Being “Scent Free”
Most hunters already realize the value of minimizing human scent but there are some that
downplay the importance of a good scent control program. They say, “Just hunt the wind.”
The first problem with that is deer downwind of the stand are tipped off to the hunter’s
presence. Your odds would be much better if deer could come in from 360 degrees without
running into your scent. Next, the path taken to the tree stand will betray the hunter’s
presence to any deer that crosses it. So now the area downwind of the tree and the path
taken to the tree are contaminated with human scent. Worse yet, they will be that way long
after the hunter leaves. Deer wander around comfortably at night and many will come across
the hunter’s scent. Deer remember where they encountered danger and will be on high alert
when in that area and they may even avoid the area entirely for days. This is what hunter’s
refer to as a “burned out” stand. For most of us who hunt on public land or have access to
private property of limited size, we can’t afford to burn out spot after spot. Last, wind
changes direction. You can easily be downwind one minute and upwind the next. Deer
hunting is hard, don’t make it harder by underestimating your opponent.
Cover Scents
Some hunters frown on using scents. They make statements like, “The best scent is no
scent.” That’s a catchy little phrase but just because it rolls off the tongue easily doesn’t
mean it's true. No scent is the first step, but rather than stop there, it’s best to use a cover
scent to obscure what little human scent may remain. The idea being to fill their nose with
lots of non-threatening scent molecules so its more difficult for the deer to pick out the few
stray human scent molecules that may be present. I spray Fall Essence on my boots and lower
pant legs and raccoon urine on the tree that I’ve set up in. These are very natural scents in
the woods that I hunt in. Earth scent is another good cover scent and lots of guys use cedar
or pine. It makes no sense to think that cover scents are bad to use. A good scent control
program with the addition of a cover scent that is natural for your area, is better than a good
scent control program alone.
Scent and lure attractants
Some guys will use a cover scent but won’t use an attractant. The reasoning goes something
like this, deer have been there and done that, so now they don’t come into scent setups
anymore, they’re more likely to spook off. Well, even if a deer has had a bad experience, like
coming into a scent and finding a hunter instead of another deer, they still have to use their
nose; to find food…to find each other… to avoid danger. To think that deer, even mature
deer, won’t investigate an attractive odor is silly. It would be like saying that deer don't use
their eyes anymore. Yep, now that guys are using camouflage, deer don't trust their own eyes
anymore. They just walk around the woods with their eyes closed, running into stuff. I'm sure
you appreciate that deer still use their eyes, even if their eyes have been fooled before and
deer still use their sense of smell even if their nose has been fooled before. As long as deer
have noses, they can lured in with the right scent.
I've heard guys say, "You can't fool the nose of a mature buck." Nonsense. Trappers still
setup for and catch, fox and coyotes, right? Canines have an even better sense of smell than
deer, yet still thousands are lured in and trapped every year. That isn't to say it's easy. Most
beginning trappers aren't successful with fox right away. They have to learn to get the details
right. It's the same for deer hunters. We have to set our trap like a professional in order to
fool mature deer, but lots of hunters do it every year and so can you.
“There’s not enough deer in captivity to pee in all those bottles.” If I hear this one more time I’
ll probably start bleeding from the ears. The comment is usually aimed at doe in heat urine
but sometimes is just a general condemnation of all scents and lures. How someone can
think that the number of deer in captivity has anything to do with whether an acorn or apple
or musk scented lure works is beyond me. As far as deer urine goes, my first point is
irrefutable. I, and many, many hunters have had bucks come in on a wire to doe in heat urine,
sometimes with drool pouring out of their mouths. I realize you may not know me, but we can’t
all be lying about these experiences. Now I don’t mean to suggest that every bottle marked
fresh doe in heat urine actually is fresh doe in heat urine. Maybe there aren’t enough deer to
pee in all those bottles, I really don’t know. There are lots of deer farms though, more than I
ever had realized. I think the best way to feel comfortable about what your buying is to deal
with a small guy that puts his own name on the bottle. We buy urine products from Jackie’s,
Mastin’s, James Valley, and Blackie’s. I know these guys, I trust them, and I believe they are
selling an honest product. But if you’re still uncomfortable, we have a nice selection of
synthetic urine scents as well.
Most hunters already realize the value of minimizing human scent but there are some that
downplay the importance of a good scent control program. They say, “Just hunt the wind.”
The first problem with that is deer downwind of the stand are tipped off to the hunter’s
presence. Your odds would be much better if deer could come in from 360 degrees without
running into your scent. Next, the path taken to the tree stand will betray the hunter’s
presence to any deer that crosses it. So now the area downwind of the tree and the path
taken to the tree are contaminated with human scent. Worse yet, they will be that way long
after the hunter leaves. Deer wander around comfortably at night and many will come across
the hunter’s scent. Deer remember where they encountered danger and will be on high alert
when in that area and they may even avoid the area entirely for days. This is what hunter’s
refer to as a “burned out” stand. For most of us who hunt on public land or have access to
private property of limited size, we can’t afford to burn out spot after spot. Last, wind
changes direction. You can easily be downwind one minute and upwind the next. Deer
hunting is hard, don’t make it harder by underestimating your opponent.
Cover Scents
Some hunters frown on using scents. They make statements like, “The best scent is no
scent.” That’s a catchy little phrase but just because it rolls off the tongue easily doesn’t
mean it's true. No scent is the first step, but rather than stop there, it’s best to use a cover
scent to obscure what little human scent may remain. The idea being to fill their nose with
lots of non-threatening scent molecules so its more difficult for the deer to pick out the few
stray human scent molecules that may be present. I spray Fall Essence on my boots and lower
pant legs and raccoon urine on the tree that I’ve set up in. These are very natural scents in
the woods that I hunt in. Earth scent is another good cover scent and lots of guys use cedar
or pine. It makes no sense to think that cover scents are bad to use. A good scent control
program with the addition of a cover scent that is natural for your area, is better than a good
scent control program alone.
Scent and lure attractants
Some guys will use a cover scent but won’t use an attractant. The reasoning goes something
like this, deer have been there and done that, so now they don’t come into scent setups
anymore, they’re more likely to spook off. Well, even if a deer has had a bad experience, like
coming into a scent and finding a hunter instead of another deer, they still have to use their
nose; to find food…to find each other… to avoid danger. To think that deer, even mature
deer, won’t investigate an attractive odor is silly. It would be like saying that deer don't use
their eyes anymore. Yep, now that guys are using camouflage, deer don't trust their own eyes
anymore. They just walk around the woods with their eyes closed, running into stuff. I'm sure
you appreciate that deer still use their eyes, even if their eyes have been fooled before and
deer still use their sense of smell even if their nose has been fooled before. As long as deer
have noses, they can lured in with the right scent.
I've heard guys say, "You can't fool the nose of a mature buck." Nonsense. Trappers still
setup for and catch, fox and coyotes, right? Canines have an even better sense of smell than
deer, yet still thousands are lured in and trapped every year. That isn't to say it's easy. Most
beginning trappers aren't successful with fox right away. They have to learn to get the details
right. It's the same for deer hunters. We have to set our trap like a professional in order to
fool mature deer, but lots of hunters do it every year and so can you.
“There’s not enough deer in captivity to pee in all those bottles.” If I hear this one more time I’
ll probably start bleeding from the ears. The comment is usually aimed at doe in heat urine
but sometimes is just a general condemnation of all scents and lures. How someone can
think that the number of deer in captivity has anything to do with whether an acorn or apple
or musk scented lure works is beyond me. As far as deer urine goes, my first point is
irrefutable. I, and many, many hunters have had bucks come in on a wire to doe in heat urine,
sometimes with drool pouring out of their mouths. I realize you may not know me, but we can’t
all be lying about these experiences. Now I don’t mean to suggest that every bottle marked
fresh doe in heat urine actually is fresh doe in heat urine. Maybe there aren’t enough deer to
pee in all those bottles, I really don’t know. There are lots of deer farms though, more than I
ever had realized. I think the best way to feel comfortable about what your buying is to deal
with a small guy that puts his own name on the bottle. We buy urine products from Jackie’s,
Mastin’s, James Valley, and Blackie’s. I know these guys, I trust them, and I believe they are
selling an honest product. But if you’re still uncomfortable, we have a nice selection of
synthetic urine scents as well.
Scents or no sense?
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