Vanilla extract for deer?

I have to disagree with a blanket statement, I've seen cover scents work many times as a drag. I could see the track I came in on and if I didn't use the drag the deer picked up my tracks instantly. If I used a Fox urine drag, they would cross or follow with no sign of 'alert'.

I also am a big fan of Deer Quest scent sticks. Shot a lot of deer, mostly bucks that are attracted to the scent from them.

One arrow shows the location of the scent stick..the other a downed buck.
https://i.imgur.com/5AxvM4Ym.jpg

They do work great when used properly and there are rutting deer near by.

I sprayed a lot of vanilla around my bear baits this year and had some deer pics in the few days after and that is a very low deer population area that I rarely get deer pics at, so there might be something to it.

If you're curious and want to give it a try...you can buy Vanilla sugar at the Bulk Barn for a few $.

Comes in a 6 pk and each pack is equivalent to about 2 tsp of Vanilla extract. Seems to work well, I was testing it in the shop and my wife walked in a few minutes later and wonder what I was baking. HaHa.

https://i.imgur.com/jPuMPhQm.jpg

I can tell you what doesn’t work syrup or thick syrup butter Nothing touched it

I used to catch a lot of muskrats and raccoon using fake vanilla extract mixed into home made lure. For rats I'd use a mix of vanilla, peppermint oil, and a tiny bit of beaver castor. For coon I'd mix up oil of anise, vanilla extract, and fish oil. I found they worked better than the expensive commercial lures. I think you'd be feeding your deer grain and apples to a pile of coon if you added vanilla to the site.

This afternoon tried raspberry jello powder the first time.Based on recommendations from here.
3 Does showed up-based on their path and interest,they were coming my way anyway.
After a short while the lead doe went close to the powder,stood there for a while,smelling and obviously thinking-but she never got closer then 2 feet.
Then she made a 180,turned her head like she if offended,and walked back to her family.
Zero interest in the jello powder.
They lingered around ,at 25-30 yards,for 15 min,then melted away.
No shots taken.

Corn + molasses, apples & carrots have all worked for me. I also use a mineral supplement year round for general health and to help hold/pattern them. They always return to the same mineral sites, only difference is there is some additional food come fall.

No synthetic estrus or buck urine scents for me.

The only cover scent I use when bow hunting is racoon urine. It works great!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gbk

This afternoon tried raspberry jello powder the first time.Based on recommendations from here.
3 Does showed up-based on their path and interest,they were coming my way anyway.
After a short while the lead doe went close to the powder,stood there for a while,smelling and obviously thinking-but she never got closer then 2 feet.
Then she made a 180,turned her head like she if offended,and walked back to her family.
Zero interest in the jello powder.
They lingered around ,at 25-30 yards,for 15 min,then melted away.
No shots taken.

---

They don’t eat the jello powder. Just brings memories of grandma making cookies or in their cause smells of summertime raspberry’s that where there one day stolen by birds the next
that pause is all that’s required

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MikePal

I have to disagree with a blanket statement, I've seen cover scents work many times as a drag. I could see the track I came in on and if I didn't use the drag the deer picked up my tracks instantly. If I used a Fox urine drag, they would cross or follow with no sign of 'alert'.

I also am a big fan of Deer Quest scent sticks. Shot a lot of deer, mostly bucks that are attracted to the scent from them.

One arrow shows the location of the scent stick..the other a downed buck.
https://i.imgur.com/5AxvM4Ym.jpg

They do work great when used properly and there are rutting deer near by.

---

I'm going to finally try these... I've read your posts in the past about them. I bought a pack or two a few years back and never used them. Stored them in a tube container and forgot about them in the garage. Saw them the other day and wondered if they'd still be effective given that they were bought so long ago.. but I can't see them having a shelf life... so will try them