Do you use them? If so, what do you use and when?

I used to drag a old piece of t shirt with estrous scent, off to the side of me while walking in, then tie it to something off the ground, some 20 yards or so down wind before I get to my stand or blind. I want to draw them near, but not draw attention directly to me. I haven't done that in some time though. I may do that next time out, now that the rut is about on. I just so happen to have a bunch of 6 ft bamboo stakes to help with that!
I know guys who put scent all over their boots or strap a scent pad on. I feel that leads their nose directly to your stand. If there is mud anywhere nearby when I am on my way in, I make sure I get some of that on my boots. I'd rather smell local.

I've done it for years but pay attention because I've been busted so many times by not paying attention to the trail I laid down.  This is the time of year to do it.

Smokey's deer lure. They have estrous, pre-orbital, buck etc. The doe-in-heat may work best for drags. Mike

So how do you lay the track into your stand? Circle down wind, walk passed your stand then back?? What would cause them to bust you?

I would like to know what other guys do to. Do you ever run a drag even though it's raining?

I have had success with drag-rags ,I try to keep the trail short or freshin rag with more doe/estres about every 50 yd in timber about 25 in tall grass... come to your stand at an angle from downwind cutting across within bow range to give u shot opertunity ..hang rag from limb still in bow range ,usually 3 to 6 ft off ground..rubber boots and gloves seem to help..  

Hike for miles with the drag rag attract every deer in the territory.     :cool:  

I have had luck with drag rags.  One time had a deer looking at me within 10 yards before my bow was even up in my stand.  

I slowly raised the bow up(short stand) and proceeded to mess up the shot twice.  Long but funny story.  Then it ran past my buddy who hadn't even figured out where to sit yet.

Scent in the rain? Is it worth spending the scent? If it's OK to piggy back on someones question.

You really don't need much.  The goal for me isn't to get every buck within a mile, it's to get the ones that walk within 100 yards or so come to me.  I start at about 100 yards out, pour some on the drag and walk to my set.  Then I hang the drag within bow range.  Clean rubber boots and as little human scent as possible are required.  It doesn't work every time but it works enough that it's worth it especially right now.  I have had does spook from it though.  I generally use HS Scents doe estrous.  It's relatively cheap and seems to work as well as anything.

I'm hunting Friday night.  Here's my set:

 

The green lines are where I'll drag.  I'll soak the drag 100 yards from my stand on the trail from the west as I come in from my truck and then pick up the drag at my stand, go to the north east 100 yards or so, refresh the drag and then walk to my set.  Then I'll hang the drag in a tree.

I will also call and rattle fairly aggressively.

Cool, thanks John, that clears it up for me.

keep in mind to freshen it up often, or start at your stand and walk away with the drag. so the scent gets stronger towards your set up .. to kinda let the buck know which way to follow it....

I kinda think the opposite although I doubt it matters.  I imagine a doe taking a leak and as she walks, the scent gets less concentrated.

I use hock pads that I cut from the deer I harvest it works great and when I get to the stand I hang on branch.

When I do a drag I like to use a tampon plane unscented. Say what you want they work good. I wear pads on my boots with regular doe pee then drag the doe in heat off to one side. I circle the stand close then hang it up wind in a shooting lane. If a buck comes in and is skitish he still may give you a shot.

How does this look for strategy? I hope bucks will skirt close to the down wind side of the fence/bedding area and that the scent trail will catch them before getting behind me. Man this pic sucks...red dot is a scrape and light purple square is my tree.

 

I have had good luck with the old scent free t-shirt with doe in estrus on it.  I get at the spot I want to shoot the deer, take the drag out tie it to my let and walk away in the direction they should pick it up.  then I get back and take it off and put it back in bag at the original spot and get in tree.  I feel this leaves the most scent where I want the deer and as go away gets fainter.  that way as the deer is scent tracking gets stronger to the point I want to shoot him.

Save yourself some mini pump spray bottles. As you get closer to your stand mist the ground more and more as you close in. Scents are a tough call. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Always have a secondary stand close by to fall back on to. Sometimes scents can blow a stand out and the deer shift by forty or fifty yards. I tend to use them on tight crossings or travel corridors only. Mostly to slow the deer down for a shot.

I'm with you WapitiMike, Ain't nothing wrong with using a plug for a scent drag.

Several years ago I was about to leave for a hunt in the Texas hill country and saw some deer attractant on sale called "deer formula".I had never used anything like it but for two dollars I didn't have much to loose. I watched a spike buck walk a fence line about 80 yds out for 3 days ande wouldn't come by my stand so I thought,Hey I just might try the magic juice! Went to the fence and put it on my boot soles and walked back to the ground blind.I had put some also on some low hanging limbs over his trail too. I swear!!! that spike came down the fence line,caught a sniff of the stuff and then followed my tracks to my blind! I think he would have came in with me if I hadn't shot him!The funny thing is I bought two more bottles and haven't used it since LOL! but it was sure neat to see a deer do that.