Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

What, if any, Deer attractant scents, do you "Know" have worked for you. I want brand names, types of lures, and makers names. Thought this would make a heck of a post for Friday night. So get out the popcorn and let's hear it. LT

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

Its a scent called Paitence. The maker of the brand is called Determined. I have been using it for years with alot of success. Give it a try I know it can work for you too.

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

I have quit buying deer scents and have found it all to be a waste of money.Scouting and proper stand placement along with hunting the wind and being patient are the keys to deer hunting successfully.

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

I pee on my ankles and drag my butt on the ground all the way to the stand. LOL

I have used a ton of what's out there...not really any special, expensive product that you find on the internet and I haven't seen any positive or negative effect from using them. One day they will work and then I will be a firm believer in them! ha, ha

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

i have used wildlife research trails end with great success and another brand i cant find nomore .

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

I use Mrs Doe Pee's scrape formula to make my mock scrapes. I actually have video footage of a couple bucks hitting my mock scrapes taken from my stand.

Anyone who says scents do not work is only assuming, because at times they really do work.

I will say however, out of the many timesI have used scents very few times I think it has aided me.

It is just a very small part of the puzzle IMO.

Motown's advice is the best though. It'll never fail.

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

I havn't used scents in so many years I can't remember how long long it's been, bout 15years or so at least but when I did, I used Tinks 69 and I had good results with it but then the grunt tub came into play and I just stopped useing scents.

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

YUP, the best thing you can use is "Hunt the wind". That's it. If it's wrong, just move or go home. Scouting, patience and the wind will bring them in everytime. All the rest of that stuff is pure fluff. I say that it probably does as much harm as good. I've tried it all. I further say MOST deer that people think came to something were coming that way anyway. Why does it surprise people if a deer comes in when they do all the scouting, figure out the patterns and carefully hang their stands. That's why we do it. If you've done it right you should expect a deer to come by, especially with the huge herds we have today. 30 years ago the scouting etc was even more critical. Attractants, like REAL apples and things like that can help, but all that stuff in a bottle is just that...>>STUFF.

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

Doe tarsal glands. I read an article in a magazine last summer about using them during the rut and decided to try it. I shot a doe Nov. 9th and removed the glands and put them in a refrigerator. On Nov. 13th Ihung them in a tree 15 yards from my stand and harvested a small 8-point. He came in with his nose in the air, looking for that doe. I retreived the glands and put them in the freezer this time when I got home. On Nov. 17th I set them out again. A nice 8-point followed a doe towards my stand but was going to be in an bad place for a shot. He smelled the glands and momentarily stopped trailing the doe to check out the other scent and offered a 12 yard shot. He is now hanging on my wall.
As far as the store bought scents go, I haven't used them for years due to lack of results. I'll definatelygive the tarsal glands another shot next year.

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

C-Woods: I've used them too and also pee bladders from recently killed deer. The only thing you have to watch out for with Pee is it starts to break down and may have an adverse effect within hours. I would suspect that tarsal glands will also. Refrigeration will of course extent their usefullness, but it's not unlimited.

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

I agree with hardcorehunter.

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

I just find it funny that those who did not have any success with scents automatically think they are no good. Perhaps it isn't the various scents usedbut the hunters application of tactics........

Like I said I am not a scent fanatic, I generally only use scents for mock scrapes. Although I will at times hang a scent wick if I have the inclination.

Some people claim rattln' and calling don't work either...... but most of us know better than that..... right???
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RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

I highly suspect that's my problem as well. I have never had any luck w/ them. I've used drag rags, mock scrapes, hung scent wicks in trees, they just never work for me.

Another part of the "do they work or not" equation I believe is the buck to doe ratio. If there are just way more does than bucks, I don't believe the rutting activity is as visible as it is where it is more 1 to 1. In cases like that, I just don't think (although it is entirely possible I am wrong) that they would work as well.

First of all, for ANY attractant to work, there needs to be deer there anyway. What I mean is, if you use a doe in heat urine in an area where bucks (or does for that matter) don't frequent, you may as well be peeing in the wind. JMO

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

I've had it work 2 times out of 100's..... First time was a Myles Keller gel... The buck crossed the scent trail I laid about 100yds down from me.. He did a 90 degree turn and nose to the ground all the way to 18yds, where he met his maker.....

The other time was similar, using Mrs Doe Pee.... Buck hit the wind trail way out and came in on a rope.....

It can work, but very sporatically is my experiences.....

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

Buckeyehntr and Double Creek are right as far as I am concerned... scents work rarely. However, why pass up on the couple of time they will work just because they don't work all the time? I cannot 100% for sure link any buck I have killed with a scent bomb or anything, but I still use them because IF they help bring one in, then it was all worth it.

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

Same stuff I use!!!!

I try to have 0 smell and make 0 calls. I have fond when you are hunting mature whitetails I have my best success in bedding area's. I do not want to tip the buck off that I have been there. So I stay as scent free as I can.

Scents can and do work, but for me it is not worth the risk. Anybody have a good guesson the success rate when using scents? My guess is it would be hard tokeep track offailures. You will not know if a mature buck is on to you, because you will not even see him(which is why I do not use them).

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

I guess I should add that I hunt where the does are. They are the best scent attractant in the world. :DNo scentor callin the world will distract a rutting buck from a live doe.

ghemry, i am with you on calling except I will give it a try if he is going the other way. Atthat point I've got nothing tolose so I might as well see if I can change his mind. That has actually worked a few times.

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

Don't use them and never have. Nothing against them though. I just make sure I'm scent free as possible.

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

Good point, I have done so myself. I like your doe point. The Ten in my Avitor I got because of hot doe in the bedding area. 10-28-2005 a little early for primetime, but she was in heat. I saw 12 different bucks that morning. When I climbed in my stand you could smell the rut piss, then 10 min later I heard a buck chasing a doe. After I took him out you should have seen the bucks come after her!!!

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

I have used curiosity scents successfully in the past, however in my opinion it only worked to bring an animal into a shooting lane or position that was maybe 10-20 yards outside their already intended path. I killed my first archery deer at 13 years old as it stopped maybe 40 yards out and then walked in to 20 yards and stuck its nose right where I had dumped a couple tablespoons of vanilla extract. I put a perfect double lunger on that doe at 20 yards and I definitely would not have gotten a shot at her without that scent.

I have also many times had them stop on their intended path to sniff and check outtinks scent wick I have put out, but this only occupies them for a minute or so while they are moving through the area already. I like to use the stuff to position the deer that would normally already be there, this is how it works best for me. This fall I intend to hang my mock scrape dripper and my leaf river in front of it to see if I can get some pics of bucks like this. Results of that should be interesting.

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

I've tried em all and have had zero success with scents and attractants. Like buckeye said, its probably my own fault due to setup or whatever but I understand my limitations and choose to not waste the money anymore.

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

Well it all depends on your buck to doe ratio(IMO) Here in MI it is way to high. So when a big buckhears rattling, why should he go over there and see what is going on. There are plenty of doe's right here for him. Which is why rattling, calling and scents tend not to work on mature deer here in MI(notice the word mature and tend). In an area with a good buck to doe ratio I may use scents and calls. It all depends on the area where you hunt. The buck to doe ratio is key(IMO) on using scents and calls for mature deer.

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

I rarely use any scents at all any more BUT I have with limited success but success nontheless. It's my opinion that scents used incorrectly will spook more game than it will lure so I try to go as scentless as possible, rarely using scents but occassionally I'll experiment even more.

That being said, my success's were with Tinks 69 and Bob Kirschners Curiosity.

The Tink's success was with a mock scrape I made on a Monday morning. I proceeded to hunt over the scrape that morning and then left it alone Tuesday and hunted else where. Wednesday morning I returned and had just locked my climber on the tree, walked over and refreshed the scent with more Tinks 69 and walked back to the treestand. While I was preparing to climb the tree I heard the leaves crunching only to turn and watch a huge 6 point run into the mock scrape from down wind. He stuck his nose in the scrape, looked at me and then bolted. It happened fast.

Only one other success using Tinks. I was creating a drag line to my stand on my way to an evening haunt. I was halfway to my stand location when I heard something behind me. I turned to watch a really respectable buck trailing my exact trail. He followed it for about 30 yards when he looked up and saw me standing there. Foiled hunt but success with a scent.

Other than the buck I shot in '04 for the contest which stood around and followed/checked out my trail where I walked across the field with Kirschners Curiosity on my boots, I have no other success stories. The rest of my stories would recommend not using scents. I've watched deer turn inside out to flee an area I had scent out so with limited success and more deer leaving then coming, I continue to only experiment with scents and never rely on them.

Rickmur brought up a great point, the grunt call will work more times than scents will but coupled they can be very deadly. And remember the study using buck, doe, human urines with new car smell. Buck urines worked more frequently than "doe" urines. Don't pay the money for "due estrous" scents and use buck or curiosity scents IF your going to use them.

The only scent I experimented with lately was Bob Kirschners Curiosity.

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

Although i havent had much luck myself, i have had a hunting partner have a nice 8 point and a 7 point come in to some sent wicks that he set out. He said that they came in on a string right to them from down wind. Another hunting aquaintence used one of Kirshners scents, i think it was Dominant Buck or something like that, and had deer all over him, i tried it and didnt see squat, so who knows.

Ido believe that Rattling, calling and scents are much more effective where thereis a more even buck to doe ratio.IMO with more does around, the bucks dont have tocompete as much and you dont seeas much "rutting" activity as were there ratio is better, or atleast in NJ that is what ihave seen.

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

If that had happened to me I would be a BELIEVER. Even if it only works one out of a hundred times then it was worth it in my book. I, like others have had mixed results...same with grunt calls. But when they do work it sure is great.

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

I use one scent while hunting in November, Pete Rickards Indian Buck Lure. I do not use it as an attractant, I use it to stop deer. I stop them with their head facing away from me for a great shot oppertunity. The scent itself is a curiosity scent. Does do not like it very much, but all bucks seem to have to check it out. This method has worked well for me over the years.

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

I tried just about everything out there from Wildlife Reserach to Tink's 69 but last season I tried BowHunter's Set-up it's a spray that you can use on tree's & trail's, leaves even on your boot's to make a sent trial right to your stand & it really works .
The deer smell it & go crazy they'll lick it & chew on it I even had one deer roll on the ground where I sprayed alot of it.
I got this stuff at Cabela's for about $10.00 a bottle call me a sucker if you want it won't bother me I just know it worked.

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

I would also file this under the improper application of tactics/timing. Rattling serves much more importance in the whitetail's world then just the 3 week rut period. You must understand the logistics of it to properly apply the tactic successfuly. If I and countless others canrattle bucks in across the border overin PAyou can do it in MI for certain JMO. I don't rattle all that often either, just a few hunts per week if I feel the conditions call for it.

There is a time and place for it (rattling)just like the scents. I believe that the herd can be educated rather quickly by over rattling though,so I am a believer that less is more most times inmy situation. However, they have both worked for me very well at times in the past. Hopefully again in the future as well.

I do however consistently use calls, and have had much success with them. Namely: TrueTalker - Primos cans and the MAD Grunt, Snort, Wheeze combo.
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RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

Are we talking mature deer 3 1/2 and older or1 1/2 deer. I can rattle, call, and use scents on 1 1/2 year olds all day. Get a 3 1/2& upbuck in MI or PA, andthe deer has been shot at once(at least) and called too numerous times. He is just not going tofall for it 90% time. If he is hot enough hemight make a mistake. Two different type of mature deer, one's live in low pressure areas, and those live in high pressure area's. They both take different tatics. I think the stat in MI is 90% of bucks and does kills are
1 1/2 and younger. They are just not as smart yet, but thet learn quick!!

Another big issue in high pressure area's is other hunters educating the deer. I think every bowhunter in MI has the Can, Tinks 69,anda TrueTalker. I have just learned not using them and being very stealthy has really paid of the last 10 years. If I hunted in IA, Ill, Oh or KA I may use different tatics. If it works for you have at it, I would love to be able to call and use scents, but I think it hurts more than it helps me.

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

Never noticed a difference with scents. I quit using them years ago.

RE: Barn Burner Question Of The Week
 

Ditto...Good Stuff!

Also very sound advice!