Slash Posted September 4, 2009 Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 I've sat in my stand a couple times now in the past few months to scout and see how close I can get the deer to come in. Unfortunately I've had 1 doe come under my stand and the rest just seem to know what is up and stay far away from my stand and from the corn put out for them. Opening day is 8 days away and I'm extremely worried that I won't be able to put a tag on a big buck for the simple reason that the deer can smell me. I wash my camo with scent away detergent, spray scent away on my clothes just before I leave, and still the deer know I'm there. Please share any tips or secrets that you have tried in the past and either worked or didn't work. Much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotashRLS Posted September 4, 2009 Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 I will be totally honest with you............don't educate your deer prior to season. Hang your stands early and STAY OUT! Rely on your off season scouting and adjust after season opens. Deer will still smell you if you are not smart with the wind, regardless of the "scent killing" products you use. Keep your clothes clean and sweat free. Hang them under a shelter outside all season long. We get dressed outside and you know how cold it gets up here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion_70 Posted September 4, 2009 Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 Have to agree with Potash, sounds like those deer already have your stand pinned down. I woulnd't go back to that stand until opening day, and only if the wind is right. If when you were scouting and you saw a different area the deer were traveling, it might be best to move the stand there now, and stay out. A lot of times when hunting corn, it's best to hunt the trails coming in anyway. They know the corn was put there by a human and are very skiddish when eating, they'll jump the string quick too over corn. Back up a hundred yards or more from the corn in the direction they're coming from and hang the stand there. Odds are you won't shoot a big buck over corn anyway, they seem to only visit after shooting hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawgitall Posted September 4, 2009 Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 Are they picking up your outline. Make sure as they approach that you cannot easlily be skylined. I would find a couple different spots to hunt depending on the wind direction. Let the wind dictate which one to hunt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted September 4, 2009 Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 don't educate your deer prior to season. Hang your stands early and STAY OUT! Rely on your off season scouting and adjust after season opens.. I agree. Deer can pattern our movements better than we can pattern theirs if you're not careful. The element of surprise is what it's all about. sounds like those deer already have your stand pinned down. I woulnd't go back to that stand until opening day, and only if the wind is right. If when you were scouting and you saw a different area the deer were traveling, it might be best to move the stand there now, and stay out. A lot of times when hunting corn, it's best to hunt the trails coming in anyway. They know the corn was put there by a human and are very skiddish when eating, they'll jump the string quick too over corn. Back up a hundred yards or more from the corn in the direction they're coming from and hang the stand there. Odds are you won't shoot a big buck over corn anyway, they seem to only visit after shooting hours. more good advice Are they picking up your outline. Make sure as they approach that you cannot easily be sky-lined. I would find a couple different spots to hunt depending on the wind direction. Let the wind dictate which one to hunt! Deer can spot the slightest movements just as good as they can smell. It could be that you're movements in the stand have given you away and now they've got you pegged. As well as trying to be human scent free, I like to use a bit of cover scent just to screw with their noses..LOL. Deer love the smell of freshly turned earth, so I like to use a bit of that fresh earth scent. Happy Huntin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbuckkilla89 Posted September 4, 2009 Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 I wash my clothes in scent away detergent and then keep em in a scent away storage bag outside of my house. Befor goin huntin I take a shower with scent away shampoo and body wash. I keep a bottle of scent away in my bowcase and spraydown befor going to my stand especially my boots i soak em down. I never have trouble with deer windin me even with the wind blowin directly at em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camoman1 Posted September 4, 2009 Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 I agree with everybody elses ideas as well. I have an observation stand I put up every year so I can see over the corn and into the hay field behind......but I am easily 200yds from where the deer are going to be. Except for the first time I sat in it, I unexpectedly had a 7pt at 5 yds LOL The other thing that I have had some success with is cover scents...like coon or fox urine. Dont take a bath in the stuff, but a little squirt on the bottom of each boot can go a long way. Ive had deer stop and smell it, but never become alarmed in any way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckbuster11 Posted September 4, 2009 Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 Yeah you should definately never even think about sitting in your stand multiple times over the summer if you are after a big buck in that location. Which way is the wind blowing when your in that stand? You can wash your clothes in scent away detergent all day but if the wind is blowing right into their face they are still going to get you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted September 4, 2009 Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 Maybe it was that "cover scent" you were using on your boots!!!...LOL seriously, I think the field work that took place recently there had much more to do with deer movement than your presence...also they have shed the velvet now...so they become a little more independant and start to spread out too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slash Posted September 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 I have a good notion that one of the family cats sprayed my boots with a special cover scent that the deer probably didn't like too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUTNSTRUT Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 You also might not want to be dumping corn yet,as it is illegal until 24 hrs before the season starts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stinger-Hunter Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 My advice is to rewash all your clothes in Baking Soda two times and then wash them in just plain water two more times. Hand dry them outside and leave them there until the morning of the hunt. The other thing is do not take a shower with any type of soap (scentless or not) the morning of the hunt and my recommendation is to only take a water shower the night before. I've had great luck with this strategy after being busted a bunch of times while using the hunting scentless soap morning of a hunt. To be extra sure, I would put baking soda under the arm pits and lightly in your hat. I'm serious. if it is a scent thing - that will take care of it. The scentless soaps are scentless to us, not deer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 Personally, I've never liked the scent-away products. Maybe coincidence, but I really think deer can smell it, or they winded me every time I used it. Good advice mentioned above, I'll add that anyone that tells you there is some sure-fire way that deer won't smell you is blowing smoke. We all have our preferences, but if the wind's just right, you're still rolling the dice. I'll take my camo hanging out in the breeze for a few hours over any scent elimination product I've used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 I will be totally honest with you............don't educate your deer prior to season. Hang your stands early and STAY OUT! That pretty well sums up my feelings. The best time to hunt your stand is the first time. As a rule of thumb after that your odds decrease due to the deer patterning you. If you've been sitting in your stands the deer don't know the difference between that and hunting them. Best to leave it be until the season opens once it's set and ready to hunt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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