About Lures, Urine, and Bait

Lures

• Gland lures come from the reproductive tract.
• These lures appeal to an animal’s desire for a mate or trigger a territorial response.
• When using gland lures, too little is better than too much. Two or three drops will do. A little more may be used during freezing weather.
• Food lures are extracts of fish oil, anise, eggs, peanut butter, or other items. These scents appeal to the furbearer’s desire to eat.
• Curiosity lures are blends of oils, exotic musk, beaver castor or muskrat gland, and even perfume. These lures rely on the furbearer’s instinct to investigate something unfamiliar.

Urine

Urine is extremely valuable in trapping fox or coyote. These animals mark their territory by urinating. Therefore, the smell of urine triggers the animal’s territorial instincts.

• Care must be taken to obtain pure, undiluted urine.
• Skunk essence is sometimes added.

Bait

• Types of bait include:
• Chunks of ground fish or meat from woodchuck, beaver, muskrat, or other animals
• Plant foods such as corn, carrots, or apples
• Meat and fish baits can be used fresh, tainted, or in liquid form.