Hello again. Haven't been much since the crash, but I'll be around....mostly reading.

I have a question on smear lures though. I want to make one of my own. Should I just use vaseline or some other form of petroleum jelly as a binder? I know Otter Creek (Galen) doesn't like Vaseline, but don't really know why. Anybody have a reccomendation and where could I pick some up?

You might try lanolin..

That depends what animal species you are making the lure for. I have tried adding vasoline to fox and coyote lures and the petroleum odor created an unacceptable number of set avoidances.
Also, with other species lures vasoline has a tendancy to lock the odor inside rather than dispersing the odor. Ace

Mr Lenon how do you feel about skunk essence mixed with vaseline, to use on a pole set for fishers? Is there something that works better than the vaseline that will stick even in bad weather? Thanks.

I know of several that do as you suggest in Maine for fisher and marten. They seem to like it. Vaseline does tend to hold odors and glaze over in cold temps therefore limiting odor output.It can be done it is not our preferred method of formulation choices for bases.

Thank you Mr Jameson.

Bigpat: With something as strong smelling as skunk musk I suppose some glazing over wouldn't be as detrimental as glazing over milder ingredients. Perhaps using fish oil as the base for skunk musk would allow odor to better disperse and still hold up reasonably well in bad weather. The fish oil would also add another calling to the lure. Ace

Thank you.

could you melt some wax and mix it like that?it would be water proof. ive ive often wondered that

So what should I use?....from K9's to deer lures?

Crisco shorting is very good to mix( after it has been melted and still warm) with skunk but must be done just right and preferrably in colder weather so it will "set" quickly!

Lanolin is very good...