What really works??
 

Hello All,
Nice to read the stories & see the pics of all you succesful bow hunters so far this year! I've been out 4 times & have only seen does & 1 small buck. Anyhow heres the one thing I've never felt confident about when it comes to hunting white tails....especially with a bow.

What works & what doesnt? For years I end up throwing a way 2 1/2 empty bottles of tinks, HS scents, or whatever is the rave that year. I use them on a drag & on scent wicks in which I hang around my stand. So far....cant say I've seen any results.

This also leads into the 2nd part of my question...calls? I've used various grunt tubes & bleat calls for years at various times, intervals, tones, etc. & have absolutley nothing good to say about them. For the heck of it...Im gonna but a rattlin bag this year so I can say I've tried that too!

My main concern is attractants/lures. Give me your honest opinon on what works for you & more importantly how you use it. I greatly appreciate all your responses.

Henny

RE: What really works??
 

I prefer to hunt residential neighborhoods where a lot of deer hold up. I'm always looking while driving down the road and making mental notes about where I want to hunt. At social events, I always bring up deer population problems or work it into conversations if they live where I want to hunt.

RE: What really works??
 

Uhhhhhhh...ok.....not sure how that ties in??????

RE: What really works??
 

h/h i never really had any luck with scents, i usally set up tinks bombs around my stand , about 25 yards out ,but my hunting partner setup one tinks bomb out and had a spike run right to it,about a hour later,sometime the stuff works sometimes it dosnt. calls same thing i have the can call some people had good luck with it ,i havnt

RE: What really works??
 

Here you go, the secert!!! But don't tell anyone. OK? I have taken 36 bucks with this method. deer don't come in a bottle. you can't buy a magic deer lure. it comes down to stand placement not what is in your scent bomb.That said don't hunt heavy used trails. Those are doe/young buck trails. The only scent I use any more is vinilla extract mixed with water in a spray bottle. (use as cover scent and lure) 13 P&Y bucks can't be wrong. Hunt close to bedding areas if not in the middle of them. Forget food plots, field edges and such unless you see big bucks in themduring daylight hours. (Most big bucks are nocternal this is why you hunt bedding areas) Most guys sit on a food source and see a lot of does and spikes because the wiser older bucks get out of there and back to cover before day light. Ya sure some guys get a dandy once in a while but not the rule. If you hunt a rub line near bedding area 's You'll get a nice buck. Try the vinilla. Pee and that stuff is crap. To many gadgets and gimmics in hunting today. "If you use buck seamen you'll shoot the buck of a life time crap". There is a sucker born every minuite its kind of like activated carbon suits Junk it takes 700 deg.f to reactivate the carbon and most suits are saturated before you get them home from the store. Wool naturally doesn't hold scent. there you go the real truth about hunting the majestic whitetail

RE: What really works??
 

"Stinky free" and being downwind will work, but you already know that. None of the stuff in a bottle is worth a crap, or should I say Pee. In those few instances where someone thinks the stinky stuff did the trick for them, they probably would have shot the deer without it. For everyone that gets curious, I'd say another gets spooked by the stuff. It' s billion dollar con industry.

RE: What really works??
 

Dave & Rich,
I really like your take on the subject! You guys are on the side of the fence that I've been leaning towards for years! Anyhow tell me more...& why the vanilla extract & water...how much are you diluting it?

Also havent tried the scent bombs...are they generally the same thing as the s$%T in the bottles? Love the responses!

Henny

RE: What really works??
 

As far as calls. Yes they work in the rut. there not magic deer magnets but they work. In elk hunting they are a must.

RE: What really works??
 

I can't speak for all the gadgets, but i can speak for these Tinks #1 and #69 work great for me. I don't use it to attract deer, more to cover up my scent. That and Carbon Clean in a spray bottle. It works good . At least I think these all work good. i could just be a deer killing Ninja and not even know it. But hey I am sticking with what I know.

Oh and it helps if you are in a decent spot.... I am between a rub and a food scource. So that may be why Ihave had good fortune.

RE: What really works??
 

Deer like the sweet smell of vinilla, as far as the mixture it doesn't matter at all. not to mention bears, love it also . Its kinda like anis oil on salmon lures they just like the smell and it draws them in. Try it !!

RE: What really works??
 

if the criteria is; that the deer actually come up and physically touch or smell the scent or container. then I have never seen any of it work. don't really mess with it anymore..

RE: What really works??
 

Fool-proof secrets to seeing deer on the stand.

1) Scout.
2) Scout.
3) Scout.
4) Pattern the deer you scouted.
5) Scout.
6) Scout.
7) Perfect your deer pattern.
8) Determine the right area to hang a stand.
9) Determine the right tree (wind directions, sun directions, cover, distance from the typical deer route).
10) Hang the stand.
11) Determine the right conditions to hunt the stand.
12) Get in the stand early, stay still and quiet, and leave late.

If that doesn't work, you need to go back to step 1. Scents, calls, decoys, bait, food plots, and other advanced tactics are like a little bit of frosting on the fantastic cake you made in steps 1-12. If you plan out the wind right, cover scents aren't terribly important (important, but not the secret), and if you put your stand in the right spot, you shouldn't have to bribe (scent, bait, food, decoy) the deer to come to you. They're already there!

Good luck.

RE: What really works??
 

FL/GA,
Great response! I do all that you had mentioned. If I sit on a stand 60 times per year (sept-jan)...Im would guess 50 out of the 60 I see deer.....30 times I have a shot. I shoot 2-3 selected animals per year for my own consumption & have enough time & opprtunities to take more if needed.....thats plenty for me! Soto what you had written all new & seasoned hunters should follow that method or steps if they want consistant sightings.

I am just looking for a couple of good reasons (peoples feedback) not to waste my $ anymore on lures & such. The only cover scent I've used is fox urine...& that didn't work @ all! So for grits & shins...Im gonna try the vanilla extract a few times before the rut to see if it has an adverse effect.

Henny

RE: What really works??
 

Your right henny I didn't tie that back in but the rest did. Sorry call it morning still not awake. I use my scents only for stopping the animal in a shooting lane. Otherwise, I use nothing. What's to say the buck gets on my trail and goes in the opposite direction. Remember, it's a 50/50 chance. Also, the resisdents do a great job in the mornings with cover up scents. They are wearingperfume and after shave. If it's in the evening, there is a fire burning and smoke is in the air.

Like I said I use it for stopping the deer. If your in an area and you don't want to walk across a trail, put some on a stick and toss it to where you want him to stop and smell.

RE: What really works??
 

Scents don't mean jack, if they're not used properly or at the right times. Early season I pretty much just use cover scents and try to stay scent free. Later on in pre-rut, and rut I do bust out the scents, but results for me are mixed to say the least.

Calls, I've also had mixed results. I use them very little, and if I have seen deer after using them, I can't tell you whether or not they were just passing through, or if they were responding to calls.

The buck/doe ratio is so outta whack where I'm at the rut isn't intense. Deer don't respond well to calls or scents.

RE: What really works??
 

What realy works you ask. It is called Time and patience, and it starts in mid summer with the Bino's!

RE: What really works??
 

Hi Henny,
I too have experimented with many. I did have little success with vanilla in the terms of small bucks. Did bring a couple right to ladder to sniff and lick. Never pulled any monsters in. Other scents, tried Mrs. Doe Pea, Tinks, you name it - no results.

The crowd is right - scout, pattern, stand location, scent free and hunt the wind.

I have however been quite successful in generating activity with real antlers - a heavy set of 8 pointers. I used to use lighter 6 pointers and ended up with smaller bucks coming in - they were easier to carry;). The horns combined with grunting work well in my arebut have a fairly competitive rut. That is the biggest factor on deer reaction to horns, grunting and snort wheez.

Anyway - give horns a try if you think there is good competition for does. Some big rattling horns might get you a look at another big set!

Good luck.

RE: What really works??
 

Rattling with a real set of antlers is my favorite. Before rut I use them sparingly just touching the tines together. When the rut starts I give them a good banging. I'm sold on this technique.;)

RE: What really works??
 

If I'm the only one around thats had good results with certain scents I must be one lucky dawg! Either that or I'm the only one taking extra precautions and using them right. Either way , it doesn't sound like you want advice with scents , it sounds like your just looking for others who feel the same as you.:eek:

RE: What really works??
 

It cracks me up to read these forums. Makes you realize you are not alone in questions and opinions. I have become discouraged by attractants myself. I have tried everything and realized it really does not make a difference. And about the Vanilla, I had heard about this 2 years ago and began to use this as a cover scent last year. Still not sure if it works but I will continue to use it again this year just in case. Vanilla extract is cheap!

RE: What really works??
 

I totally agree with the gentleman who said scouting was the most important element in being successful!Scout,scout,and then scout some more,but I have also shot many bucks who have come in on a string to various lures.If you stay clean and as scent free as possible,scout your tail off and use a good lure properly,you are going to kill deer.

RE: What really works??
 

Vannilla as a cover scent?Now there's a natural smell of the woods. I've used vannilla , peanut butter , you name it , as attractant scents. Works good for getting up the curiosity of those yearlings.

So Jack , how many of those Pope & Young bucks came in to check out your vannilla before you shot them?

RE: What really works??
 

The scent that works best is sheep crap mixed with water...........the bad part is they don't tell you which bottles it comes in......could be any one of them depending how short their supply is that year. There aren't close to enough does to produce as much "estrous" in a bottle as is on the shelves every year so the vast majority of people are just plain getting ripped off.

If P.T. Barnum was alive today.........he would be selling to the hunting crowd ;)


There is no substitute or short cut for scouting and doing your homework......putting in a lot of hours on stand and being in the right place at the right time........sit still, be quiet and try to see them first and you will have much more success then any bottle of liquid BS on the market.

The one thing that I think a lot of people overlook is you HAVE to seal the deal when you are presented with a chance.......period. I talk to guys every year that whine about not getting anything and how they haven't killed a deer in a few years and so on...........then as the story unfolds you find out they missed 4 times and got busted 10 more.

The only spray I think is worth getting is fresh earth........never hurts to smell like dirt ;)

RE: What really works??
 

I've messed around with just about every urine and heat scent on the market since I killed my first buck in 1993. He walked directly to a canister of Trails End 307, and licked the canister, grunting, just long enough for me to arrow him. 12 years later, I've yet to have another buck come close to reacting to scent, and I've take 16 of them in 3 states. I've it all, drag trails, scent bombs, mock scrapes, even burned those sticks ot in the woods. No reaction from any passing bucks whatsoever. I will say this, I have hadlots of does bolt out of my location when they got near the scent, oftentimes taking a buck with them while he was trailing her. And since one of the best ways to kill a buck in november is hunt the does, guess what I don't carry in the woods anymore?

RE: What really works??
 

I was waiting for atlasman to chime in with his 2 pennies.

I'll give anyone who'sinterested my strategy with scent bombs and drag trails. Take it for what it's worth. If it hasn't worked for me on numerous occassions I wouldn't be wasting $6 on a bottle every year, and I certainly wouldn't be defending it here when it seems I'm the odd duck.

#1. Forget the doe-n-heat crap! There are plenty of doe in just about every state. What's your buck to doe ratio?:eek:So it's not something that's gonna bring them running , even if you buy the hot stuff straight from the farm.

#2. I've found one thing that does bring bucks in during the early stages of therut , and it works great. That's the smell of another buck. Dominant buck lure.
#3. During the chase phase I concentrate on attracting does. Lots of doe during the chase phase = buck. I like to use the gland type lures for attracting doe. That's when I make my drag trails , and I've hadmany doe on many occassions hit my drag trail from cross direction and divert their direction right down my trail.
The biggest mistake people make when making drag trails is putting too much scent on their drag from where they start. That will make a deer follow in the wrong direction. You want to start with a tiny bit and put more and more on as you get closer to your stand.
The other mistake I see people make when putting out scent bombs is carelessly handling the product with no regard to contaminating it with their own scent. I use rubber gloves when handling both drag rags and scent bombs.

RE: What really works??
 

If they are mixing sheep crap with water to pass as doe pee........how do you know you are not getting the same thing in your buck lure??

What makes it "dominant" buck lure??


What type of product are you speaking of specifically...........and are you saying that the does are following your drag trail "looking" for bucks??



Maybe if ANY of these scent products came with even minimal directions this kind of thing wouldn't happen.

Ever notice how many scent products have no directions at all??.........Why do you think that is?? My guess is that they realize their product has no real attractant ability (at least no more then anything else) and it relies exclusively on the user being lucky enough to run into a very curious deer that day who would just as likely have stopped to smell and old sock as it would a scent bomb. So they figure they will just let people use them any old way they want to and hopefully something will "work"


If deer lures worked then wouldn't the obvious best thing to do be use MASSIVE amounts of the stuff and get that "lure" spreading through the woods so every deer within a square mile will come running?? That's what they do with sharks (chumming). The key difference being that blood in the water actually does attract sharks ;)


I guess my biggest question about scents is if they REALLY worked........why don't they work EVERY time?? The reality is closer to anyone that says they have good success with scents is talking about one day when a deer reacted to it vs. the 50 days when it didn't work at all.


Scents, calls, decoys, etc all work based entirely on the mood of the deer at that given moment IMO.

We ALL have seen deer with our own eyes react to something like it was a magnet and then we do the same thing to another deer on another day and he doesn't even look in your direction.

I have stopped deer in their tracks with an estrous can and turned them around to come see what's up...........and I have also had deer not care one bit and just keep walking. Does that make the "can" good or bad??? Depends on the deer and the mood just like everything else.

Just my 2 pennies ;)


I couldn't be happier that you have success with scents. You sure do seem to be in a huge minority though.