Just trying to get some feedback on if trappers feel one has the power to over rule the other. Meaning: If you are on location, will a mediocre lure still perform as good as a great one? Or will the best of lures really draw animals from a great distance like lure makers claim they will? What are your thoughts?

Location Location Location, without a doubt.

L-O-C-A-T-I-O-N

i say location but know some dang fine trappers that would disagree

Location is most important IMO, but you need some good lure to make them work your set.

No need to choose one over the other. Cover them both and you'll be better off.

location is the main thing to me.

a good location w/ a mediocre bait/lure, will produce mediocre catches.

a good location w/ a really good bait/lure, will burn em up!

If I was a lure maker, I would say lure. If I wrote trapping articles, I would say location.

Have you ever been in politics? lol

ricky cox took the words right out of my mouth.

My experience strongly suggests that "location" is the key operative, with stand alone identity, independent of lure quality (mediocre, or a great one - however that gradient is measured?) The greatest distance any given lure can be operative and effective is if a given animal's olfactory senses are within the boundary of detection, as the the intensity of the wind may influence its compass. Any sniffing organ has limits.

The "lure" component integrated into a set, no matter the status of its acclaimed virtues, is an aloof concept, and will live on in myth in the hearts and minds of many who put it on the pedestal reserved for magic - an illusion.

Any lure, bait or stinkum carefully applied at a set has merit. That is a given. However, think about this in terms of the set-lure/location quotient that may help to analyze an answer to your question. For example: A well made dirt hole for a canine of choice, will and can, function and produce without a speck of lure or bait when located within the perimeter of "location." That is a given, too.

So, with that said, your way of thinking may have just been stimulated. Others will provide different interpretations contrary to mine, but you will ultimately have to answer the question for yourself.

Jonathan

Ricky Cox wrote...Location is most important IMO, but you need some good lure to make them work your set.

Well said Ricky! Ace

LOCATION I very seldom even use lures just blind sets

Well it is definetly location with a "blind set" man!

90% Location
10% Lure

Blind sets alone miss ALOT of animals! One needs to take advantage of ALL the tools in the box!
Troy

Troy, That comment is right on location for the discriminating, experienced and flexible trapper. Man cannot live on blind sets alone, he needs lured sets to compliment the spreads between the slices of effort in order for a complete trapper's sandwich to taste the best it possibly can.

Jonathan

Good lure is not a major expense. Location can be learned with experience and even spead up with the proper mentor.

Why not use the best of both!

If the critter isn't where the set is or can't smell the odors of the set, it doesn't matter what the lure is, it ain't gonna work.

If the set is where the critter is and it's not interested in the lure you presented, then the lure does matter.

Gotta have the set in the right place, then you have to have a lure that will make it work the set.

If a given location isnt quite what you want for a certain set up. You can move away from said areas and bait and thus the name lure the animal in a area better set up for what you are after. Like location being in a black berry brambles and you want them just about 10 to 20 ft out of brambles. Thus lure and bait. Location being the number 1 criteria 2nd lure and bait to put them where it best suits you.

Amen to that Paul........

When I use snares, it is all location, no lure.
When I use traps, it is location first, then lure.
If there is sign on the other side of the fence and you do not have permission on the other side of the fence, then you cannot set on location and lure might be the difference between pulling or not pulling that animal across the fence and making or not making the catch.

Great post Terry.

I agree with all the above.Location is big.Despite some of the flowery ads,I don't depend on a good lure to pull them very far,though it may happen occasionally.A good lure AND good presentation can seal the deal after you've picked the good location,however.

Location is always the primary goal in setting, most realize this even after a few misses. That being said lure does have merit in placement as well, like has been mentioned above.

I'd like to say one more thing about location using sound as a lure which will kind of skew your prospective thoughts on the subject. At least with using sound.

When using sound your location matters as such as to the area the target moves thru and not necessarily spot on, while using lures your more apt to really need a much more closer approach tactic.

Sound causes the animal to acutally drop interest in the lure until either frustration or a natual instinct takes over after moving around the area trying to focus or find the sound element.

After such they either continue to work the area for the lure or locaton moving on thru, not necessarily in that order due to the sound.

Thought some might like to chew on that for a bit!

Well you have had at least 3 Major Lure makers chime in here. LOL> And they have all told you that without being on a good Location, you won't catch much with any lure.
Hal Sullivan has said on here many times, and I believe that he also says it a time or two in his video. "There is NO magic in a Lure Bottle. There is not one lure out there that is going to call all the animals in if they werent there to begin with."

Very well said, NYNovice! (You're not really a novice, are you?) LOL

All true but I would still never be without at least three different quality lures for each species I'm after.Once at the location,good lure and other aspects of the presentation can put the paw on the pan.

Yeah, I don't know any "blind set" fox and coyote men! LOL

I expect putting the lure "on location", would be the best idea.
Later,
45/70,