Calling and scents

[RiverRat88]

Maybe this topic has been beaten down a lot but im looking for some basic tips..
Headed to wmu 42 on Friday morning for the weekend for the deer rifle hunt. First deer hunt, its on a friends property, about 130 acres on the French river with surrounding crown land.

Its both of our first deer hunts (although he's been present for a couple of controlled hunts)

His property has had no pressure this past year and a half and from what hes seen and heard, little to no pressure near his property. Hes a busy guy but has been able to get a couple does on cam, one with a Fawn.

Theres a swampy area with a decent pond, a creek, some hardwoods above a small ridgeline and poplar stands closer to the swamp in between the pond and hardwoods.

I am only there from around noon on Friday to noon Sunday. Not a lot of time for a deer hunt, maybe some would see the time bettet spent maybe duck hunting the pond or grouse hunting the Bush but we really want to get going on deer.

Just curious without knowing the patterns too well aside from the general area and path of the does (which im sure is changing) how should we go about with calling and scents? I got stuff to help us cover our odour. Going to try a smoke stick or two. Should we maybe put some doe estrus out on Friday afternoon for the next morning?

I know with calling less is more. I have tbe buck roar call that grunts and wheezes and a doe estrus can. So what kind if order do i use them in? If a buck is I'm sight but I need it a little closer what brings them in more than the others? I just wouldnt want to say, grunt when it was time for a doe call, or vice versa and many other combos.

Any help is huge thanks a lot, we wont have crazy high expectations but just want to give it a go and hunt hard for those few days and want to understand which calls mean what to the deer at what time. I know I could scour the forums and online but id like to see what guys in ontario are doing these days and maybe someone is familiar with the area

Also im shooting a savage edge in .243

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[smitty55]

To be honest if I was in your position I would initially forgo all scents and calling, and concentrate on being as unintrusive as possible. That sounds like it's been a quiet property and I'm of the mind that introducing all sorts of new sounds and scents is just as likely to spook them rather than attract. Move slow and quiet, learn the property and see what you find for sign. Always try to have the wind in your face or crossing as often as you can. Now if things are real dead then you may decide to try a stand with estrous scents and rattling/calling. Don't put scent out the night before, just fresh at your stand. Remember that if you do attract a buck with sound often he will want to get downwind to verify with his nose what his ears are suggesting. So your stand must be set up with the wind in mind. Physical barriers like cliff or a pond or a lake or river in your case can be used to advantage.
Swampy areas are good as they generally provide bedding areas, but don't venture too close unless you guys decide to do a slow still hunt along it and post the other guy at the end, say like mid morning Sunday after your morning sit. You'll be leaving anyway.
You mentioned hardwoods. Has your buddy mentioned anything about a good acorn crop? If so hunt it. I know around here it's a lousy year.
Now this is assuming you will be hunting this private property for years hopefully, but while you're both sneaking around out there and as you learn the property, keep an eye out for good spots to build some natural ground blinds, once built a fall refresh is all that's needed. I'm a big fan of them, deer are used to them, your body is hidden even better than than a new blob 15' up in a tree. Sneak in, sneak out, mobile, no climbing, no harnesses, way safer, less wind and more time in stand in cold and/or wet crappy weather.

It's a shame you're only getting 48 hours to hunt, but so be it. Hunt first to last light, and always carry good strong flashlights and marker tape. Last light can be the best time of the day to see a big lad, but you need to be prepared to track at night just in case. Regardless, I have no doubt you will thoroughly enjoy your first ever hunt weekend. Good for you.

Cheers

[RiverRat88]

Thanks for that, its defenitely unfortunate we only have that limited time but hey, he has a newborn and my wifes pregnant so any time we get is a bonus. And yes we will be hunting it and learning it for years to come absolutely. Its a toss up whether we should go after deer with such limited time or just small game/birds/ducks which is what we are used to in an afternoon or morning here and there. But with having everything we need, the season being open, and the eagerness to get into deer hunting its hard not to. Either way will be a fun weekend and I'm sure we'll both learn a lot

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[Hawkman]

I agree with smitty55
You are entering the animals' living room, so they will not appreciate the rush of new smells and sounds and keep away from you!
With hunting, you never know what is going to work every time and in every situation. If it did most of us would get their deer year after year and it would become boring to be honest.
Most fishing lures are designed to catch the fishermen (and their wallets), not the fish. By the same token, deer calls and scents, etc., are products that generate profits for sure and not necessarily consistent results for the hunters who buy and use them!
Also, a product from Texas or Florida may not work in Ontario anyway.
I once had success by creating a large dirt patch with the heals of my boots! Deer are curious animals and a pair came to investigate the fresh smell of that dirt. It was last legal light and I had antlerless validation on my tag, so the large doe got a .307 bullet to the forehead because I hadn't even seen the buck following her, hidden to the left of it.
Some people spray vanilla, or use the apple cooker. Others swear by Tink's #69 or smearing peanut butter on the surrounding trees.
In a short hunt like yours, you need to ambush their existing trails, once you discover them. Don't walk on those trails if you decide to follow them and see where they lead to. Pay attention to the antler rubs on those trails and if there are fresh droppings. When I find an active trail I sit in an elevated position if available and keep the wind in my face while watching over those travel paths.
Deer are magical. They appear out of nowhere just at sunset, no matter where you are in the forest. No idea how they do that almost every time but hey I only started deer hunting myself in 1984, so I am still learning...

Good Luck. Play safe and don't forget to post your success story later, eh!

[RiverRat88]

So if I find a rub that looks fresh, play the wind and set up anticipating his return? Or just any spot along that trail where im elevated and out of sight and the wind is keeping me hidden?

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[RiverRat88]

Also the idea is a deer hunt. But with minimal time not only to hunt but to hang out with my buddy we may decide to scrap the deer and hunt and just go for ducks and geese over his pond, does anyone think its late for that area? Ive only duck hunter around KW in the past right into december

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[punkrockerpj]

hey pal. i used to live in 39 and the area bordered 42 believe. in terms of waterfowl they are around but moving south. depending on where exactly you are, if its the french river it should still hold some birds. on my drives i saw deer kicking around the french river, it's worth sitting with a rifle but if you are wanting to kick back with a buddy, either waterfowl or upland is the way to go as you wont be telling your friend to shut up in order to not spook your deer

[RiverRat88]

Thanka pj thats kind of where my heads at, will probably bring everything with me and just game day decision. We are both super eager to start getting into deer hunting but sitting in a blind together shooting the breeze on the edge of a pond or the river is pretty darn enticing. Just tough with the lack of time we have available amd so many options!

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[Hawkman]

Hmmm... Sounds like you suffer from multiple diseases like many of us do!!!
Any outing should be fun, but deer hunts and waterfowling are like apples and oranges in comparison!
You could do a morning duck hunt, then have a , change gear and do an afternoon sit for deer.
When I was younger I used to do a morning bow hunt for deer, then go back to the car and switch to shotgun for small game.

As for your question, there are no guarantees no matter what you do, but I would play the wind and just sit patiently along the trail.