School me on fruit bases. I've always been intrigued with fruit smells and coyotes, and after reading the bacon bait thread I got thinking again. For a small time formulator why not just go to the grocery store and get a jar of jam to mix with your other ingredients?

I don't have any proven answers to this, but if I was going to consider that as an option, I'd buy a proven fruit paste from a professional lure maker and compare it to the jam. I think you may find that the jam will be significantly sweeter and not have a desirable consistency for bait application.

I'm sure fruit bases add a special level of attraction and odor, especially early fall for canines. Once the fruit base is added to meat, I wonder if it's just the sugar content that's the true attractant. I don't know, maybe someone has thoroughly tested and compared the results.

One thing I know for sure is that both young and adult coyotes love sugar no matter what time of the year it is. So, I just keep things simple and add straight sugar to my concoctions.

Papabear! who post on here sometimes wrote about canines being quite attracted to grape jelly

Strawberry jam is a proven canine delight.

I make a K9 lure with a Plum base. Wild plums can be found afield here in MN. I dehydrate them and then reconstitute with glycerin.
I believe a lot of the fruit paste base available is probably fig .

I like that idea with wild plums. I always wanted to put a trail camera on a plum tree with ripe fruit and see what all shows up.

I've tested fruity stuff on coyotes a far amount. Mulberry, Mulberry jam, fruit odors, peach base and a few others. Mild to low attraction here even though they a lot of fruit when it's ripe. I do use fruit odors some in formulations as a secondary odor sometimes to add to the profle

Skunks like it to!

Strawberry Jam is of great interest to Marten & Fisher as well.

would you guys be adding glycerine to keep it from freezing or wouldnt it matter?

I would, if for no other reason than getting it out of the jar. I've found that more odor is released when a bait or lure stays unfrozen. Glycerin will dilute it however, so for personal use I would only add as much as necessary to prevent freezing in your temperatures.

Every coyote and fox in my area is going to go out of their way to get apples, grapes, persimmons, and mulberries. and I have even seen what I believe, that they eat black gum berries in the fall. Every grey fox will go to blueberries.

Our coyotes gorge on Mulberry when they are hitting the ground too but I can say that Mulberries don't have the attraction to make a good bait or base. I've tried them many many ways.
Just because coyotes eat it doesn't mean it has a high level of attraction. Would "it work " to catch some? Yes but I've driven nails in with a rock too and it works but there's more efficient ways to do it

Maybe a good summer scent for the ADC guys, maybe

I use some fruit paste bases and have for many years. They work very well. They are used as a base not the primary odor of the product. The bases are very edible and odor attractive on their own merit. However, as in many such bases, they are much more effective when other odors are present to give them the needed overall odor attraction to get the desired result.

Many may be surprised as to what a seasoned lure/bait maker can develop from near anything.

You would be amazed at the animals I use to catch under Papaw trees growing up. Grey fox's loved them like nothing else

Has anyone tried dried figs, finely chopped and mixed with glycerol as a lure base ?

Yes figs are also a very good choice. You can purchase fig paste and fig flavorings as well.

Thanks Bob. I'm wondering about using finely chopped figs mixed with glycerol to make a base. Then add a good amount of castor, fish oil, a little peppermint oil, a little loganberry oil or another fruit oil and maybe a little honey oil to make a marten lure. What do you think about this recipe?

The true test results are getting them out there and see how they are accepted. Get all your ingredient proportions blended and let them sit for some months while stirring frequently. You may find it is a good batch. Time will tell. All the mentioned ingredients have all been proven and used alot. Try to use a good natural fish oil if possible as it will give you the best odor representation.