ORIGINAL: ericstacy
For many years now we have been putting sillouette hunters in our ladder and tripod stands even sporting an orange cap. Does to things.
1. Deer get used to it and begin to loose fear of it being there alowing you to slip in its place and see less spooky deer. We have actually placed a small rag with human sweat on it so they can also get used to a little human scent.
2. Other hunters that shouldn't be in the area wander up and see it and immediately retreat back into the woods thinking they might get seen. Keeps trespassers down and hunters out of your honey hole.
Every little bit helps.
Just a little DeerDope on the subject.
Yes to those that have never thought of using something similar or have never heard of anyone doing this it sounds like a gimmick...but it truely is Not a Gimmick!
Similar to Eric's process above I've been hanging long sleeve t-shirts, blaze orange vests and hats, for years especially on standsites where other people have permission to hunt the property. Though I dont hang any with human scent on them my attempt is simply to get whatever deer see the stand to get used to the shape in it.
I've been in another location not too far away from the treestand because the wind was not good to be in it...I've watched people walk towards the treestand, see the simulated hunter in it, and give it a wide berth and walk around it at a distance. One person actually waved at the stand and must have thought the hunter was rude not to return the gesture...LOL
Practically speaking it has more than likely saved a few treestands from getting stolen when I was not around. Most people are less likely to "Scope" a person they perceive is in a treestand from a distance IMHO.
Most will not walk right up to one out of common courtesy(hopefully).