What kind of scents, lures, calls, etc. you like using for deer?

[Carolina Kalash]

I've always used a cheap Primos grunt call and Scent-Away, if I even use anything of the sort at all. I don't know that they've made a difference though, I've only ever killed one deer in the several years I've been hunting regularly, mainly just because of not seeing any. I would always go with my dad and he'd hunt in a different stand a ways off and niether one of us would see a thing. That being said, I was using the scent-away and grunt call when I did finally kill one. My dad killed one later that year using that stuff to, though I'm not really sure if the scent cover and call made a difference or not. Those were the only two deer for us in about 4 or 5 years of hunting, due to being in the Air Force, I've had to miss the last two seasons and he hasn't hunted much either, should I try a differnet approach when it comes to scents and calls next time I get a chance to hunt to hopefully stand a decent chance of getting a deer or two, I mean I know alot of it is just pure luck but what do yall think might put the odds a little more in my favor?

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have killed most of my deer with bacon on my breath and 3 days cabin stank on my body. My dad kills his while smoking cigarettes.

 

[Armored farmer]

For early season, I like rattlin' horns. They will send deer running. sometimes toward you....sometimes away.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

The only scents I use are when the rut is in full swing. Then I'll use something like Tink's 69 or a Doe in Estrus Buck Bomb. The really do work if the deer are rutting.

I like the sprays so I can leave a cloth tied in a bush and on the way to my stand, I'll give it a freshen up. I'll spray bushes here and there down the shooting lane. I've had bucks bury their faces in the bush for 10-15 minutes.

I've only been using it for a couple of seasons now so I've not killed a big buck using it, but have seen several brought into camp that were shot with their noses in it.

 

[JRWhit]

I'm considering using my chainsaw.
I've lost count of how many times I've gained a curious audience observing me while I cut wood.

I've also noticed that any change in the landscape warrants a thorough investigation by any of the regulars.
When I pushed up a dirt mound for target shooting, it was as though they all had to step on every square inch of the pile up one side and down the other. Probably after mineral in the exposed earth.

 

[Captcurt]

I started rattling 50 years ago. I can count the deer rattled in on 1 finger. Went through several brands of grunt calls and have not found one that I really like although I have grunted several deer in with them. One of my best, a 130 class 11 point, came in with hackles up and totally PO'd. Buck Stop 200 Proof is the best scent that I have found and believe me when I say that I have tried them all. Noone handles it locally so I have to order it online.

Never got into the scentkiller/blocked phase. I honestly don't think that you can fool their nose. I could be wrong but with close to 200 whitetails under my belt I must be doing something right.

 

[CraigC]

I never worried about my own scent until this season. Started using scent free soap/shampoo/deodorant and letting my clothes air out in the breeze. I also started using a cover/calming scent. I've seen deer on every outing but have yet to kill one. I feel like I've been winded more times this season than any other. Go figure.

 

[ldlfh7]

Coffee and cigarettes seem to work every year for me.

 

[courtgreene]

I'll second the "200 proof" suggestion. I saw it mentioned on the forum before the season and ordered some. It really does get their attention.

 

[Captcurt]

Coffee and cigarettes seem to work every year for me.

Back in the good old days when smoked I remember several times that I had to snuff out a cig before I pulled the trigger. After I quit smoking I could smell my hunting partner's smoke from 150 yards downwind. Key word: Downwind.

 

[MCgunner]

I like the scent of fresh corn on the ground. Works for me......though not lately.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

The worlds greatest deer attractant:



I've seen them start walking out of the wood line before I even get back in the mule to drive off.

 

[Captcurt]

The worlds greatest deer attractant:



I've seen them start walking out of the wood line before I even get back in the mule to drive off.

You can sit on a corn pile all day and not see a deer here. The acorns have moved them to the woods. I have friends that haven't seen a deer at their feeders in a month. Tickles me. Now I have to "HUNT" them.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

The acorns have moved them to the woods. I have friends that haven't seen a deer at their feeders in a month.

We had one doozy of a storm come through in October that blew pretty much every single acorn out of the trees around here. I didn't see a deer for a couple of weeks. You couldn't have gotten them out from under the trees with a chain and bulldozer.

That's just the way it goes some times.

 

[MCgunner]

You can sit on a corn pile all day and not see a deer here. The acorns have moved them to the woods. I have friends that haven't seen a deer at their feeders in a month. Tickles me. Now I have to "HUNT" them.

Trust me, it's happening here, now. I'm surrounded by post oaks. I can't "go hunt 'em" around here, though, as the thckets are thick. One is forced to ambush hunt here. It just takes time and, heck, that's why they call it hunting. When the huntin's like this, I can always go shoot ducks or geese. Eagle Lake and Garwood are 20 miles away and my favorite coastal WMA is only 90. Have camper, will travel.

 

[desidog]

I'm considering using my chainsaw.

I was out leaf-blowing a week or two ago and there was an eight point buck 35 yards away; totally chill. I went back into the house to get the bow, came out, shut the door too quick... and that one little noise and he made tracks... So, now i'm thinking about the riding mower as a "stalking" vehicle...

 

[Captcurt]

I was out leaf-blowing a week or two ago and there was an eight point buck 35 yards away; totally chill. I went back into the house to get the bow, came out, shut the door too quick... and that one little noise and he made tracks... So, now i'm thinking about the riding mower as a "stalking" vehicle...

It is amazing how conditioned deer get to everyday human movement. MY BIL has a 180 acre farm. The deer are so used to him riding around on a tractor or ATV that you can ride within 50 yards before they will look up.

 

[Davek1977]

I'm 37 now, and have huted deer since I was 13. To the best of my recollection, there was one year I did not shoot a buck. That being said, I have never rattled for bucks, used any sort of calls, or purchased any scents. For that matter, I haven't spent any money on fancy camo, or rangefidning scopes, ground blinds, treestands, or the latest ultra mag.....but the deer don't seem to care and just keep dying every season. With a few 175 class mulies and some 150 class whitetails in the mix, I'm satisfied with leaving well enough alone

 

[sage5907]

The best deer attractant for someone who has limited resources is a corn feeder but it is a bitter sweet situation. I was always against using corn feeders when other sources of food are available but if your neighbors are feeding corn they will pull the deer away from your property. Then they will complain that they have too many deer and start shooting too many of them. The whole deer population of the area suffers because the properties who don't feed won't have many deer.

 

[Zeke/PA]

I was never a big fan of scents or lures prefering, especially during archery season, to try to keep my clothes and footwear sent free.
At deer camp in late fall, I hang my outer clothes outdoors in an effort to minimize cooking odors etc.

 

[Kingcreek]

There was a teenager trespassing onto my place to hunt. He used that scent blocking spray and left it on his tailgate before sneaking into my timber. When I found out he was parking in a ravine in the neighbor's hay field not visible from the road, I visited his truck and found his scent spray. I dumped it out on the ground and refilled it with some of my own (yellow) liquid and replaced it on his tailgate.
I've often wondered how well it worked after that.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

^ That is hilarious.

 

[matrem]

Just might have worked pretty well?

The biggest buck I've killed to date, was working a younger bucks scape that I'd pee'd in about sixteen hours prior.

That sure wasn't what I had in mind when I did it, but it sure worked out well for me.

And no, I'm not kidding.