Advice on using scents

[DanGagnon]

Hey all, looking to lean on some of your experience. Hunting some very deer heavy lands (Manitoulin Island) but also heavy pressure.

I'd really like to break the doe streak and pull a buck out of the woods, did some basic reading have settled on Tinks #69 doe I heat aerosol spray.

My question for everyone is, have you ever had a negative experiences using scents? Will it keep did away? Will it actually make a difference?

Any insight or stories would be appreciated.

[rick_iles]

I had some very good success with Tinks 69, on a scent drag. I’ve had bucks, nose down, follow my scent drag right to my stand. But that was before the synthetic stuff became law. I had no luck at all with synthetics, and gave up using it.

[MihajloSimsic]

Never had any success with synthetic estreus scents. I've heard people having more success with pissing on scrapes lol.

[werner.reiche]

I had some very good success with Tinks 69, on a scent drag. I’ve had bucks, nose down, follow my scent drag right to my stand. But that was before the synthetic stuff became law. I had no luck at all with synthetics, and gave up using it.

I had some luck with the pre-synthetics as well. Synthetics don't seem to work.

[Found]

I had great hunts with the pre-synthetics, I figured they should be illegal they worked so well. We would make a drag line and if a buck crossed the line he would follow it head down right to you. The synthetics did not see to work, I haven't used them in years.

[old outdoorsman]

I'd have to agree - synthetics don't work. Or at best they are a scent cover, not an attractant.
Bought some Golden Estrus synthetic for the first time in years to give it a try on my deer decoy this year. No lie, it smells exactly like pipe tobacco. Then I remember reading in old magazines how hunters would smoke a pipe on the stand which seemed to be a cover scent for the hunter.

[huntnmachine]

I have not had any success with Tinks or the like. Scout a good spot, sit for long hours and be quiet has always been productive for me over scents.

[impact]

The only scent I use now is a bag of corn with molasses.
Target their stomach and they shall come.

[Bushwhacker]

Hey all, looking to lean on some of your experience. Hunting some very deer heavy lands (Manitoulin Island) but also heavy pressure.

I'd really like to break the doe streak and pull a buck out of the woods, did some basic reading have settled on Tinks #69 doe I heat aerosol spray.

My question for everyone is, have you ever had a negative experiences using scents? Will it keep did away? Will it actually make a difference?

Any insight or stories would be appreciated.

Hey Dan, never had any luck with synthetic deer scents. Could just be coincidence, but I haven't seen as many deer when using them so I stopped.

I am very particular about keeping my hunting clothes as scent-free as possible -- washed in scent away detergent and kept in a sealed bin with those earth scented wafers and some leaves/small branches. I also spray down with scent killer gold before heading out.

Have had deer and black bear right under my stand and never spook.

[firedeptlt]

I have never had any success let alone with scents. I saw an explanation the other day that made a lot of sense to me.
In heavily pressured areas deer have pretty much seen it all. From dogs, atvs, calls, food and scents. How often have they followed a scent trail ( again in heavily pressured areas ) only to come across a hunter in a deer stand at the end of the trail ? Does this help create a memory? I can’t really say. If it happens enough I would say it increases their awareness of said scents.
As it has been said before in heavily pressured areas it is best to think like a deer and go where the other hunters aren’t willing to venture. Look for vegetation transition areas ie) cedars meet pines and there is usually a game trail 10’-15’ just inside either vegetation.
If people are running dogs stay just to the outside of their area as the older wiser bucks usually slip away to the sides ( dogs run whatever deer they come across and I think the bruisers know that ).
This is all easier said than done I know. Hopefully it will work out for you ( and me both ).