AboutMongo Expertise I can answer most basic questions concerning predator trapping and some water trapping. Questions about lures, baits, sets, traps, trap treatment, modification, sizes, equipment, usage, etc. I have been certified by the Okla. Dept. of Wildlife Conservation, First Okla. Trapper`s Assoc., and the Okla. State Univ. Extension Service as a trapping instructor, and in years past have given classes to people wishing to learn the sport...I also have a number of years experience in predator calling and can provide some basic answers to these questions as well.
Experience
Past/Present clients As far as teaching what I know to others. I take this to be what you mean here... I have helped my son, and son in law, as well as a number of others in this area, to get started in trapping and predator calling... I have had personal instruction from professional government ADC specialists, and I have 30 years experience running my own traplines, and over a half century of experience in the outdoors...... I have a friend who is a troop leader with the Boy Scouts. In the past I have done several demonstrations on trapping and predator calling for the boys, and on a number of occasions have helped the troop to set up and run a trapline during the winter, with proceeds going to the troop.
Question Do you make crayfish oil the same way as fish oil? How would you best describe making crayfish oil?
Answer Good morning Butch,
First, let me tell you that altho I have made many gallons of fish oil, I have never made crayfish oil... However, I have talked to a number of people who have made it, and while their personal methods may vary somewhat, they all make it in a similar fashion to the way they make fish oil...... Were I to decide to make crayfish oil, I would make it the same way as I make fish oil, simply substituting crayfish for the fish... Here is how I make sun-rendered fish oil.........
In the summer when it's pretty warm to hot, I'll take a clean plastic one gallon milk jug, the kind with the handle. I will cut up my fish into chunks small enough to fit into the jug, and fill it not over 3/4 full. (DO NOT add water or anything else to this.)... Then I drill a hole in the center of the lid, and screw it on the jug. I then stick a small plastic hose into the hole in the lid, but only letting it stick in a couple of inches...You want it to be well above the fish. Then I use silicone or epoxy to seal it in place and seal up any leaks where it sticks thru the lid. I also run some around the lid where it screws on to make sure the entire jug is sealed air tight.... I then tie a cord to the handle and tie a smaller bottle or jug to this cord, allowing it to hang maybe a foot below the milk jug of fish. I fill the second bottle or jar with water, and stick the free end of the hose into this bottle, running the hose end into the water and clear to the bottom. I put no lid on the second jar or jug, and I check it occasionally and make sure it stays full of water and the end of the hose is still under water at the bottom... The gas that forms in the jug of fish will be vented off thru the hose, and with the end of it being underwater the flys can not get to the fish to lay eggs which cause maggots and would ruin the fish oil... I then tie another cord to the milk jug handle and use this cord to hang the whole mess out of a tree (and away from the house) where cats, dogs, children, etc., can't get to it... Let it hang until the solids appear to have settled out to the bottom and it has turned to liquid. This may take a couple weeks, or a month or more, depending on the temperature. The hotter the temperature, the less time it will take... Now, the oil that forms on the top is the actual fish oil, and has a milder odor, and can be skimmed off if desired (Some people use a turkey baster to suck this oil up and then squirt it into a jar or bottle.), but most people just use all of the juice, calling it fish oil... I then strain it all thru a cloth or mesh into bottles or jars, and discard the solids that strain out... The liquid is the fish oil (fish juice actually)... Now, seal the bottles or jars tightly, store them in a cool dark place out of the sun or direct light, and they will be ready when needed... No preservative or anti-freeze needs to be added.......... Now there are several ways to do this, but this is the way I generally do it...and "meat juice" can be made the same way.
Butch, like I say, this is how I make sun rendered fish oil, and is basically the same way most everyone else that I know makes it...and I am sure that sun rendered crayfish oil could be made the same way with very good results.
