Using a good quality trapping lure can help attract animals to your sets and keep them around longer, increasing the odds of making a catch. It’s not just about lure quality, though. The way lure is applied at the set can make a difference in how long it lasts and how potent it is. That’s where lure holders come in. Simply applying a bit of lure down a dirt hole isn’t necessarily the best method. Soil can absorb the odor fairly quickly, and lure that isn’t physically held together can easily wash away in the rain.
Most of the lures that I make (and sell in the Trapping Today Store) are greased based, meaning the ingredients are bound together into a food grade synthetic grease which is waterproof and freeze proof. That helps the lure hold together better and withstand breakdown from the weather. That said, most trapping lures have bases that don’t hold together as well. But by using a proper lure holder, you can keep lures attracting critters longer.
A lure holder can be as simple as a wooden stick, twig, or piece of vegetation that you dip into the lure bottle and place at the set (down the dirt hole, on the backing, etc). In agricultural areas, crop aftermath like corn cobs, stalks, etc. can work great too. More absorbent materials, like cotton, Q-tips or craft pipe cleaners are popular lure holders. Some trappers use scraps of hide and fur from animals they catch to hold lure.
Perhaps the most popular lure holder material is sheep’s wool. In addition to being absorbent, sheep’s wool has a mild odor of its own, and is very attractive to predators. Sheep wool also has a natural waterproofing substance called lanolin, which is a waxy material that helps shed water to keep sheep warm in wet weather.
Any material that’s readily available, cheap, free of bad foreign odors, and helps lure hold up to the weather can be a great option. I usually use a stick or bit of sheep’s wool myself, but I’m planning to try adding another lure holder to my arsenal next year. I notice that when I forget to take my belt off when mixing up lures, my wife doesn’t let me back in the house! Leather is very effective at absorbing and releasing odor, apparently. I’ve also found these all wood clothespins available at a very low price on Amazon, and I’m thinking a combination of the wooden clothespin with a strip of leather dipped into a lure bottle could make a great lure holder combination. What’s better, the combo consists of all natural material that breaks down, so you don’t have to worry about leaving trash in the woods!
What’s your favorite lure holder? Let me know in the comments below.
| Photo | Title | Price | Buy |
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Honey-Can-Do Round Wooden Clothespins, 100 Pack | $8.08 ($0.08 / Count) |
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Montree Shop Sheep's Wool for Trapping (1 Pound) | $24.00 |
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Tandy Leather Sheepwool Remnants 4 oz. 4717-01 | $11.51 |
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ZEN Bundles Zen Pipe Cleaners Hard Bristle, 132 Count (Pack of 3),Yellow | $5.05 ($0.04 / Count) |
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