Scents - what do you use?
 

I looked back through 16 pages or so and didn't find posts on this.

AT one point I had pretty good response out of a bottle of Code Blue Estrus but subsequent bottles were underwhelming.

Anybody have preferences onspecific brands they use for doe in heat or dominant buck scent?

RE: Scents - what do you use?
 

many years ago I studied both scents and calling. I dedicated a whole rut season to it. I used tinks 69 (it was the rage back then). I NEVER got a buck to come to it. I did have success with calling. BTW I never did both on the same trip. I wanted to seperate the calling from the scents.

I have a friend who claims to have great success with scents. I don't know what he uses. sorry.

My problem with scents is that the deer has to be down wind for it to work unless you use a drag. If the deer smells your scents he will most likely smell you?

RE: Scents - what do you use?
 

I'm the same way Magic.... I've messed with everything. And honestly I've never EVER had a positive result using them. There have been times where I've shot does that I think didn't smell them, or else just didn't care.. but I've never had a deer come in and known that it was drawn to any of the scents I've put out.

To answer the question directly though.... I've tried a lot of the code blue stuff and Special Golden Estrous extensively.... maybe I'm just snake bit.

I'm going to get a few different things and put out some trail cams starting in September (assuming I find a place to do so), and I'm going to really bomb the place with scent and see what kinda results I get. I hated science projects in school... now here I am 4 years out of college and I'm spending a ton of my own money to undertake them on my own accord....

RE: Scents - what do you use?
 

Common Sense

Actually I try to remain as scent free as possible. No commercial scents at all. Maybe a tarsal gland from a freshly killed deer, but that's it.

RE: Scents - what do you use?
 

Deer scents worked to attract smaller / curious bucks for me, nothing with the x-mas tree on it's head and that I'm looking for.
To me it's a waste of money and stopped buying them a few years ago.

RE: Scents - what do you use?
 

I prefer as little scent as possible.

You may like the smell of Tommy Girl, but if someone dumps a bottle in your living room you are going to notice it ASAP.

Beingon Alert is not always a Good thing!;)

Dan

RE: Scents - what do you use?
 

I don't use attractants at all! I just use Scent Killer non-scented formula.

RE: Scents - what do you use?
 

No scents, no scent reducing sprays either. I just try to put myself in their home-range, the rest is up to you.

RE: Scents - what do you use?
 

I believe a deers' sense of smell is beyond our comprehension. I believe a deer has many scent glands and even body odor. A deer can tell that there is some scent and that some is missing. I believe to be sucessful with scents you would have to somehow incorporate ALL the scents that a deer produces into a scent. If their nose is like our eyes, It would be like us seeing only half of a persons body. It could even alarm them.

RE: Scents - what do you use?
 

I use scent occasionally. Usually when I want to distract the deer. Like when the wind is not 100% in my favor. (which it rarely is) This worksfairlywell for me.

This past season I was up in a tree over looking a well worn trail on a field edge when the wind switched directions on me. I was basically SOL. It was either deal with the bad wind or drive an hour and go back home. I took some doe estrus scent out of my pack and dribbled it down the tree I was in. Not at all the ideal way to use scent. [:-]

Sure enough, a buckpops into view coming in so that he would soon be directly downwind of me. Right as he gets downwind he stops on a dime and tosses his nose in the air. 'Busted' I said to myself. Instead the buck comes in directly to the base of my tree, sniffing the whole way. At the base of my tree he either caught my scent or caught my movement. (I have such a stealthy draw. [&o]) He runs back the way he came and stops about 30 yards out. Throws his nose in the air again and comes right back in. I killed him that time.

On public land I strongly recommend staying away from popular scents. I think they work against you. (I suppose you could make them work for you by putting them on areas you don't want the deer to go) I have seen areas where there are literally a dozen scent wicks hanging in the branches near somebodies spot on public land. :eek:

For what it's worth I useTimber Valley Fresh Scent.

RE: Scents - what do you use?
 

I don't disagree that what you say could be true, but one time walking out I came face to face with a giant buck --standing on the ground and he was looking right at me across a creek 60 yards out.
I held my rattling antlers on my head and continued to snort wheeze at him.

Clearly he knew it wasn't right. But he was freaking torn as to what he was going to do.

He wanted to run but he couldn't.

The idea for me with scents is to turn a buck my way or to get him to focus on something that isn't me while I shoot him.

I've always felt like there's a week or two that they aren't thinking so clearly and the scents might just help me.

I might be wrong I don't know. I've definitly had mixed results.

RE: Scents - what do you use?
 

I use fresh tarsal glands from other's bucks through the middle part of the rut when I can - have had quite a few positive responses from it.

RE: Scents - what do you use?
 

I have experimented with them in year's past. Most notably Tinks but used others as well. Even fell for the dispenser that only dispenses in daylight so they have to come byduring hunting hours,etc.,etc.(See, most of us have been suckers at least once in our life.)

While hunting a funnel between feeding and bedding one morning, I had a mature "shooter" buck come in and smell a Tink's bomb hanging in a tree, but it was too darkto shoot.

He didn't spook. He smelled it for a few seconds and then went on his merry way. I feel strongly that he was alreadytraveling through that funnel with or without the Tinks.

I have had numerous doe and young bucks come up and smell them and act indifferent towards them. Same thing though. I never felt or could substantiate that it "drew" any of them in, they were already travelling through the area I was hunting.

I don't use them anymore because 1) I didn't see any compelling results and 2) I don't want to fool around anymore than I have to in getting on stand.JMO

RE: Scents - what do you use?
 

I can't prove anything I said. I base it on what I believe from past experiences. If I would have had good results in the begining I would probably always use them. And like I said before, my friend swears by it. He believes it was the reason he shot 2 big bucks. So who knows?

RE: Scents - what do you use?
 

No scents, just another way to chase big bucks out of the area. Heavy antlers, the roar and fawn bleats are the only things I use.

RE: Scents - what do you use?
 

That week when the big boys are on their feet cruising for hot scent the temptation for me is strong to use doe in heat.

I will say I've had young bucks sniff and they look like they smelled rotten diapers or something.

Of course they usually smell again. :)

I don't use a lot of scent. I've wondered if that was part of the issue. I keep it too long and it's no longer fresh and effective. If there is such a thing.

Interesting conversation for me. I appreciate the responses.

RE: Scents - what do you use?
 

The only scents that I've actually seen decent bucks respond to..... consistently, is James Valley Scents. More specifically, the JVS Wall Hanger andJVS Lethal Weapon gels.Any mature deer thatgets a snout full of this stuff WILL respond. It's the only thing I'll even waste my time setting out these days. Everything else just seems to have far to inconsistent results for me to trust.

RE: Scents - what do you use?
 

Another thought / experience on the Doe in Esterus scent.
Have you ever shot a Doe when she was in heat?
I noticed that it doesn't smell quite like Tink's (or others) now does it???!!!

Hence my earlier reply and how I came to the conclusion.

I do take the bladder from my Doe's and use this and have had good results, especially in new areas,
as I believe the other Deer want to know who the new kid in town is.:eek:

RE: Scents - what do you use?
 

I use scents in limited applications

Back in the day I used to just sprinkle out plain Doe P just do have “deer smell” around.

Now, I will still use scent only in the rut time. Usually some type of doe estrous. I don’t use it thinking that it will bring bucks in from miles around, I use it to stop them where I want to shoot them. 3 of the last 4 bucks I shot were straight down wind of scent that I had out, it stopped them long enough for me to kill them.
Plus its entertaining to have a young buck come in to the scent and just go nuts smelling it. I thought one was literally going to eat the cotton wick.

And I never use the big name commercial scents. Always stuff from the small time bottlers.