I' ve been hunting for 22+ years, but I' ve never really used scent attractants, scent inhibitors, lures, calls, or rattling.

I generally hunted out of the same deer stand for almost 20 years and the deer populations are so large that I' ve never failed to come home with at least 2 deer a year (usually 1 buck and 1 doe). I' ve never put much into hunting, I generally just suited up in hunting garb and headed to the deer stand. Never used any kind of scent blocker, except hanging near the wood stove before going out.

This year I' m hunting in a new location, in a different state and on a small plot of land. I' m new to the area, and because the land I own is only 12 acres, I don' t have the luxury of going to where the deer are so my tactics need to change to try and bring the deer in to me. I haven' t seen many signs of bucks as far as scrapes or rubs, but I' ve seen quite a few doe so I know there' s a buck or two out there somewhere.

I' m looking for your advice as far as trying to get the deer to come to me using scents and calls or rattling.

I purchased Tinks #69, and a deer call. I' m thinking of getting a rattling bag but not sure I need it. Also going to use scent blocker spray this year on my hunting clothes. I can' t really afford the carbon scent clothes this year.

I really just want to bring the deer in, it doesn' t have to be a buck (although that would be nice...), so my questions are this:

1. What kind of deer call should I make? and how many repetitions and how long do I make them? I' m thinking just doe bleats would work, but I' ve read that some people use a doe bleat followed by a buck grunt. I' m not exactly sure how to make a doe bleat using my deer call. I found an example on a website and it was one bleat that lasted just under a second. Just need to know exactly how to make one.

2. Do I need to use anything other than Tink' s 69?

3. Should I add rattling to the calls or should I not mix the two (rattling and calls)?

4. Should I try to make a mock scrape and scent it, even though I haven' t seen any signs of a buck? I' m thinking this might bring in a buck, but not sure how far the scent would travel, or if it might scare off the does.

I' m planning on getting back down in the woods and scout a bit more before muzzleloader season starts in 2 weeks. I' m hoping the bucks will be moving now with it closer to the rut and leave some evidence (rubs, scrapes).

Your advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks a ton,

Thunder