I thought I would share this with you guys, it's not really bow hunting related (wasnt for me atleast), but some folks find it interesting, and some still argue about it. My brother and I, went down to a small field on my land, next to a creek, where the deer were always passing through. We built a blind out of white vinyle siding, right in the middle of the field. Then each time we went down there, we would change socks and leave our sweaty ones hanging in the blind, and then would urinate all over the trees around it (no this isnt a joke). For the first few days, movement in the area stopped. But after the first week, contrary to everything we get told by Hunting Magazines and television, the deer came back. 2 weeks and things were back to normal. On several ocasions while down there, we would see deer. My first time actually hunting the spot, I killed a 6 pointer, 12 yards from the blind, with a 18.5" barrel Mossberg 12 gauge, while wearing a bright red hoodie and drinking coffee. No calls, no scents. It all started over an argument with a realitive, over camo and cover scent, so us being us, had to prove him wrong. What we discovered, was frequenting an area, and spreading your scent, was just as important (if not more so important) as camo and cover scents. Its been several years back, but I will try to dig out the pics of the blind, area and the deer. Nowadays, due to work, I dont have the time to put into it, like I did then, as I was down there everyday, sometimes twice a day. Now I have to use camo and cover scents. But it was a fun little experiment, and the time spent with my brother in the woods was priceless. Sorry if I bored you, but I just thought I would share our strange experience.
So you're saying the key is getting the deer acclimated to human scent. Thats definitely interesting but I'm not buying it. Here lately, I havent been using any cover scents. I believe if a deer is down-wind of you and the wind hits their nose right, they are going to smell you. So, I just play the wind the best I can. I also pee from my stands whenever I have the urge and I have not noticed a negative impact when deer are in the area. What part of SW Virginia do you reside?
Carroll County The reason we tried that technique, is my Dad used to walk the property daily, taking pictures. He had some awesome pictures of a doe and fawns laying in some tall grass, not far from him at all. Another example, is a friend that burns trash/brush before he goes into his stand. It's all in what they get used to. Like I said, not everyone believes it, and it's not worth arguing about. But I've seen it first hand, and know it works. Just by sitting still, I've had them come as close to 10 yards with me just parking my ass on the dirt. Think of it this way. If you pour out corn preseason, and racoon's and turkey feed off of it too, does that bother the deer ? No, because they are used to coexsisting. Humans are usually abscure from deer, so when your scent suddenly pops up near their normal paths, naturally a flag goes up. But if you are in the area, year around, atleast 3 to 4 times per week. You just become a normal thing. I will add this; my "spot" is about a 1/2 mile from an Apple Orchard and a 1/4 mile from a large (350 yards from end to end) garden thats planted every year, and along side a creek. So maybe that helps me with their travel habits ? I was just sharing though, not trying to develop a following or make believers
all deer must be different, i have watched a few deer since july, a 4pt would come in to the bait everyday, and a bear, sometimes within 10 mins of each other. the 8pt would come in and sniff around then run away. the 8pt will also not eat apples. mon,tue,and wed,of last week i had all 3 bucks coming in around dusk on the thur,morning a bear came in and from the thur-till sun the last time i checked the camera no deer came back.. now if i check it next week and they have become use to the smell of the bear i'll buy it! not saying your story aint true....all deer are different.
I agree 100% with the 1st poster. I live in a subdivision of about 50 homes in central Va. When the weather is right for deer to move, they move thru the woods, they move between houses, they will eat from the front yard. Of course they'll spook from dogs and "threatening" movement, but scents have never been an issue. I've seen them grazing from the morning glory vines that are covering the fence beside the garage(while I'm in there cutting and welding) My usual hunting outfit is the same jeans, boots, and carhart jacket I work in most days. I can't think of more than a couple times where I have spooked a deer by scent alone.Cover scents are not"covering" anything, you're simply trying to add a stronger scent with the hopes that you distract them from your own odors. My next door neighbor is a high-end furniture maker and works out of his home. From 7AM-7PM, the sounds of planers, routers, hammers, chisels are going(granted it cuts down on being able to hear the deer in the woods). He's always staining, varnishing, whatever other chemicals are required to do the job. Bambi and friends are always leveling his garden...it's all about what they accept as "normal".
I agree with this. I want to go into the woods smelling like NOTHING. I only spray my boots down with cover scent. Everything else, i go to great lengths to have smell like nothing at all. You have to think of hunting areas like this- deer were born with the wounds and odors of the area they live. It's part of their everyday interaction. In the urban areas I hunt, I can spook deer walking into my stand and they'll come right back 10mins later. They're used to seeing people ALL day. Some of them dont even run, they just walk away keeping about a 60yard gap between us. Other spots I hunt, if a deer sees you even a few hundred yards away- it's gone, and, probably not coming back. It's all about what they are used to. If it happens everyday, they're gonna deal with it.
I think it all depends on where you live and the kind of pressure the deer are accustomed to. If you live in suburban areas with lots of houses and roads then the deer are accustomed to that. Some spots I have access to hunt butt up to neighboring subdivisions. We will sometimes get people who wonder into the woods to simply look around. If I see them I kindly tell them that they are not welcomed and most dont take any offense to it. As far as the deer go though this is something that they are used to. I have been able to walk through the woods before with street cloths on and no cover scents and walked within 30 yards of deer. Once I come across them I just keep walking through like nothing is going on and they stay still and just watch until I am out of sight. It is kinda of cool how it happens. Now on the other hand I have been walking in before in the afternoon and had deer spot me even further than 30 yards and spook. I will be cover scented and creeping along quitely. They know when something isn't right. They will blow everytime and leave the area. I imagine in bigger wide open places with lots of open free ranging acres of land the deer are very timid to humans and there scents. You have to take every precaution walking in and covering your scent. They are not used to seeing or hearing humans on a regular basis. It all depends on the areas you hunt.
Ok, here is a pic from above. Yellow= Vinyl Blind Blue= The small stream Green= Deer's main path through Red= Where I have set up for my bow Anything to the right of the water, is a VERY steep hillside.
What if a buck shows up to your spot and has never been there before which can easily happen during the rut? He wouldn't be used to the smell of your sweaty socks and urine. I guess it's all about what you are after.... It's not too tough to fool a 6 pointer as a young buck is about the dumbest animal in the woods especially if they are rutting Me...I'm after mature bucks...so peeing and leaving stinky clothes all over my hunting spot is the last thing I would do
A good friend of mine is a full time farmer, drive a old rusty junk white truck and he always has these old diesel fuel soaked cover all's he wears everywhere... and being on the ground every day he knows every deer and where he can find them at any time of the day. This guys kills 150-180 deer every -year (gun hunter) and he sits on the ground in this garb the deer are so used to the smell and to his truck he is part of the land scape so to speak. As for me i would rather my son drive me right up to my stand that is located on field edges i slip out the door and up the tree while he drives off, later he picks me up the same way. deer get used to certain things that go by slow and steady. All i am saying is there is more than one way to skin a cat.
I dont do it anymore, I think you missed that part. I just dont have the time to put into it. Thats great for bragging rights, but antlers don't cook up for ****, or even taste very well, doesn't matter if it's 2 or 22 points.
