The Nose Knows
Deer use their noses for a
number of tasks, and protecting themselves from predators, including humans, is
the primary task. Running an important second is finding a mate. If you can
control and reduce your human scent you will be a more successful hunter. If
you can learn how to present odors that are attractive to deer, you will be on
the road to those trophy bucks. Our friends at Wildlife Research have a DVD
available with solid information on both human and seer odors, called Scent Secrets.
This is a preview, visit www.wildlife.com for more details.
It’s In The Air
Deer constantly check the air
for danger, and they are fast to respond if they find anything they think is a
threat. If you control your human scent, you can be a more effective hunter. It
is almost impossible to completely eliminate your scent, but if you can reduce
your smell to a small amount, the animal will not be alarmed, because it will
think you are either far away or long gone.
First Time Is The Charm
The first time you hunt on a
stand is often the most effective, and one reason is that human odor molecules
can build up around a stand, and increase every time it is used. In addition,
your walk to and from the stand can contaminate the trail, alerting deer to
your presence. Your boots, pants, and body parts brushing against foliage can
leave human scent as you walk through the woods. The more often you are in one
area the more likely it is that the deer will detect your odor.
Keep It Clean
Wash all of your hunting clothing
(not just your coat and pants) with a detergent designed to leave no human
scent. Then store and transport your hunting clothing in a clean, airtight
container or plastic bag. Hang clothing outside, away from car exhaust, camp
fires or barbeque grills. When you shower before hunting, use scent-free soap
and shampoo designed for hunters, and use a washcloth and towel washed in
scent-free detergent. Don’t use your normal shave cream, deodorant or
aftershave; there are deodorants designed for hunters and you really don’t need
to shave.
Keep Looking, And Sniffing
Use an anti-scent spray on all
your clothing (gloves, hat and boots, too), and avoid tobacco smoke and food
odors. Start looking at everything as a potential odor problem, and the nuttier
you are about cutting odor the greater your chance for success. How about your
watch, glasses or wallet, and what did you step in with those boots in the last
few months?
What Kind Should You Choose
There are several types of
scents, and deer respond to them differently:
Territorial or Challenge type scent –
urine, or a scent from the same animal that
you are hunting, which will be seen as a challenge to a resident buck
Hunger scent or food scent – use early or late in the season, and for does during the rut
Curiosity scent – other scents
that deer find interesting, most effective early in the season, or anytime for
does
Sex-type scents – most effective
for bucks, two weeks before rut to end of season.
Drip, Drip, Drip
The method of dispensing scent
can improve success. There is a wide variety of wicks, drippers, foams, and
solid scent dispensers. Scrape drippers can be set up to drip only during
specific parts of the day, day, forcing bucks to visit during daylight.
Cover It Up
Cover scents imitate plants,
food, urine of other animals, or earth. Their smell is fairly strong, but not
offensive to deer. Red fox urine, coon urine, or plant extracts, like pine or
cedar, work well.
Scrapes
Hunt over natural scrapes that
you locate, or create mock scrapes. When creating mock scrapes, use a stick
from that area, rather than scraping with your feet. Your boots can impart odor
to the earth that deer can easily detect.
Read The Instructions
There are many scent and scent
elimination products on the market, and they all have instructions on how to
use their products. Wildlife research has a DVD available with solid
information on both human and seer odors, called Scent Secrets. Visit www.wildlife.com
for more details.
