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Scent success stories?

Discussion in 'Bowhunting Talk' started by MNpurple, Oct 25, 2009.

  1. MNpurple

    MNpurple Die Hard Bowhunter

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    Every year I look at the amazing array of deer scents that are on the shelves, some that have been there for years and many more that are making their first appearance on the market. I buy scent every year, and every year I swear at the end of the season I will NEVER waste my money on that crap again........well at least until next year.

    So lets hear it, your stories of success that you're posative you can attribute to some form of deer scent that you've purchased from the store. Help talk me into or out of buying some again, this year.
     
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2009
  2. Rob / PA

    Rob / PA Grizzled Veteran

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    In my experiences I've seen more deer (bucks and does, mostly does) spook with scents, particularly doe "estrous" (Tinks 69) than success'.

    The three "successes" that I had was,

    1. I made a mock scrape on a deer trail on a Monday, went back on a Wednesday morning to hunt it and before I had my climber attached to the tree, a decent buck came running in, stuck his nose in the scrape and looked at me.

    2. While laying down a scent trail on my way to my stand, I heard a ruckus behind me to turn and see a decent buck, nose to the ground trailing me. I hadn't even gotten to my stand.

    3. This past year in IL. The guide gave (sold) me a aerosol can doe "estrous" scent. He told me to spray it around this gate the deer jump and then a path past my stand. So when I went in that morning I did just that. The buck I killed in IL came to that gate, spun 3 times like a dog, went to a bush and tore it up, went back to the gate, spun like a dog and then jumped the gate. Once over the gate he walked right past my stand and I zipped him. He didn't however do it with nose to the ground.


    That's it after too much money and too many years wasted on the stuff.

    If I were to use a scent today, it'd likely be a dominant buck scent.
     
  3. Scott/IL

    Scott/IL Die Hard Bowhunter

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    I use Mrs. Doe Pee on some hunts during the rut.

    If I am using a doe decoy, then I will always have some scent put out. Looking back, I can think of 4 bucks I have killed with it(2 bow and 2 shotgun). I have had bucks follow it on a drag once in awhile, however I haven't seen it in a few years. I used to swear by them a few years ago, however with each passing year I depend on them less and less.

    To me if a buck comes in to investigate, he will most likely stick around and find the sources of the hot doe, and also takes the attention off of me as I am getting drawn. The 2 bucks I killed with my bow had their noses right at a scent bomb when I smacked them.

    Also, I can honestly say I have never SEEN a doe spook from scent being used. One could of smelt it and decided not to come in, but I have never witnessed one coming into my setup and bolting.
     
  4. buttonbuckmaster

    buttonbuckmaster Grizzled Veteran

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    I've had way more deer spook using dominant buck scent than with estrous scents. I have good luck with scent every year.
     
  5. Rob / PA

    Rob / PA Grizzled Veteran

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    Because my experience over that past near 30 years in PA dictates otherwise. I'm not going to risk my shot on a PA buck from what I observed in IL, one day. And, although the scents made him act odd, did it aid in my success or was he coming anyway? I'll never know.

    :cool:
     
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2009
  6. MNpurple

    MNpurple Die Hard Bowhunter

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    Describe your good luck and what you were using....
     
  7. buttonbuckmaster

    buttonbuckmaster Grizzled Veteran

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    Good luck meaning deer following a scent trail to a shooting lane. Not always shooters, but deer none the less. I've had good luck with several brands. Hooley Juice is my go-to scent during pre-post rut. It's collected and bottled in my area, can't say enough good things about it. Also had success with James Valley scents and a Browning "sex scent", although I can't find it any longer.
     
  8. Rob / PA

    Rob / PA Grizzled Veteran

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    Peak phase, guide highly recommended it, Last day of hunt and nothing to lose. Can't say it aided in the hunt, can't say it didn't. It did make the buck put on quite a show and I only wished I could have had my camera out in that bad weather.

    He literally circled like a dog in heat before attacking the shrub and jumping the fence. It was quite cool.

    But again, I've seen PA buck and doe turn inside out when hitting a scent. Thing is about scents, deer have be downwind to smell it and depending on your set, downwind from you.
     
  9. Rob / PA

    Rob / PA Grizzled Veteran

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  10. MNpurple

    MNpurple Die Hard Bowhunter

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    I certainly agree with the downwind part. If I am sitting in my stand and the wind is blowing left to right across me, I will put scent in front of and behind me theoretically thinkingg that a buck coming in fron the front or back will hit the scent before he gets far enough to hit my scent. He hopefully turns into the scent and gives me a shot. All great in theory but I have never had any proof to back it.
     
  11. Deerslayer7

    Deerslayer7 Weekend Warrior

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    i dont get to crazy with it..i tried some mega-tarsal last night and had no luck with it, wondering wether or not it scared the deer away, because where im at their are rub, and rub all over this woods...which the woods is not to big at all, i just think their passing through this like a high way ...marking territory....so i might just go back to my Trails End #307...i also got ....the doe in estrous spray can from wildgame nations...ill spray that guy out when we get in full swing of the rut..
     
  12. ICALL2MUCH

    ICALL2MUCH Weekend Warrior

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    My biggest archery kill - 145ish 13pt.

    Was shot using scents. I shot him at about 30 yards, and he circled around after the shot (was with two hot does) and he crossed my drag rag....followed it right to my stand and I shot him again at 8 yards.

    See if I can find a picture. Didn't get any good ones.
     
  13. NY Bowhunter

    NY Bowhunter Grizzled Veteran

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    Only remember one time I can say for sure it worked for me. I had some tinks 69 out on a morning hunt. I was set up facing north with the wind in my face looking down a ravine that the deer travel. Behind and downwind was a plowed field and road. I just happened to look behind me for the heck of it and saw this 8 pointer cross the road and come flying in towards my stand with his nose in the air. He circled my stand spinning around in circles going crazy. I couldn't get a shot he was running around so much. Like rob said it looked like a dog going around in circles. He finally stood still with his nose in the air and I let him have it. Been hunting that stand for a long long time and never seen a single deer come from where this one did.

    Other than that? I dont' 'use the stuff anymore. I've become a pretty passive hunter as far as scents, calls etc... I don't like to introduce anything in the woods (aside from me and my gear) that isn't already there.
     
  14. iHunt

    iHunt Grizzled Veteran

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    I had some scent out last night, and 2 does got downwind of it and stopped immediately. They had their heads up, licking their nose, then turned around and went right back where they came from. Just my experience with them so far, I'll probably continue experimenting though.
     
  15. Germ

    Germ Legendary Woodsman

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    That is my mode also, but I have been trying a mock scrape setup. I have had deer in the setup, but no shooters. Over 12 years ago I used a product called scrape magic, I put the pellets in the scrape and let her go. I shot a nice 115-120'' buck in 3rd week of oct. That is my only success
     
    Last edited: Oct 26, 2009
  16. HuntingBry

    HuntingBry Die Hard Bowhunter

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    I had a drag rag out that had Silvertop (local PA scent maker) on it while hunting in NJ a few years back. A buck came in from the opposite way that I had walked and I shot him while his nose was glued to the rag I had hung from a branch. That's the only success story I have. I can't say he came to the scent, but it had his interest when I shot him.
     

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