I think scents are something that I have neglected over the years. Sometimes I carry a bottle of Tink's during the rut and have had good results but that's about it. I'm primarily interested in early season usage but all info is welcome. :campfire:
In my experience cover scents are a waste of money while doe in heat is a different story all together. Doe in heat is an attractant and not a cover scent at all however. Best save your money and play the wind game to your best advantage. Clean clothes and especially clean hair and hat.
I haven't messed with scents since the early 1980's. The company's sure must sell a lot of various scent and scent cover-up products. Every TV show host sprays everything down, even the stuff that still has price tags.
But hey, I've sure left a lot of big bucks in the woods every year. Maybe I should give the attractants another try -- but I doubt I will.
I use them but for different reasons than most guys do. I don't often use them as attractants but rather to stop deer where I want them for a close relaxed shot. I do this with a mock scrape. I've pretty much gotten to the point where I open up a mock scrape in front of all of my rut stands.
I used to use a product called "deer dirt" but it is no longer being made. Now I use the stuff by Code Blue. It's basically scented soil that is treated to stop it from freezing.
About Labor Day I'll open up a big mock scrape right where I want the deer to stop. I make it about 4 feet in diameter. Then apply the deer dirt. The deer will often start using the scrape immediately. Now I don't necessarily think the deer will come to it specifically, but during the rut when a deer is moving past my stand he will nearly always stop right at my scrape and put his nose in it offering an easy shot at a distracted deer. Does will stop as well. Also the scrape acts as a visual attractant so if a deer is moving by upwind and out of range they will often see the scrape and come over to investigate it. It may seem like a lot of extra work and hassle but this way if a deer is moving through quickly I don't have to grunt to stop him. It works well. I also routinely use mock scrapes for trail cameras. Especially the ones with a slower trigger speed.
I use scents in mock scrapes like Jon Simon stated. I use them mainly for trail camera pictures.
I like smokeys deer lures for trail cams
I like deer dander to spray on my boots when it gets closer to rut.
Early season i don't like any cover scents
deer danders good
But find a trail and put Vanilla where you want them to stop
I think vanilla is one of the best things you can use to stop deer in their tracks.
Just my opinion
I have had good success with vanilla also.....the best scent ever was " Rickards Indian Buck Lure".....cannot find it any more in my area though.....
T Lail you can order it directly from the website.
I have used a wide variety of stuff with an assortments of results. I have used buck and doe urine, sometimes separately, sometimes together. I have used food scents such as acorn, corn, grapes, persimmon. I have used cover scents such as fox urine, skunk smell, cedar, and scent eliminators. I have used attractants such as vanilla and anise. It seems that none is particularly magic or offensive, instead if it strikes the deer's fancy at that moment, he checks it out, otherwise he just keeps going.
Sam you mentioning fox urine reminded me of my first and last experience with it. I had a field edge stand and had to cross the field to get to it with the wind. I sprayed fox urine on my rubber boots and walked in on my bad shooting side. Younger deer came out and feed around my stand awhile until one older doe hit my trail. She turned inside out when that nose hit the ground. Who knows if it was the fox but it was enough for me stop using it.
Also just for information me and my fellow hunters have had success with:
http://www.scentsmoker.com/
for cover scent. Its a great read anyhow.
Paul
thanks Rob, I will surely order some..... :thumbsup:
I after 34 years of bow hunting and trying all sorts of scents, I really believe that you are best off just trying to smell like nothing and playing the wind. I buy Windicators instead of lures. Keeping clothes and body clean and scent free as possible is the best bet. Using a doe in heat lure in the rut to stop a buck makes sense as does a food scent to stop them. I don't think any scent will "draw them like a magnet" or whatever. If a deer doesn't want to go there anyway, they wont.
don't carry wolf scent
Don't spray the two part skunk scent ON YOU or on anything you intend to keep.
I have morphed to not wanting any sort of scent to give me away.
Chuckc
I don't like using deer scents in early season. I just started using Deer Dander 2 weeks ago with great results when harvesting a mature doe. But come the third week of October, James Valley's Wall Hanger is a must for must for me. Always had great results with JVS!!
Nahhh.
Don't use scents either.
deer dander, I have had deer follow my trail