Animal attractant system

Abstract

Animal attractant compositions, devices, systems and methods that can be deployed to attract game animals, such as deer by stimulating several of the animal's senses to attract animals to a desired location. The invention can use a combination of ultraviolet brighteners for visual interest and one or more of deer urine based scents, foods, mineral or salt. The invention capitalizes on the link between many animals' ability to see ultraviolet light with their desire to visualize urine territory markers left by other animals of the same species.

Claims

1. An animal attractant composition consisting of: an animal attractant substance, wherein the animal attractant substance is an edible food attractant selected from at least one of acorn, corn, beets, apples, pears, persimmons, clovers, grasses, grains, beans, soybeans, turnips, consumable fat foodstuff and consumable protein foodstuff; and an UV (ultraviolet) brightener mixed with the animal attractant substance to render the animal attractant substance brightly fluorescent in near ultraviolet light, wherein near ultraviolet light is defined as light with a wavelength of between 200 and 400 nanometers, and the ultraviolet brightener attracts animals to where the animal attractant substance is located.

2. The animal attractant composition of claim 1, wherein the UV brightener includes a brightener of greater than 1% per weight of the attractant composition.

3. The animal attractant composition of claim 1, wherein the UV brightener is a liquid.

4. The animal attractant composition of claim 1, wherein the UV brightener is a dry powder.

5. The animal attractant composition of claim 1, wherein the edible food attractant is selected from at least one of acorn, corn, clovers, grasses, grains, beans, soybeans, turnips, consumable fat foodstuff and consumable protein foodstuff.

6. The animal attractant composition of claim 1, wherein the edible food attractant is selected from at least one of beets, apples, pears, and persimmons.

7. An animal attractant composition consisting of: an edible food attractant; and an UV (ultraviolet) brightener mixed with the edible food attractant adapted to render the edible food attractant brightly fluorescent in near ultraviolet light, wherein near ultraviolet light is defined as light with a wavelength of between 200 and 400 nanometers, and the ultraviolet brightener attracts animals to where the animal attractant substance is located.

8. The animal attractant composition of claim 7, wherein the edible food attractant is selected from at least one of acorn, corn, beets, apples, pears, persimmons, clovers, grasses, grains, beans, soybeans, turnips, consumable fat foodstuff and consumable protein foodstuff.

9. The animal attractant composition of claim 8, wherein the edible food attractant is selected from at least one of acorn, corn, clovers, grasses, grains, beans, soybeans, turnips, consumable fat foodstuff and consumable protein foodstuff.

10. The animal attractant composition of claim 8, wherein the edible food attractant is selected from at least one of beets, apples, pears, and persimmons.

11. The animal attractant composition of claim 7, wherein the UV brightener includes a brightener of greater than 1% per weight of the attractant composition.

12. The animal attractant composition of claim 7, wherein the UV brightener is a liquid.

13. The animal attractant composition of claim 7, wherein the UV brightener is a dry powder.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(1) Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

(2) The present invention can include a base substrate, an ultraviolet brightener, and, optionally, one or more additional attractants such as animal scent, salt, and motion.

(3) The base substrate can be fashioned into any geometry, but most advantageously such a geometry should not approximate naturally occurring shapes such as animals or plants. One such preferred geometry can include an elongated, flat, rectangular plate roughly the size and shape of a common paint stirring stick. Another geometry can be an irregular, unnatural shape such as several cojoined circular disks. These and other geometries when hung from a tree branch by a lanyard, can flutter and move in the breeze in a manner that piques an animal's curiosity with pleasing, natural motion while not appearing threatening. A nonthreatening yet unnatural looking object draws visual attention from far away.

(4) The base substrate can be composed of, but not limited to, thermoplastics, thermosets, wood, and metal. Thermoplastics are preferred for their easy manipulation plus the ability to incorporate additives, such as pigments and ultraviolet brighteners into the molten plastic instead of applying them as a surface treatment. The substrate can be fashioned by physical methods common in the art such as molding of molten materials or machining from rough stock.

(5) In one embodiment, the base substrate can be fabricated from a brightly-colored material to make it visible from great distances by a human observer or hunter. The substrate also incorporates an ultraviolet brightener, defined as a pigment, dye, or surface treatment that renders the base substrate brightly visible in near ultraviolet light (200 to 400 nanometer wavelength). This can be a key feature of the invention. One such commercially available optical brightener can include but is not limited to 2, 2-(2,5-thiophenediyl) bis (5-tert-butylbenzoxazole), trade named BENETEX OB (CAS #7128-64-5) and manufactured by Mayzo Corporation.

(6) In the preferred embodiment, the base substrate can be fabricated from a flexible, porous ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer that can be charged with a natural or synthetic animal scent attractant. The scent attractant can include, but is not limited to, any combination of animal attractant oil secretion, musk, urine, pheromone, preorbital gland secretion, and a proprietary synthetic attractant.

(7) In one embodiment, the scent attractant can be packaged separately from the base substrate. Just prior to deployment, the scent attractant can include a liquid, aerosol, or semi-solid, and can be applied to the outer surface of the base substrate. At periodic intervals (daily, weekly, etc.), the base substrate can be recharged with the scent material.

(8) Many wild animals also crave salt. The base substrate of the present invention can be impregnated or coated with crystalline salt, typically sodium chloride, as a way of enticing wild animals to repeatedly return to the invention. While scents may attract animals once, their dietary need for salt will condition them to return regularly.

(9) Table 1A shows the mixture components for liquid deer scent and liquid UV brightener.

(10) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE lA Mixture Range Preferred Components Amounts or percentages Range Liquid Deer Scent Any amount (for Any amount (for example 100 ml) example 100 ml) Liquid (Aqueous Approximately 1-30 Approximately 20- all) UV Brightener mL (or a 1%-30% 30 mL (or a 20%- Liquid UV 30% Liquid UV Brightener to Brightener to Liquid Deer Scent) Liquid Deer Scent)
Liquid Deer Scent can include deer urine based scents including but not limited to doe urine, buck urine, mixed urine, doe-in-heat urine, doe-in-estrus urine, rutting buck, and the like. Rutting buck can include urine collected from genetically superior breeding bucks. This urine, which contains a high concentration of testosterone, attracts dominant bucks.

(11) Liquid UV Brightener can include UV tracer dyes or UV dyes. For our test subject we used UV tracer dyes from Risk Reactor of Santa Ana, Calif. Other companies make tracer dyes and dyes also that can be used.

(12) We found that the Liquid UV Brightener should be added to the Liquid Deer scent and mixed as the UV brightener is introduced. Room temperature seems to work best. Once the deer scent and liquid UV brightener were mixed in correct amounts the deer scent would fluoresce when exposed to black or UV light. In consumer use the consumer will need to agitate, stir or shake the mixture to ensure proper mixing. The mixture should be stored in a dark tinted bottle to prevent breakdown of the UV enhancers.

(13) Table 1B lists components for mixing liquid deer scent with a powder (dry) form UV brightener.

(14) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 1B Mixture Range Amounts Components or percentages Preferred Range Liquid Deer Scent 100 mL for example 100 mL, for example Powder form UV Approximately 1-30 Approximately 15- Brightener grams (per every 25 grams (per every 100 ml) 100 ml)

(15) Liquid Deer Scent can include deer urine, including but not limited to doe urine, buck urine, mixed urine, doe-in-heat urine, doe-in-estrus urine, rutting buck, and the like. All urine based scent used for attracting deer.

(16) Powder or dry form UV Brightener can include any number of powder or crystalline UV brightener or whitening agents. For our test subject we used a Fluorescent Whitening agent called Benetex OB-M1 in which the chemical name is cited in the application.

(17) We found that the Powder or dry form UV Brightener should be added to the Liquid Deer scent and mixed as the UV brightener is introduced. Room temperature seems to work best. Once the deer scent and powder/dry form UV brightener were mixed in correct amounts the deer scent would fluoresce under black or UV light. In consumer use the consumer will need to agitate, stir or shake the mixture to ensure proper mixing. The mixture should be stored in a dark tinted bottle to prevent breakdown of the UV enhancers.

(18) Table 2A shows the mixture compositions of liquid food attractant scent and liquid brightener.

(19) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 2A Mixture Range Amounts Components or percentages Preferred Range Liquid Food 100 mL, for 100 mL, for Attractant Scent example example Liquid UV Approximately 1-30 Approximately 20- Brightener mL (or a 1%-30% 30 mL (or a 20%- Liquid UV 30% Liquid UV Brightener to Brightener to Liquid Food Scent) Liquid Food Scent)

(20) Liquid (Aqueous) Food Attractant Scent can include any scent that attracts game animals in particular deer. Examples would be scents such as liquid mixtures of edible foods, such as mixing ground up versions of edible foods into water, and the like. The edible foods can be selected from at least one of: acorn, corn, beets, apples, pears, persimmons, clovers, grasses, grains, and the like. There is a wide variety of liquid scent used to attract deer.

(21) Liquid UV Brightener can include UV tracer dyes or UV dyes. For our test subject we used UV tracer dyes from Risk Reactor, as well as several other companies make tracer dyes and dyes also.

(22) We found that the Liquid UV Brightener should be added to the Liquid Food scent and mixed as the UV brightener is introduced. Room temperature seems to work best. Once the food scent and liquid UV brightener are mixed in correct amounts the deer scent would fluoresce under black or UV light. In consumer use the consumer will need to agitate, stir or shake the mixture to ensure proper mixing. The mixture should be stored in a dark tinted bottle to prevent breakdown of the UV enhancers.

(23) Table 2B shows the mixture components for liquid food scent and dry UV brighteners.

(24) TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 2B Mixture Range Amounts Components or percentages Preferred Range Liquid Food 100 mL, for 100 mL, for Attractant Scent example example Powder form UV Approximately 1-30 Approximately 15- Brightener grams, per every 25 grams per every 100 ml 100 ml

(25) Liquid Food Scent can include any scent that attracts game animals in particular deer. Examples would be scents from liquified versions of foods that can be selected from at least one of acorn, corn, beets, apples, pears, persimmons, clovers, grasses, grains, and the like. There is a wide variety of liquid scent used to attract deer

(26) Powder or dry form UV Brightener can include any number of powder or crystalline UV brightener or whitening agents. For our test subject we used a Fluorescent Whitening agent called Benetex OB-M1 in which the chemical name is cited in the application

(27) We found that the Powder or dry form UV Brightener should be added to the Liquid Food scent and mixed as the UV brightener is introduced. Room temperature seems to work best. Once the food scent and powder, dry form UV brightener were mixed in correct amounts the deer scent would fluoresce under black or UV light. In consumer use the consumer will need to agitate, stir or shake the mixture to ensure proper mixing. The mixture should be stored in a dark tinted bottle to prevent breakdown of the UV enhancers.

(28) Table 3A shows the mixture components of dry food attractants that can include consumable foodstuff having a food value, especially a nutrient such as fat or protein, with a liquid brightener.

(29) TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 3A Mixture Range Amounts Components or percentages Preferred Range Dry Food Any weight Any weight Attractant Liquid UV Approximately 1%- Approximately 20% Brightener 30% mixture by to 30% mixture by weight weight

(30) Dry Food Attractants can include any food product that attracts game animals and that they may eat. Examples would be: acorns, corn, beets, apples, pears, persimmons, clovers, grasses, alfalfas, grains, beans, soybeans, turnips, and the like. There is a wide of dry food attractants used as bait for deer.

(31) Liquid UV Brightener can include UV tracer dyes or UV dyes. For our test subject we used UV tracer dyes from Risk Reactor but several other companies make tracer dyes and dyes also.

(32) The Liquid UV Brightener can be added as a supplement to the Dry Food Attractant just prior to taking the attractant to the field or in the field. The Liquid UV Enhancer can also be added to the Dry Food Attractant in the manufacturing process as long as precautions are made during packaging that there will be no leakage. The Mixture can also be thoroughly mixed by placing in a container and shaking or agitating. The container can be as simple as a bucket, bag, or other mixing container.

(33) Table 3B shows the mixture components of dry food attractant with dry UV brightener.

(34) TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 3B Mixture Range Amounts Components or percentages Preferred Range Dry Food Any weight Any weight Attractant Dry or Powder Form Approximately 1% Approximately 20%- UV Brightener to 30% mixture by 30% mixture by weight weight

(35) Dry Food Attractants can include any food product that attracts game animals and that they may eat. Examples would be: acorns, corn, beets, apples, pears, persimmons, clovers, grasses, alfalfas, grains, beans, soybeans, turnips, etc. There is a wide of dry food attractants used as bait or attractant for deer. This includes any food that a deer may ingest both naturally occurring and placed by man. Examples are cited above.

(36) Powder or dry form UV Brightener can include any number of powder or crystalline UV brightener or whitening agents. For our test subject we used a Fluorescent Whitening agent called Benetex OB-M1 in which the chemical name is cited in the application

(37) The Dry or Powder Form UV Brightener can be added as a supplement to the Dry Food Attractant just prior to taking the attractant to the field or in the field. The Dry or Powder Form UV Brightener can also be added to the Dry Food Attractant in the manufacturing process by mixing thoroughly in a mixer or by hand. Mixture can also be thoroughly mixed by placing in a container and shaking or agitating. The container can be as simple as a bucket, bag, or other mixing container.

(38) Table 4A shows the mixture components of dry food attractant and liquid UV brightener.

(39) TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 4A Mixture Range Amounts Components or percentages Preferred Range Dry Mineral or Any weight Any weight Salt Attractant Liquid UV Approximately Approximately Brightener 1%-30% mixture 20%-30% mixture by weight by weight

(40) Dry Mineral or Salt Attractant can include any mineral or salt type product used to attract deer and other big game animals. There are many varieties of mixtures with trace minerals, minerals, salts, and the like. These can include but are not limited to deer lick salts, deer minerals, and attractants with a salt base. Primarily available in 2 forms which are loose powder salt or mineral or in a salt or mineral block.

(41) Liquid UV Brighteners can include UV tracer dyes or UV dyes. For our test subject we used UV tracer dyes from Risk Reactor but several other companies make tracer dyes and dyes also.

(42) The Liquid UV Brightener can be added as a supplement to the Dry Mineral or Salt Attractant just prior to taking the attractant to the field or in the field. The Liquid UV Enhancer can also be added to the Dry Mineral or Salt Attractant in the manufacturing process as long as precautions are made during packaging that there will be no leakage. The Mixture can also be thoroughly mixed by placing in a container and shaking or agitating. The container can be as simple as a bucket, bag, or other mixing container.

(43) Table 4B shows the mixture components of dry food attractants and dry UV brighteners.

(44) TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 4B Mixture Range Amounts Components or percentages Preferred Range Dry Mineral or Any weight Any weight Salt Attractant Dry or Powder Form Approximately 1%- Approximately 20%- UV Brightener 30% mixture by 30% mixture by weight weight

(45) Dry Mineral or Salt Attractant can include any mineral or salt type product used to attract deer and other big game animals. There are many varieties of mixtures with trace minerals, minerals, salts, and the like. These can include but are not limited to deer lick salts, deer minerals, and attractants with a salt base. Primarily available in 2 forms which are loose powder salt or mineral or in a salt or mineral block.

(46) Powder or dry form UV Brightener can include any number of powder or crystalline UV brightener or whitening agents. For our test subject we used a Fluorescent Whitening agent called Benetex OB-M1 in which the chemical name is cited in the application

(47) The Dry or Powder Form UV Brightener can be added as a supplement to the Dry Mineral or Salt Attractant just prior to taking the attractant to the field or in the field. The Dry or Powder Form UV Brightener can also be added to the Dry Mineral or Salt Attractant in the manufacturing process by mixing thoroughly in a mixer or by hand. Mixture can also be thoroughly mixed by placing in a container and shaking or agitating. The container can be as simple as a bucket, bag, or other mixing container.

(48) Table 5A shows the mixture components of a gel form deer scent and liquid brightener.

(49) TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 5A Mixture Range Amounts Components or percentages Preferred Range Gel Form Deer Any wt Any wt Scent Liquid UV Approximately 1%- Approximately 20%- Brightener 30% mixture by 30% mixture by volume volume

(50) The Gel Form Deer Scent can include gels with deer urine, including but not limited to doe urine, buck urine, mixed urine, doe in heat urine, doe in estrus urine, rutting buck, and the like. All urine based scent used for attracting deer.

(51) Liquid UV Brightener can include UV tracer dyes or UV dyes. For our test subject we used UV tracer dyes from Risk Reactor but several other companies make tracer dyes and dyes also.

(52) We found that the Liquid UV Brightener should be added to the Gel from Deer scent during gel formation during the manufacturing process. Room temperature seems to work best. No consumer mixing is needed. The mixture should be stored in a dark tinted bottle to prevent breakdown of the UV enhancers.

(53) Table 5B shows the mixture components for Gel Deer Scent and Dry UV brightener.

(54) TABLE-US-00010 TABLE 5B Mixture Range Amounts Components or percentages Preferred Range Gel Form Deer any any Scent Powder form UV Approximately 1%- Approximately 20%- Brightener 30% mixture by 30% mixture by weight weight

(55) Gels can include but are not limited to Hydrogels, Organogels, Xerogels, and the like. Gel Form Deer Scent can include gels with deer urine, including but not limited to doe urine, buck urine, mixed urine, doe in heat urine, doe in estrus urine, rutting buck, and the like. All urine based scent used for attracting deer.

(56) Powder or dry form UV Brightener can include any number of powder or crystalline UV brightener or whitening agents. For our test subject we used a Fluorescent Whitening agent called Benetex OB-M1 in which the chemical name is cited in the application

(57) We found that the Powder or Dry Form UV Brightener should be added to the Gel from Deer scent during gel formation during the manufacturing process. Room temperature seems to work best. No consumer mixing is needed. The mixture should be stored in a dark tinted bottle to prevent breakdown of the UV enhancers.

(58) The invention can include different mixture compositions that combine animal attractants and a UV brightener together. The mixture compositions can be clear and colorless, and be packaged in small jars, and the like.

(59) The UV brightener used can be any color and must be scent free, since a scent or fragrance would change the affect of the attractant.

(60) The novel compositions can be stored in small glass bottles, such as dark tinted bottles, ranging size from small bottles of approximately ounce to approximately 4 ounces. Larger containers can be up to 1 to 5 gallons.

(61) Dry versions of the attractant be based on bags that are sized from approximately 5 to 50 pounds.

(62) Other types of delivery systems can also be used for the novel compositions, such as but not limited to foams, aerosolized applications, vaporized applications, misted applications, fumes, dusts, powders, and the like.

(63) While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.