The Best Deer Attractants: Scents, Decoys, Calls Guide

So, how do you lure your deer into getting close to your stand so that you could take the perfect shot? Having the most powerful crossbow is not as important as these other factors when it comes to Deers. Well, there deer scents proven and tested by a lot of people that even come in different brands and types. Prior to the opening of deer season, you would see sporting goods store with a lot of deer scents available. Because there are a lot of varieties available, it could get overwhelming to choose but don’t worry we got you covered.

Glandular and Estrous Deer Scents

Estrous and Glandular deer scents are harvested from the captive, living, deer populations and there are 4 types:

1) Interdigital Glands: these are located in between their hooves on all legs and they are sparsely haired, small, sacs that are open in between the toes through a wide short duct inside that usually has a yellowish, cheesy looking material that comes with a rancid, foul smell. Because of where it is, a little amount of this is left in the deers track whenever it takes a step, but because of the molecules it’s made of, it evaporates at different rates. Every deer also has a unique scent, this is actually supposed to announce their presence to other deers in the area.

2) Preorbital Gland: the preorbital glands of a deer are small pockets which are in the front eyes of the seer and under the muscular control, these are held close most of the time. But, rutting bucks usually open these glands whenever they are marking scrapes as they rub these glands over the hanging branches or when they signal any aggressive intention to the other bucks. When they are tending to their fawn, these glands also usually open.

3) Tarsal Gland: without question this is the most important gland to whitetails and they are located inside both of the hind legs. It has a tuft of long hair on the inside of the leg of the deer and each of these hairs is associated with an enlarged secretory structure which is called the sebaceous gland that secreted fatty materials called lipid which coats the hairs completely. These hair also has specially modified scales which give a greater surface to hold the fatty material. But, according to research it is not actually the lipid that gives off the strong musky odor because the smell comes from the urine deposited on the tarsal gland during a rub-urination which is one of a common behavior of a gland. 4) Doe-in-Estrous: The short period right after the rut is called the Estrous and this a period when the doe is receptive to breeding. Doe-in-estrous is the doe urine scent which is collected from live, does that are captive during the height of their estrous period. This is done to drive a mature buck into a specific location. This is best used during the rut when the bucks are concentrating on breeding as many as possible by either laying down a false scent using a drag rag or y dispersing it into the breeze via a scent dispenser.

Synthetic Deer Scents

When we say synthetic deer scents, these are blends of natural deer scents which are man made and combined with two or more different types of scents into one single scent which is designed for a specific purpose like creating a mock scrape. In this case, you’d want to combine 2 or more scents in a single scent which is designed for a given purpose like creating a mock scrape.

Curiosity Deer Scents

Curiosity deer scents are lures which are designed to peak the curiosity of deers. This also causes them to follow the scent trail so they could investigate the source of the scent. Curiosity blends could be a mix of synthetic blends, natural blends, and they work really well. Curiosity blends are designed to attract deers anytime throughout the year.

Doe Urine Deer Scents

Doe urine scents differ from different doe-in-estrus scents because it doesn’t have the sexual hormones you could find in the doe-in-estrous scents. This could be used to simulate a strange deer into the area that would peek the curiosity of whitetail deers to the point where they would follow and investigate.

Deer Calls

Just like deer scent lures, deer calls could also be used to lure the deers in from a wider range because the hearing of a deer is almost as sensitive as their smelling sense. So, when you combine the deer call and the deer scent lures, it would be a good way to increase the odds of seeing a deer as you are in your stand.

Food Attractants and Mineral Licks

Every animal require the right food sources that would allow their body to convert into energy in combination with given minerals so that their body could function right. So, aside from deer scents, the whitetail deer can also be attracted to a specified place by offering them a food source or an essential mineral, you can also do both.

Reminder before you buy any of the ones above

When you consider to buy one or more types of deer hunting scents, there are things that you should know before you attempt to choose from any brand or type.

• There are scents which are designed specifically for whitetail deer hunters, there are also others designed for mule deer hunters and blacktail deers.
• There are deer scents which are designed to be used before the rut and others which are designed to only be used during the rut.
• Deer food attractants copy a new food source or a new mineral lick that would attract deers.
• There are different types of foliage, and there are different cover scents created for each.
• Deer food attractants simulate either a new food source or a new mineral lick.

Conclusion

There you go! Now you know all the basics about scents, decoys, calls, and etc. Now you’re more than ready to choose from the many varieties because you now have an idea what each type is for and when it’s advisable to use it. Let us know what you chose and how your experience with it was on the comment section! We’re excited to know how your hunting trip with the use of deer attractants went! Check these best motion decoys for successful duck hunting.