Scent Question

[nofishfisherman]

This will be my first year deer hunting. I figure getting in the game a little late is better than never playing.

I have a question about all the different scents out on the market. Not sure what to use and when to use it.

Here's a little background on the scenario we'll be hunting in. Any suggestions or knowledge on what types of scents to use would be great.

I'll be hunting outside of Duluth opening weekend Sat-Mon. We'll be hunting 2 different areas, 1 area is public land that gets a little pressure opening weekend but not much compared to other areas and we'll also be hunting some private land that hasn't been hunted in the last 20 years.

I know the private land is used by the deer to bed down in, its a mix of trees and tall grass, it used to be pasture and farm field year and years ago so its not the same type of undergrowth as you'd see in the other parts of the forest in the area.

The public land spot we have picked out is a ridge line along a river. We'll be setting up stands on top of the ridge over looking some trails and a grove of aspen.

Talking to the neighbor he's seen several very nice bucks on camera and in person and tons of does. I plan to hunt for a nice buck the first day or two and then I'll likely take a doe by the end of the weekend if I don't see my buck.

What type of scents would you recommend for this type of situation? What is the best way to apply them and hunt then strategically?

Any basic scent knowledge you can pass along is appreciated.

[jacobj12k]

Scent Block.

[nofishfisherman]

I should clarify. I've got the scent control/elimination part down. What I am wondering about is all the products like doe urine, doe in heat urine, buck scents, etc...

[gardn184]

In my experience the scents can work sometimes and not work at all at other times. As far as scent products go I'd use the doe in estrous during rifle season. The scent I've had the best luck with is Whitetail Country scents. It's a local company out of East Bethel, Mn. He bottles the stuff from the deer on his deer farm and then drives it to his local dealers, GM in Duluth has it now and I'm pretty sure Fisherman's Corner is now carrying it. It's easily the freshest stuff I've ever used and Chuck (the owner) is an all around nice guy. I like the whitetail country because you get 4 ounces of it as well, whereas the other companies you only get 1 ounce bottles.

[Archerysniper]

In my experience the scents can work sometimes and not work at all at other times. As far as scent products go I'd use the doe in estrous during rifle season. The scent I've had the best luck with is Whitetail Country scents. It's a local company out of East Bethel, Mn. He bottles the stuff from the deer on his deer farm and then drives it to his local dealers, GM in Duluth has it now and I'm pretty sure Fisherman's Corner is now carrying it. It's easily the freshest stuff I've ever used and Chuck (the owner) is an all around nice guy. I like the whitetail country because you get 4 ounces of it as well, whereas the other companies you only get 1 ounce bottles.

+1 for chuck really fresh stuff plus 4oz for $12 if you go to his house.

[bogwalker]

Save your money. Stay as scent free as you can.

[BobT]

I'm side more with bogwalker here. My brother and I have been hunting together for the past 20 years and my brother uses attractive scents while I use nothing. In fact, I actually enjoy a cigar on stand from time to time so I'm adding even more strange scents.

All else being equal, over the years our success has not been measureably different. Admittedly he has taken more deer than I have but I think it has more to do with time afield than the scent products he uses. Because I live 200 miles away and due to time limitations, I only hunt with him for three days every year. We hunt about 5 miles from his home so he's able to spend many more hours in the field than I do. He plans a week vacation for the first week of the season and he literally spends every daylight hour sitting in his stand. In fact, he's the only guy I know that can sit in one stand from daylight till dark every day. I can't do that! I'd go crazy.

On the flip side, he ties a scent rag on his ankle so it drags as he walks and he has had bucks follow that scent trail right to his deer stand so he will vouch for the scents but overall success, I haven't seen much difference.

[jay83196]

Whatever you use try to get fresh scent, I had good luck with scrape scents but that takes some preparation you want to either make a mock scrape or find one and put the scent around it, idea is to get a dominant buck thinking he has some competition. I'm the area and get him out more to check it out. One year I had 4 med to large bucks on camera sniffing my scrape within a day or so. IT does work, or use the drag system with fresh doe in estrus.

[Fever]

Personally I use Tinks 69 doe in estrus and put it on some scent wicks about 20-30 yards down wind of my stand in a semi circle about 4-5 feet off ground. I use a scent drag that I spray Deer dander on and drag that to my stand and then in a large circle about 40yds diameter around my stand. I also scout for scrapes and when I find a line (usually on narrow logging road about 100yds or so from my general area) I'll jazz em up with some tinks Hot scrape, I'll then hang a drip bag over one that is in my line of fire and scrape it up / freshin it with a stick. I also wash all clothes from socks to coveralls in scent killer detergent, hang outside to dry, spray with scent killer spray and when dry I fold and put into totes. I get dressed in hunting clothes when I get to my spot (not before). I've found that doing these types of measures only adds to your probability of seeing more deer. Using scents is just another trick to have up your sleeve. (kinda like grunt calls, the can, rattling antlers) Hunting with scents is not a garantee... you still have to get to your stand undetected, be knowledgable about the terrain (bedding areas, food sources, geographic barriers, you also have to stay awake, make the shot etc.