Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: Pat B on August 20, 2020, 10:43:12 am

Title: Attracting and cover scents
Post by: Pat B on August 20, 2020, 10:43:12 am
After reading the recent thread about baiting on TradGang got me thinking...are attracting or cover scents considered baiting? I've used both. I've never had much luck with attracting scents like Doe in Heat, etc. The few times I tried them, at the appropriate time of year seemed to scare off deer or at least they become very alert and to me these scents are counter productive. I have used cover scents on my boots, specifically fox urine or fresh deer urine or even walking in a fresh cow pie on my way to the stand. With the fox pee I've had both foxes and deer follow my trail right to the stand but as far as estrus scents or dominant buck scent they seem to scare off most deer. I know that in some areas they can be very productive but do you consider them baiting?
 We all know that your best cover is using the air movement in your favor.
Title: Re: Attracting and cover scents
Post by: Hawkdancer on August 20, 2020, 11:09:13 am
Haven't used either, but I think baiting involves a food or supplement placed to draw the game to a specific spot for hunting purposes.  Legal in some states, and highly frowned on to the extreme in others.  Using cover scents would not be baiting as you are trying to "hide" your scent in my opinion.
Hawkdancer
Title: Re: Attracting and cover scents
Post by: osage outlaw on August 20, 2020, 11:36:08 am
As far as my state, if it's just a scent, its not baiting.  If it's anything for them to eat, that is considered baiting.  Similar to my water hole.  If its plain water it's legal.  If I add apple flavor or something than that's baiting. 

For cover scent, I stomp on walnuts or osage fruit before I enter the woods.  I smear it all over my boots and pant legs.   It's a natural smell that they are used to in my area.  It has worked very well for me.  I've never used much as far as attractant scent.
Title: Re: Attracting and cover scents
Post by: Pat B on August 20, 2020, 12:03:21 pm
I've seen attracting scents that smelled like corn, apples, grapes, etc. Even though these are only scents they smell like foods deer eat. Why wouldn't something that smells like corn, apples or grapes be like spreading apples, corn or grapes around your stand. I have never hunted near a corn field or apple trees because where I have hunted they weren't available but I have hunted near grapes. It's the scent of the ripe grapes that attracts the deer.
 Just my "stay at home" brain at work I guess.   ::) Too much time to think.
Title: Re: Attracting and cover scents
Post by: JEB on August 20, 2020, 12:35:01 pm
I still have a 1960's tube of green camo face paint that has the apple scent to it.  But then again I am old and so it the camo tube,lol
Title: Re: Attracting and cover scents
Post by: osage outlaw on August 20, 2020, 01:05:20 pm
I copied this from our regulations:

Bait is considered any product that is transported into a hunting area and placed there for animal consumption. Baits can be in the form of salt, mineral blocks, prepared solid or liquid, or piles of apples or other food that is intended for the animal to eat.
Title: Re: Attracting and cover scents
Post by: chamookman on August 21, 2020, 02:37:18 am
For more than 30 yrs, I've always carried a Film canister, with cotton inside and  a clothes pin taped to it - filled with Vanilla extract. wonderful cover scent. Had Deer downwind Danger Close - and not got busted. the clothes pin is for attaching to a sm Limb or Stick - works like a Charm. Bob
Title: Re: Attracting and cover scents
Post by: Eric Krewson on August 21, 2020, 07:17:25 am
I had a lot of fawns follow me to my tree when I used a product called "cover up" many years ago, I it was nothing bit vanilla extract, at least it smelled like it.

I had mixed results with the various flavor of the day deer attractants and cover scents, mostly negative with an occasional buck that would show an interest in them.

I remember when skunk scent was the rage, phew, then fox pee, which wasn't much better.

I used to do all the scent free routines, now I don't wear camo, wear my hunting clothes unwashed for months (wool) until they get blood on them and hunt the wind. I actually have more opportunities to kill deer than I did back in the unscented days, I let most of them walk though.
Title: Re: Attracting and cover scents
Post by: Hawkdancer on August 21, 2020, 11:29:17 am
Clint,
I assume that salt/mineral blocks for livestock are exempt?  Game animals don't care who it is put there for, however.
Hawkdancer
Title: Re: Attracting and cover scents
Post by: mullet on August 21, 2020, 01:01:26 pm
My wife just bought the oils to make me a batch of cedar/vanilla cover soap. Curious how it works this year.
Title: Re: Attracting and cover scents
Post by: Pat B on August 21, 2020, 01:05:32 pm
Jerry, in the states I've hunted in, NC, SC and GA I believe you can't hunt within 100 yards of man made salt licks. I'm not sure about natural salt deposits. I would guess they are acceptable to hunt near.
Title: Re: Attracting and cover scents
Post by: Deerhunter21 on August 21, 2020, 01:14:39 pm
i wonder if they come to the vanilla smell because they are looking for fruit/sweet smelling stuff like corn, beans and stuff like that.... just a thought
Title: Re: Attracting and cover scents
Post by: osage outlaw on August 21, 2020, 07:22:45 pm
Mineral blocks or powder are considered baiting.  Doesn't matter if it's for livestock.  It's still illegal.
Title: Re: Attracting and cover scents
Post by: bjrogg on August 21, 2020, 07:39:56 pm
Mineral blocks or powder are considered baiting.  Doesn't matter if it's for livestock.  It's still illegal.

Same here.
Bjrogg
Title: Re: Attracting and cover scents
Post by: mullet on August 22, 2020, 07:37:02 am
You can't use any attractant that is made from deer urine or parts in SC, now.
Title: Re: Attracting and cover scents
Post by: Pat B on August 22, 2020, 07:55:42 am
Is that for disease control, Eddie.
Title: Re: Attracting and cover scents
Post by: chamookman on August 23, 2020, 01:34:03 am
It is here in Michigan Pat. Bob
Title: Re: Attracting and cover scents
Post by: mullet on August 23, 2020, 01:26:17 pm
Yes, Pat. They started it last year.
Title: Re: Attracting and cover scents
Post by: Pappy on August 24, 2020, 05:20:27 am
You can put out salt/mineral blocks here, as long as they are 80% salt. Can't be mixed with apples/corn anything else, just salt, minerals. I have 10 or so on my farm, don't really hunt over them, never really seen them used much after the weather turns colder, I put them mainly for the deer to have in the summer months. I have a couple of stands that are in site but that's because their is White oak or persimmons in the area. ;)
 Pappy
Title: Re: Attracting and cover scents
Post by: archeryrob on August 24, 2020, 06:44:57 am
Deer have a stronger nose than a dog and a dog can smell every ingredient in a cake separately. So you can use a scent but it will not prevent the deer from actually smelling your scent. It only covers scents to us.  I have been using an ozone generator in a closet for the past year and a half and got amazing results. If I run it the night before ozone says on my clothes and binds with scent particles to neutralize them.

Title: Re: Attracting and cover scents
Post by: JW_Halverson on August 24, 2020, 03:03:11 pm
I've got some deer tallow and deer tallow/olive oil soap left if you need scent free soap. It has a pretty good content of glycerine, so it softens skin, too.

Just no added stinkum.
Title: Re: Attracting and cover scents
Post by: HH~ on August 24, 2020, 06:34:55 pm
Never used cover, attractant or urine scents. Never will. No need. I have mineral licks on east and west of area. Doe use them heavy during the pre and post fawning. Then, not so much after weather tells them to start putting on fat for winter.’

A good unmolested mineral lick does a few things. If you only have a couple it works better depending on acerage.

A. Doe use them a lot in late spring and summer. They become at ease and familiar when frequenting them.

B. Where doe frequent bucks will check as a matter habit during pre rut.

The nest cover up cant beat an old experienced buck when he gets down wind. Stay clean, use your stand as best you can for forcasted winds.

You get one or two good chances every season. Lots must go right to even draw string on a goodun! Make the most of your opportunity.

Shawn
Title: Re: Attracting and cover scents
Post by: S.C. hunter on September 25, 2020, 10:29:50 am
I think you can if the deer came from S.C.  You cant use bought lures that were produced from out of state deer.