The base of the tree is just how it worked but wen properly put on a drag or on ur boots and u walk past ur stand ull get the deer to walk past as well its how u use it..ya u cn kill deer without this but if it works why not try it..why not see more deer? Its not a scam if it works..its proven this to me more than once..nd to the guy on how long it last..my bottle was on its second year last year nd it still brought deer down the trail i put a drag on