Hi all I am back from our deer camp and before I went i had posted a number of things on this upcoming trip I thought I would share in 1 big post.

Scents, I had posted for info on scents, as I had obtained some free of charge. This would be the first time in 6 years I tried the use of any scents for deer. We suspected full rut, it turned out to be the coggle phase when we arrived. yes bucks were with does but that weren't running all over picking up scraps. So I am sure this may have impacted the success to a degree. Here it goes:
#1) James Valley "Leathal Weapon" produced one small buck who was curious and yet a nice 4x4 in the 130 range to bolt at it smell. (The later I could have shot but decided to pass) The first buck licked and curled his lips, he circled around the area for about 10 min. and then went on his way. the second I saw coming cross wind he made it to directly downwind of the scent and bolted, he never caught my scent yet, so I am not sure why he bolted but did stop and sniff then turned and ran. (used when rattling or sitting on scrape/rublines) (Smelled like cow p to me)
#2) Wildlife Research (I never used this but buddies did) Doe in Estrus "Excite". Seen a few average sized bucks, once they reached the scent area they would hang for a minute then take off, but they would all easily have been taken. (used on scrape/rubline)(Smelled like pee with a hint of licorce)
#3) Scent Shields "Still Steamin" I used this scent a lot while rattling and we took 3 bucks with it (smelled lik pure p and gross). Now I will say this scent was used near the end of the week and when the deer seemed to be really on the move. Rattled in 12 bucks, I placed this scent in a semicirlce out to 150 yards around our location. (We had a lot of weather and wind swirl so I used it a s a basic cover more than a attractant). I used unscented tampons and would drop a small amount directly in between the 3 tampon locations. This stuff you could really smell when the wind switched, the others barely. In all cases the bucks came in, some sneaky others raming and loud. They would stop and curl up the lips, if it was between a rattling sequence and seemed as though they just happened by the smell of a hot doe. The 3 deer we took I provided the rattling and set up 2 of the guys in front of my location on the hope they would come in through the ridge and thicket. Well to say it worked like a T would be an understatement. All 3 bucks came in blazing looking for love and fight, hair on end, grunting all the way.

I can not say the 3rd was the best b/c it seemed the deer were in the mood more than when I used the "lethal Weapon" but I would recommend the "Still Steamin" as it smelled strong and seem to get the bucks goats. BTW the does would run high tailing from all the scents used. Anybody ever notice this before?

Now to the hunt and an update on my post "What do you do when?"

First of some of you may recall the above post and the situation I was in of taking the newbie (or him wanting me to take him for the week). It seemed as though we had an understanding and things would be fine. Well as usual expect the unexpected, the first morning I set him up on a doe travel route from the food source and arranged to pick him up around noon. It was damn cold and he decided to venture a bit on his own. Oh you all know what happened next, yep lost. thank god for the nice fresh snow, I was able to pick up his boot tracks and find him lost and diortientated, he had walked in circles for a good 2 hours. (with no sun and poor compass training he was lost) That day was write off, we sent up the next morning in another travel route, this time he stayed put and missed what sounds to be a nice buck. That evening I sat with him on a good food source where he filed his doe tag with a nice h/l shot. Next morning wind was poor again for my secret spot so I ******ed him, this time he remebered his radio(duh!!!!). Once again cold morning and he got a little lost, helped him to the trail and decided I would rattle for him in a spot I knew. we setup using the above scent technique as the wind was switching for north to west and back constantly. On the third ratlling sequence I heard a grunt, I began grunting and out popped a nice 3x4 buck of which he promptly placed a bullet through his lung and was tagged out. All in all worked out ok, I did mention that next year he must have a GPS and know how to use it if he plans on coming.

To the rest of the Hunt, my other buddy tagged out on a doe and had not seen a shooter buck yet, due to still no wind for my spot I decided to take him to a spot where I saw and passed a nice 4x4 135 class buck. I set up with the same scent situation as mentioned earlier, this time I sat down and rattled after letting it settle for 40 minutes. I just put down the rattlers on my 2nd sequence when I heard a deer approaching to my left. I motioned to my pal and 10 minutes later out popped the 4x4 I was hoping to see. He was all worked up and steaming as he crested a small popular ridge. My pal put one in his neck, but the deer just stood their almost uneffected by the shot. He then turned to leave when I grunted 2 times and offered a perfect broadside shot for my pal.....100 yards later we tagged his first good buck that would end up scoring 140 5/8 gross. Friday morning came with a warming trend and finally the perfect honey hole wind for me. I set out to watch a rubline for the first part of daylight, then move to a funnel area adjacent to where the bruiser liked to bed and hang for the late morning. I passed 3 bucks, one of which was a nice young 5x5. 9 o clock with a perfect wind I moved to setup for a little rattling. I again thought what the heck lets try this scent thing, once I setup and let everything quiet down for a good 45 minutes I began with my first and only rattling session as it would turn out. I just stopped raking the tree and grunting when I spotted the same 5x5 I passed early lurking and sneaking to the east. I let him just walk on by without a peep, when he turned and stomped. Figured the gig was up, I turned and saw a solid 4x4 standing directly from where the 5x5 had come, just glad to have seen my spot was still as good as I remember I watched as they approached each other for what appeared to be a battle..but the 5x5 bolted. As the 4x4 went up and sniffed the tampon to my east, I watched as he curled his lip and pawed the ground, then started to get all ansy...when I hurt grunt, grunt, grunt form directly south of my location. I turned my head and could here a deer rambling through the thicket in front of me, stopping only to trash some poor little trees. I began grunting like I was tending to a hot doe and then he let out a very loud and distinctive challenge...so I mimiced him. Then he crested the ridge at 85 yards, I could see was 5 on the right side with beam past the nose and very dark tines. I let him work down the ridge to the spotted popular area that I was set up in he turned and racked the tree. I noticed he had a crab claw growing from his left side at the base of the skull and appeared his beam was simiular to the right being past his nose. Being I am a sucker for the junk, I decided if he gave me the shot I would take it. As he tried to circle my location he caught wiff of the far west tampon soaked in "Still Steamin" and immediately curled up and started walking directly for it. I knew the range to be 125 yards with my range finder, so hoping their he would give me the shot I wanted. He stopped and pawed, I grunt 3 short grunts and he angled away. With that I had the right rib, I settled the cross hairs on his chest and with on shot from my 7 Rem Mag my season came to an end. He never even took a step, as I took out both lungs, the top of the heart and his left shoulder. He ended being a 5 x 7, the right side was a perfect 5 and the left was abnormal in shape and point at 7. the deer dressed out at well over 300 lbs and we est. his live weight to be over 350...a hawg. He isn't the one I had hoped for, but by far a downer...like I said i am a sucker for junk, mass and them dark horns (which he had all of) I never really scored him yet, but figure he'll net out in the mid 150's...not a mounter but still a nice deer with a heck of story. I just love being able to say I rattled and called that one in to 125 Yards.

I would say the scents helped in masking our presence, but the spots were prime and without those I doubt we would have faired as well. If I had to suggest one scent it is the "Still Steamin". BTW I did the pinwheel but with the wind blowing to me not the deer.


All in all we got 4 bucks and 3 does on the trip. The biggest deer seen was an easy B&C 6x6 but of course it was in the headlights of the truck. Finally tally on bucks in 5 days of hunting seen was 38 and 53 does or fawns. Included 6 moose and 5 elk. Lots of laughs and some great table fair to enjoy until next year.

Good luck to all you who still have a tag.....I am really jealous. This is the first year in 5 I have been tagged out with still 3 weeks to go...........BOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!




Edited by - skeeter 7MM on 11/18/2002 14:39:01