be provided not only behind the trap but above it, in order to allow the odors to travel further. And you may have to reapply lure more often under such conditions.

All too often, the soil itself will absorb the odors. Very often, a ball of cotton to hold the lure will allow the odors to persist for several days longer.

Scents made from gland materials generally last quite some time, but even with these you may have to apply more lure after a rainfall. Even here, if you expect rain, using dry leaves as both a base and a cover material will provide some protection. A little extra lure at this type of a set, to make up for the leaves covering it, can make a huge difference.

Well, did I make that about as clear as mud? As always, your questions are welcome.

Onward and upward,
airforce