Question for you trappers.

[Boar]

I was wondering why the use of beavers castors glands as a scent are to be hung an dried apposed to just removing them an makeing the paste. is there a difference between drying the castor gland an not drying the gland? Potency? any input would be great. Boar

[HunterLee]

If you are refering to yourself using it as a lure, then cut it open and use it. No need to dry.

Drying it down is how it is sold. From what I know most people the use in in lure would rather have it fresh and not dried out as it is not as smelly when dried.

[Boar]

Yes, as a lure, sorry I should have specified. Thanks ya answerd my question. Boar

[Brownie77]

Are you starting to trap? Where did you get the castor and what type of animal are you targeting?

[HunterLee]

i think its for bear hunting

[Boar]

Its for bear hunting an just questioning why you would have to dry them. Boar

[psegriz]

Only reason to dry them in my mind is to sell them.

[HunterLee]

yep to sell

[jigginjim]

Having not dealt much with beavers, were is the castor/ Or what is it?

[JBar]

Castor from beaver is dried to keep the product for sale from breaking down and decomposing. The castors on a beaver is located on each side of the vent. When skinning a beaver the castor can be removed by cutting the small layer of muscle on each side of the vent this will expose the castor sack and oil sacks. Once this layer is opened you can remove the castor and oil sack. When doing this for sale or keeping for lure remove all of the muscle off from the castor sacks and drain the smaller oil sacks. Usually for lure, dry and grind the castor with a small amount of the oil and I like to add small wood chips from an aspen "popple tree" grind this together and makes a great spring beaver lure on a caster mound set as beaver are very territorial this time of year and will investigate.