With the first day of the season in site, a review of the basics on scents &
lures seems appropriate for this months pro tip article. Throughout the
numerous shows and seminars I attend, I see a real hunger among
sportsmen for shedding light on this subject. Most hunters are often confused
by the vast array and wild promises that hunting products of this type seem
to offer. Mass marketing and fancy advertising has done little in way of
educating the hunters on their use. Could it be that these same companies
don't understand the basics themselves?
One of the keys to your success in using these products is to understand
the basics, so that you can make a sensible choice. The first key to painting
the picture is understanding the difference between a scent and a lure. What
are they? How do they work? How do you use them? Etc…You see, scents
and lures are nothing more than odors that you use to convey a message
with.
Anything that will attract the attention of an animal, and then draw it to the
source of the attraction can be classified as a lure. A sound of a dying rabbit
will lure coyote, fox, and bobcat to the source of the sound. A small round
hole in the bank near waters edge would attract mink. A bundle of fur moving
in the breeze would provide attraction to bobcat. Or last but not least, a grunt
from your grunt call may be all that it takes to attract that buck within range.
All these lures, per say, appeal to the animal's senses. The above examples
appealed to the animal's senses of sight and hearing. Webster's dictionary
describes a lure as; to entice, tempt with the promise of pleasure or gain.
Webster describes a scent as the smell remaining after an animal has
passed (urine). It's my opinion that a lure, which appeals to an animal's
sense of smell, is the most valuable. No matter what animal, they all use
their nose to receive airborne messages. So it is safe to say that any odor or
combination of odors convey a clear and usually reliable message to the
animal. Odors emitted from any substance are made up of small minute
gaseous particles, which are lighter than air. These particles have a tendency
to rise in the air and carried off by air currents. As odor leaves it source it
slowly becomes more diluted with the air itself. The greater the amount of
odor released from the source, the greater concentration of odor will be at a
prescribed distance. When odor is picked up by an animal it must pass
through the animals nose and flow over the nerves inside. Depending on how
good your lure or scent is, often determines whether or not that animal will
follow its odor. The closer the animal gets to the odor source, the more
stimulation he receives due to the increase concentration of odorous
particles. Wow!
lures seems appropriate for this months pro tip article. Throughout the
numerous shows and seminars I attend, I see a real hunger among
sportsmen for shedding light on this subject. Most hunters are often confused
by the vast array and wild promises that hunting products of this type seem
to offer. Mass marketing and fancy advertising has done little in way of
educating the hunters on their use. Could it be that these same companies
don't understand the basics themselves?
One of the keys to your success in using these products is to understand
the basics, so that you can make a sensible choice. The first key to painting
the picture is understanding the difference between a scent and a lure. What
are they? How do they work? How do you use them? Etc…You see, scents
and lures are nothing more than odors that you use to convey a message
with.
Anything that will attract the attention of an animal, and then draw it to the
source of the attraction can be classified as a lure. A sound of a dying rabbit
will lure coyote, fox, and bobcat to the source of the sound. A small round
hole in the bank near waters edge would attract mink. A bundle of fur moving
in the breeze would provide attraction to bobcat. Or last but not least, a grunt
from your grunt call may be all that it takes to attract that buck within range.
All these lures, per say, appeal to the animal's senses. The above examples
appealed to the animal's senses of sight and hearing. Webster's dictionary
describes a lure as; to entice, tempt with the promise of pleasure or gain.
Webster describes a scent as the smell remaining after an animal has
passed (urine). It's my opinion that a lure, which appeals to an animal's
sense of smell, is the most valuable. No matter what animal, they all use
their nose to receive airborne messages. So it is safe to say that any odor or
combination of odors convey a clear and usually reliable message to the
animal. Odors emitted from any substance are made up of small minute
gaseous particles, which are lighter than air. These particles have a tendency
to rise in the air and carried off by air currents. As odor leaves it source it
slowly becomes more diluted with the air itself. The greater the amount of
odor released from the source, the greater concentration of odor will be at a
prescribed distance. When odor is picked up by an animal it must pass
through the animals nose and flow over the nerves inside. Depending on how
good your lure or scent is, often determines whether or not that animal will
follow its odor. The closer the animal gets to the odor source, the more
stimulation he receives due to the increase concentration of odorous
particles. Wow!
Now that you understand that you need
to know that lures can be categorized
into three groups;
the use of glandular secretions. This
type of lure is usually a blend of those
substances. It's made to appeal to the
competitive, sexual and territorial
instincts that most animals have. Most
high quality gland lures, no matter what
the animal, take exceptional skill,
knowledge, and much experience to
formulate.
food. Most food lures contain various
plants, musk's, and extracts, etc.
animals might find attractive. Without a
doubt this type of lure plays more of a
role of importance among trappers than
that of hunters- particularly deer
hunters. Don't confuse this with bait
and check your state game laws before
hunting with such an attractant. Some
of the most common food odors among
deer hunters are; apple, cherry, pear,
sweet corn, etc.
animals are curious by nature,
especially the Whitetail deer. It's why
this lure maker puts great emphasis on
the use of this type of lure. Most often
this type of lure contains smells foreign
to the animal's habitat. An example of
one such odor might be vanilla. Many
animals like its sweet odor yet seldom
does an animal come on contact with it
along their daily travels. You must
remember that a curiosity attraction is
a relatively “short lived” attraction.
Once he has satisfied his curiosity –
he loses almost total interest. If you're
a deer hunter, you had best be in
position when 'Mister Hat Rack'
decides to respond!
to know that lures can be categorized
into three groups;
- GLAND LURES
the use of glandular secretions. This
type of lure is usually a blend of those
substances. It's made to appeal to the
competitive, sexual and territorial
instincts that most animals have. Most
high quality gland lures, no matter what
the animal, take exceptional skill,
knowledge, and much experience to
formulate.
- FOOD LURES
food. Most food lures contain various
plants, musk's, and extracts, etc.
animals might find attractive. Without a
doubt this type of lure plays more of a
role of importance among trappers than
that of hunters- particularly deer
hunters. Don't confuse this with bait
and check your state game laws before
hunting with such an attractant. Some
of the most common food odors among
deer hunters are; apple, cherry, pear,
sweet corn, etc.
- CURIOSITY
animals are curious by nature,
especially the Whitetail deer. It's why
this lure maker puts great emphasis on
the use of this type of lure. Most often
this type of lure contains smells foreign
to the animal's habitat. An example of
one such odor might be vanilla. Many
animals like its sweet odor yet seldom
does an animal come on contact with it
along their daily travels. You must
remember that a curiosity attraction is
a relatively “short lived” attraction.
Once he has satisfied his curiosity –
he loses almost total interest. If you're
a deer hunter, you had best be in
position when 'Mister Hat Rack'
decides to respond!
The bait odor, however, will hold the attention of the
coyote until caught. When deer hunting, I often
strategically place out a "in heat gland lure" around
my tree stand. Once in the stand I will periodically mist
my Buck in Rut Urine into the air. This combination
more often than not has proven itself deadly. The best
time to use this combination is during the rut and near
existing dominant scrapes. What message “story” do
you think your sending the buck that made those
existing scrapes? Get the picture!
coyote until caught. When deer hunting, I often
strategically place out a "in heat gland lure" around
my tree stand. Once in the stand I will periodically mist
my Buck in Rut Urine into the air. This combination
more often than not has proven itself deadly. The best
time to use this combination is during the rut and near
existing dominant scrapes. What message “story” do
you think your sending the buck that made those
existing scrapes? Get the picture!
A scent consists of nothing more or less than a single
odor. Any product, such as feces or urine constitutes
itself as a scent. Think of this; if you and a friend sat
down to have a steak dinner, the first steak was thrown
into a pan and cooked till done. The second steak was
thrown raw into a pan with garlic, butter, onions,
mushrooms, salt and pepper, etc. and cooked till done.
Which is more appealing? The Scent of the first steak
or the Lure of the second? I have to tell you that in
my research, food lures where the least consistent in
attracting deer. The best results they showed where
during the pre rut at midmorning or early evening periods.
When choosing a scent or lure, remember that you are
telling a story. The more convincing you are of that story
often will result in “luring in” that animal. For instance….
When trapping coyotes I might put in a set consisting of
nothing more than a chunk of bait in a hole with a liberal
dose of coyote urine. The urine acts as a suspicion
remover and that another coyote has moved into the
area and buried some food.
odor. Any product, such as feces or urine constitutes
itself as a scent. Think of this; if you and a friend sat
down to have a steak dinner, the first steak was thrown
into a pan and cooked till done. The second steak was
thrown raw into a pan with garlic, butter, onions,
mushrooms, salt and pepper, etc. and cooked till done.
Which is more appealing? The Scent of the first steak
or the Lure of the second? I have to tell you that in
my research, food lures where the least consistent in
attracting deer. The best results they showed where
during the pre rut at midmorning or early evening periods.
When choosing a scent or lure, remember that you are
telling a story. The more convincing you are of that story
often will result in “luring in” that animal. For instance….
When trapping coyotes I might put in a set consisting of
nothing more than a chunk of bait in a hole with a liberal
dose of coyote urine. The urine acts as a suspicion
remover and that another coyote has moved into the
area and buried some food.
| Scents & Lure 101 |
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