Control Your Scent
Use buck scent over doe scent.
IT JUST MAKES MORE SENSE.
In the spring and summer, doe scent would work like a charm, but right now in the
fall season, doe scent seems out of place. A buck is much more likely to follow
another buck’s scent, because protecting territories and antler shedding will
be a top priority.
It is important to control your own scent as well. If you’re a seasoned
hunter, this has probably been engrained in your skillset for as far back
as you can remember: Control your scent, and hunt the wind! It may
seem impossible at times, because you check your cameras, you
know the patterns, you set the food plots, and you still don’t see a
deer in sight. Your strong odor (even though it may seem subtle)
is probably what is scaring them off. Get rid of the coffee, spray
yourself down with odor neutralizers, and for Pete’s sake, don’t
start chomping on jerky when you’re getting antsy. As stated
before, a good hunter has an unsurpassable amount of
patience.
Think Like a Deer
When all else fails, you must realize that you have to
think and act like a deer to get close to one. This
means you must understand the deer’s senses,
and when you do, you’ll likely be surrounded
in a field with them in no time flat.
Deer can see and smell things far better
than you ever will, so remember that
your movement and your scent are
number one. There have been times
where hunters have been perched
in their stand, waiting for the right
moment, and then all of a sudden they
kick their step or fumble their weapon
and BAM! The deer is gone…
Keep an eye on your target at all times, and if you
can’t see the target, don’t think that it isn’t able to
see you. Deer are much more adapted than you are,
this is their turf. When a buck approaches your clearing,
he may hesitate, nodding his head up and down if he
thinks he’s seen or heard something. This is done because
a deer’s eyesight, while nearly 5 times better than yours, is still
limited, and to get a clear image, they must move their heads
around.
62 Fall 2016 Adventure Outdoors