Attract More Deer: Proven Ways to Utilize Deer Scents
Deer scents have long been used by hunters and wildlife managers to attract deer for hunting, observation, or control. The most commonly used scents are doe estrus urine, buck urine, and cover scents. As a hunter, it’s important to understand which scent should be deployed during any season as certain deer scents are designed for pre- and post-rutting periods while others are more specifically created for the rut.
Interdigital Gland Deer Scents
Interdigital Gland deer scents are scent glands located between the toes of a deer’s hoof and they contain different scents depending on the time of year. During the rut, bucks rub their feet on the ground and leave behind their interdigital gland scent, which is used to communicate with other bucks in the area. Using this scent during the pre-rut and rut period can be a great way to attract deer, as it will signal that there are other bucks in the area. If you’re looking to create a false deer trail, interdigital deer scents are an ideal choice.
Utilizing interdigital deer scents to produce a deceptive trail can be achieved in two ways: by directly applying them to the soles of your hunting boots or, by incorporating them into a “drag rag.” This is simply fabric with one corner tied to a cord that you tie around your ankle and then drag behind you as you walk.
Preorbital Gland Deer Scents
Preorbital gland deer scents come from the preorbital glands located behind a deer’s eyes and are used to mark territories. The scent is produced by bucks during the pre-rut period and often helps them establish dominance over other males in the area. Preorbital gland scents can be extremely effective when trying to attract deer during the pre-rut period. It is also important to note that these scents will vary from season to season, so it’s best to use them at the same time each year for maximum effectiveness.
Doe and buck urine offer the two most reliable methods of calling deer. Preorbital Gland scents are specifically designed to excite curiosity in deer and build mock scrapes, so they should be applied by rubbing onto branches above trails or over existing scrapes to mimic a new intruder’s presence. This realistic approach is sure to draw the attention of any nearby whitetail!
Tarsal Gland Deer Scents
Tarsal deer scents are a more subtle form of communication than preorbital and interdigital gland scents. They come from the tarsal glands located just above a deer’s hock, and they produce a musky scent that will attract bucks during the rut as well as throughout the year. Tarsal deer scents are an excellent choice if you’re trying to attract both bucks and does.
To get the best results from your Tarsal Glands, recharge them at the beginning of each hunt. This means saturating them with pre-estrus doe urine, doe-in-estrus urine, or dominant buck urine depending on which type of gland you possess and if the rut is already underway. Alternatively, a hunter can attach the Tarsal Gland to a cord and loop it around their ankle so that it drags along the ground behind them, creating an artificial scent trail. Additionally, they could hang it from a tree branch near their stand to imitate another deer in the area or dangle it over an imitation scrape for added realism.
Mock Scrape Deer Scents
Mock scrape deer scents are specifically designed for use during the pre-rut and rut periods. They contain a combination of buck urine, doe estrus, interdigital gland scents, and often other pheromones. To create a mock scrape, begin by locating an oft-trodden deer trail with multiple scrapes. Then, search for a two to three-foot-wide space between the scrapes that is embellished with dangling branches and brush away any foliage in its radius. This will form your artificial scraping site!
To truly make your mock scrape believable to bucks, you should begin by sprinkling the Interdigital Gland scent and applying Dominant Buck Urine over the bare ground. For added realism, spritz some Preorbital Gland Scent from a branch above your mock scrape. Lastly, if using Tarsal Gland urine in the process be sure to suspend it above as well – this will further replicate something that an actual buck would do when creating his own scrapes!
Liquid Cover Scents
Cover scents are designed to mask human odor and can be used in conjunction with deer scents. They come in liquid concentrate or aerosol form and can be applied directly to your clothes, boots, and hunting equipment while you’re out in the woods. Liquid cover scents can also be sprayed around your stand to help keep you hidden from deer. They are most effective when used in combination with deer scents, as the cover scent will mask your human odor while the deer scents attract the attention of whitetails nearby.
All types of liquid deer scents, such as doe-in-estrus, curiosity, or dominant buck scents can be utilized to create a false scent trail by impregnating a drag rag. Alternatively, you could disperse the aroma around your hunting stand by placing it in an apparatus like a medicine bottle stuffed with cotton balls or using one of the commercial dispensers available on the market and setting it up either near your post or hanging from tree branches nearby.
Note: Scent dispensers can vary widely in complexity. Basic models feature nothing more than a reservoir and wick, while the most sophisticated versions come with heated reservoirs and electric fans for optimal scent diffusion.
Solid Wafer Cover Scents
Solid wafer cover scents were invented to be securely fastened directly onto a hunter’s clothing without leaving permanent traces of the fragrance, which is why they come with either an adjustable plastic ring or a metal pin attached on the back of each scent-infused piece. This way, you can effortlessly attach it to your apparel and stay undetected while hunting in nature.
Final Verdict
These proven deer scent methods are guaranteed to not just attract deer, but increase your chances of successful hunts. Whether you choose to harvest or relocate certain types of vegetation around your hunting grounds or utilize techniques such as mock scrapes and licking branches, you’ll be one step closer to having the most fruitful deer season yet! Don’t wait any longer to begin putting these methods into action and be sure to share these helpful tips with your fellow hunters as well. With Proven Ways to Utilize Deer Scents, there will be nothing that stands between you and the hunt of a lifetime. Good luck on the hunt, and remember: scout, prepare, and practice your patience regularly – lasting success will come!
