The scent cone debate. Some experts say YES

[Bob Jameson]

Scent dispersal is a factual occurance as we all know.Actual confirmation of distance detection is open for debate.

The initial strength (composition) and mass of the origin material is relative to the potential distance travel of the scent trail plus wind and terrain influences. Then to complicate matters further, the receptive (specie) animals interception and deciphering sense determines the distance the scent can be detected under certain conditions.

Scent molecules and micro particulates attach to various objects and terrain as a sort of hard copy reference to help predatory animals trace the odor origin along with constant support using thermal and wind assistance to confirm their direction of travel. Thus making location of the odor emission an easy acquisition for them in most cases.

I can relate some experiences of mine in lure formulation and material prep work when done outdoors.When grinding skunk pods usually 10 to 15 gal or so annually I set up a grinder outdoors for obvious reasons. My residence and formulation facility are located on a hillside.

I noticed this first scenario many years ago that I am about to describe.

It gave me a good example of scent transmission or scent cone travel as relative to what I was doing.Upon grinding skunk scent pods, glands or aged meats of sorts, after an unknown period of time, I would notice shadows on occasion drifting past me as I was working.

Being occupied I didnt pay alot of attention at first. However as the fleeting shadows became more obvious I took a look around briefly and my search took my glance overhead obviously.

Above, hovering and riding the breeze were several black vultures very low, hovering just above the tree tops.Then they would continue to make passes drifting down wind then they would fly upwind repeatedly and drift back over me. They were so low I could see them looking down and scouring the ground attempting to locate the source of the stink.

I guess they were waiting for the stinky old cuss to kick the bucket for a good meal.The interesting thing is I was set up under a fairly good tree canopy so I wasnt clearly visible to them so they continued to search visually for confirmation of what their sense of smell was telling them.

The point is they had detected and followed that scent trail from who knows how far they had been when the scent trail was first picked up.

Meaning that the scent trail had not only been leaving a low profile signature along the ground terrain but also a scent trail that obviously had been carried high into the wind stream allowing enough of an odor trail to lead them back to a potential meal.

I made several conclusions and assumptions from those early experiences via those birds and other animal testing research. Those early experiences no doubt contributed significantly to my knowledge and understanding of odor release and scent travel which ultimately help me to be a better trapper and lure maker.

Ultimately, odor / scent transmission can be an infinite situation that we may never really know how far and how detectable an element can really be. Alot of variables are present that influence the end result and why they occured as they did. Much food for thought.

The fact remains that the scensory perception abilities of canines and some other creatures are remarkable to say the least. Their odor deciphoring / recognition traits are amazing.

How many levels and degrees of individual odor recognition abilities they possess may never really be known. At least I doubt that technology will be available in our life times to enable us to determine the answers to some of our questions.

Just imagine the possibilities and potential of having such information available.But then we would have to find something else to discuss and share our own theories, experiences and opinions about.

[trappnman]

as a young guy on the farm, my dad had a propane tank with a busted valve- so he told me to take it out in the pasture, and release it.

within a few minutes, I had no doubt where that gas was going, as it was black from being covered with flies.

this was long before I knew anything about gases or odor movement, and I thought the gas would just go up into the air and be gone with the wind- I wasshocked by how it instead lay flat on the ground and flowed exactly like water.

after a short distance, it just was "gone"- not concentrated enough to attract the flies

My point on all of this, every post I made here is just this:

it doesn't matter how far a lure gets out there-

what matters is

#1 how does he react or not react to the lure, dependent on where he encounters it? Does he have the same reaction if he smells a lure "here doing this" vs the set itself?

#2- if he does react to snippets of lure, is the scent concentrated enough to do anything but think "that smelled good"

[Stef]

39,
dimethyl disulfide works lot better

[trappincoyotes39]

Bob interesting post similar to my buzzard story of a totally covered bait and as gases released from the soil the buzzards caught wind of it in the skys. Then to think there nose is nothing like a coyotes nose, really helps put into perspective HOW far a ccoyote can smell, that and calling through the years and seeing them work human scent and then compairing that to lures/loud baits, can get confusing for sure.

#2 Tman ebbs and flows with various factors but the tendancy would be if I have a lure within 10-15 ft he is more than capable of picking up any odor and more blended ones would cause him to come closer for further break down of the odors involved.

The point remains they can smell "odors" from quite some distance, the rest is up to various factors if it "draws" them in or not. Smell, sound and vision que's all play into it.

The wind will always be my "friend" !!!!!!

[northof50]

Skunk essence can be detected by humans @ 1 in a million particles. Turkey vultures can detect @1 in 10 million. Their zig - zag flight is traveling the cones. In Sask. they were looking for nesting pairs and that is what they came up with, interesting the nest were in abdomen farm buildings in the upper bed rooms.
Good discussion

[Wright Brothers]

That link in Zags sig has or at least it used to, stuff about scent cone.

I've thought for a long time many animals scented from the "edge" of the scent trail rather than the center.

I agree good discusion folks. Two more monthes.

[thorsmightyhammer]

Steve, I'm sure you are aware that LP is heavier than air and that is why it settled.'

If it would have been NG it would have went pretty much straight up as it is lighter than air.

Other than that I have nothing to add

[trappnman]

I'm aware of that now- I was not then

yo ucan also smell propane, thus some air particles are being ariborne

my thoughts are heavier scents do the same

[coloradocat]

You wouldnt smell propane in its natural state, odorless and colorless.

[trappnman]

doesn't matter- the point is the same, is it not?

[trappincoyotes39]

The point could be the same, the real question I have does one need to use an odor heavy like found in propane or skunk essance at every set to have maximum appeal and scent carrying ability at all times to begin with?

[trappnman]

heres the real question- what does that coyote do, when he enounters the scent?

the rest is all piddle paddle.........

[Zagman]

just cant imagine why you need all this power/high octane at a "spot" that the coyotes are already comfy, "stalling out", hanging out, etc.?

Why the neon billboard (odor-wise, not visually) for a stalled out/"Gosh I love this spot!" coyote?

MZ

[CoonDuke]

If you take a look at the vapor density of chemicals found in lure you can determine if those odor will hang low to the ground. The vapor density of air is 1 so any chemical with a vapor density greater than 1 would theoretically emit vapor (odor) heavier than air.

Volatility of a chemical is how easily it turns to vapor. Generally, a chemical with a high vapor pressure will vaporize more easily.

So in theory if chemicals/ingredients were added to a lure with a high vapor density and a high vapor pressure it would emit a low "hanging" odor at a high rate. Granted, mixing things together can change these properties but it is something to think about.

[trappnman]

just cant imagine why you need all this power/high octane at a "spot" that the coyotes are already comfy, "stalling out", hanging out, etc.?

A fair question, and the answer, IMO, is this- being on "the spot" only gets the coyote in the mindset, to better work things he is interested in. Or indeed, to work things AT ALL.

lure amount, type, intensity gets them interested.

if you think amount. type etc of lure is immaterial, that a coyote works any scent he encounters then for sure use a few drops, or any lure, or indeed no lure (just use the hole).

certain lures, multiple lures baits, etc- get and keep him interested. Interested enough to not just smell the lure but to work the set.

because keep in mind the location is only part of the picture, the set type etc is the other.

Its a complete package.

I guess my question to you is- do you think that if a coyote smells your lure (whether 2 blocks away, or at the set), he automatically walks over to it and sticks his nose into the hole?

do you think all lures are universal- or do you think certian lures and odors provide more intensity at the set?

[glen]

I personally think the lure/scent thing is really over rated. While a good lure will increase your catch it won't replace a key location or traps set at such an angle that any target animal that walks by will see atleast one of the sets. But when you put key locations, set sight appeal and a good lure in place you have a deadly location. I do demo's at our trappers training and I tell new trappers I can go with them on their line. The first 1/2 of their line I will set trap where they think is a good location. Then on the second 1/2 of their line I will tell them where to set traps. I tell them over the course of a few week they will out trap me. They look at me like I crazy, because they know pretty much what I catch. But the fact remains that NOTHING will beat being on location, and I sure you other seasoned trappers will agree. I'm a trapper not a biologist, and I know nothing about how scent disperses. But through years and years of trapping the animals has taught me how to pick locations. And most good trappers can hit location at a VERY high percentage. We won't even go into the work ethics. This is a great post but scent and how it disperses is only a small part of trapping. Again this is just my opion, thanks

[trappnman]

if you mean can a trapper pick a location, and have a high % of success in catching a coyote, I agree. Over time.

but I can only speak for myself, in that I thought I had location down, and now find I'm just beginning to pinpoint locations where sucess rate is 25% high and higher in a night over several nights and over the entire line.

I do agree, that scent and how it disperses, is but a very small part of trapping canines.

but i do believe, that quantity and type of lure, does matter. A lot.
.

[CoonDuke]

Click to view video.

Take note how fast the fox is travelling down the farm road, and note the position of it's nose before approaching the "set" (which is lure in a small hole in front of a rock backing).

[glen]

here is how I rate location, lure, clean traps, bedding, eye appeal

1 location
2 location
3 location
4 location
5 location
6 eye appeal of the set
7 a well bedded trap
8 clean traps
9 lure
IMO nothing will take the place of a well located sets. As far as lure I can catch 100+ K-9's a year with nothing more than urine.

That's a good shot there coonduke and looks like a good location. Right on a travel way. Those fox only had to go a foot out of their way to get to the lure., and thats what you want

[trappnman]

glen- welcome to the discussion.....

are you speaking more of fox, than coyotes?

because I'd put "set appeal" #2