RE: How important is scent?
I assume you mean attractants? I think the most important thing to get more deer is the spot and scouting. I know you can't just put a scent out such as Doe in estrus and expect them to come running, you need the ground work. To be totally honest scents haven't meant a hill of beans to me in the past, sorry but the truth. But in all fairness I never really stuck with them either. This year I have a free sample of James Valley "Learthal Weapon" it smells nasty but in a good way, I will be trying it. I have a buddy who has some Wildlife research Excite, it to smells nasty. I have read here, people who like tinks 69....never worked for me but they say it is the stuff, others say code blue or buck stop. It really seems personal, like a gun. the only thing I know for sure with scents is the real thing, but that don't answer your questions and I haven't learned how to train a hot doe to come yet.....but am working on it<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle>! The one thing I don't like about scents is the directions to have scent cannister set up downwind from you...not how I hunt nor want to hunt. Now I think I might know why, that is tree stand hunting...so many now a days hunt in trees, towers, stilt blinds. However I am old school in the rut and eye level..so I prefer to not give my wind to any animal. What I will be doing with scent this year is circling upwind of my location and setting the scents up in shooting lanes as far as the bush will allow from my location100-200 yards. I plan on drag raggin well past these locations and work back to the scent location in the hope a buck will pick up and follow. My drag rag will start on heavily used trail about 200 yards from my location and I will pick up a side trail that snakes me back to the blind...then as I mentioned I will set up 2 cannisters on a v from my ground location and hope it works. Since I plan on rattling I will probably establish a mock scrape at one or maybe even both...for s&g's. I plan on putting one cannister about 18" off the ground while the second about 3 feet. My hopes are either a follower or the thicket that is between my blind and the scent will bring a buck out to smell the roses. Again I am not sure this is even close, but to me it is the only option....I refuse to have my wind blowing to the scent and ultimately the deer.
PS do not out any on yourself, I have read instructions that say you can place on the bottom of boots for a drag line...not a good idea.