Thunderdogg

I' ve been hunting for 22+ years, but I' ve never really used scent attractants, scent inhibitors, lures, calls, or rattling.

I generally hunted out of the same deer stand for almost 20 years and the deer populations are so large that I' ve never failed to come home with at least 2 deer a year (usually 1 buck and 1 doe). I' ve never put much into hunting, I generally just suited up in hunting garb and headed to the deer stand. Never used any kind of scent blocker, except hanging near the wood stove before going out.

This year I' m hunting in a new location, in a different state and on a small plot of land. I' m new to the area, and because the land I own is only 12 acres, I don' t have the luxury of going to where the deer are so my tactics need to change to try and bring the deer in to me. I haven' t seen many signs of bucks as far as scrapes or rubs, but I' ve seen quite a few doe so I know there' s a buck or two out there somewhere.

I' m looking for your advice as far as trying to get the deer to come to me using scents and calls or rattling.

I purchased Tinks #69, and a deer call. I' m thinking of getting a rattling bag but not sure I need it. Also going to use scent blocker spray this year on my hunting clothes. I can' t really afford the carbon scent clothes this year.

I really just want to bring the deer in, it doesn' t have to be a buck (although that would be nice...), so my questions are this:

1. What kind of deer call should I make? and how many repetitions and how long do I make them? I' m thinking just doe bleats would work, but I' ve read that some people use a doe bleat followed by a buck grunt. I' m not exactly sure how to make a doe bleat using my deer call. I found an example on a website and it was one bleat that lasted just under a second. Just need to know exactly how to make one.

2. Do I need to use anything other than Tink' s 69?

3. Should I add rattling to the calls or should I not mix the two (rattling and calls)?

4. Should I try to make a mock scrape and scent it, even though I haven' t seen any signs of a buck? I' m thinking this might bring in a buck, but not sure how far the scent would travel, or if it might scare off the does.

I' m planning on getting back down in the woods and scout a bit more before muzzleloader season starts in 2 weeks. I' m hoping the bucks will be moving now with it closer to the rut and leave some evidence (rubs, scrapes).

Your advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks a ton,

Thunder

Tomster

Mr. Thunder,

I would read up on TR Michaels message board since he offers up a lot of the information you are requesting. I too have access to new land to hunt and I try to spend some time on it looking for signs of deer, are there bedding areas or food areas. Do you see deer there and at what times?

Find out what the deer are eating and replicate it when hunting there, if legal. I know that you can buy apple scent at the local hunting store so why not use the real thing. Rattling may work during the rut. I have two antlers I fould in a garage some time ago and I use them occausionally for fun. Something to do when sitting there. Gunting takes practice and is also something to do when bored.

Good luck....

Tmster

kevin1

Good advice from Tomster , I' ll add this:

1) Grunts work in all seasons , deer grunt more often than any other sound .
2) Go easy on the scents , both attractants and cover scents , there is such a thing as too much .
3) Rattling is very easy to overdo , start out by just tickling them together then get more agressive if needed .
4) Does will come to a food lure , try apple cider , persimmon , or vanilla . Persimmon works best for me .
5) Mock scrapes work sometimes , but it' s astonishingly easy to contaminate one . I' ve found that a mock scrape scented with buck urine/tarsal from last year' s buck works well , really cheeses them off . Save the bladder(don' t spill it!) and the tarsals from your buck , put the glands into the urine in a dark glass bottle and let it sit for a day or two then freeze for later . A mock scrape without a licking branch above it doesn' t work as well as one that does .

txbowjunkie

I' ve never had much luck with attractants... you might follow Tom' s advice and check out TR' s tips. He' s got some great ones that might help ya out.

Good luck.