Scents and Calls
Contributors to this thread:Whitetail Deer
From: UtahSlinger
27-Aug-23
I’m headed to Kansas November 6 for my first whitetail hunt. I’ve only ever hunted Mule Deer and elk out west so this is a new experience for me. I’m looking for some help as far as scents and calls to use while I’m in Kansas? Also, any general whitetail pointers you think would be helpful?
I appreciate any feedback you can offer.
From: Groundhunter
27-Aug-23
I like calls. As a trapper, I dl am very careful on scents period. Check with locals in the area you, for advise. Good luck. Calling is very suggestive. Sometimes it's a winner, to close the deal, most times, best to be quiet.
From: Michael
27-Aug-23
I would save the money on the scents but a good grunt call and rattling answers are a must for a Kansas hunt.
Kansas deer are wired aggressive. Every Kansas buck I have shot came in after I rattled.
From: UtahSlinger
27-Aug-23
Any recommendations for grunt or bleat calls?
From: Catscratch
27-Aug-23
I prefer to be scent free and call very little. I do love to hunt that time of season with a buck decoy though. I seldom call blind. Usually wait until I can see one that interst me but isn't on route to see the decoy. Once the decoy has been seen I go silent.
From: Groundhunter
27-Aug-23
I had a True Talker but lost it. The new ones are junk.
From: LBshooter
31-Aug-23
Well calls can be a death nail if your hunting heavily pressured public land. Everyone and their mother grunts,bleats etc... As far as scents. I've had good luck with bringing in deer with some. Special golden estrus, ever calm vs1, exspensive, and one of my favorites is the tinks all season sticks. I like to use them on wi day days in woods, it seems to confuse the deer and they search for the source, give it a try.
From: LBshooter
31-Aug-23
Well calls can be a death nail if your hunting heavily pressured public land. Everyone and their mother grunts,bleats etc... As far as scents. I've had good luck with bringing in deer with some. Special golden estrus, ever calm vs1, exspensive, and one of my favorites is the tinks all season sticks. I like to use them on wi day days in woods, it seems to confuse the deer and they search for the source, give it a try.
From: btnbuck
31-Aug-23
I've not hunted deer in Kansas, but I've sealed the deal on a lot of bucks by grunting a few times to coax them a little closer for a shot opportunity. I like to use evercalm also but find that sex type scents usually bring in immature deer.
From: Bigdog 21
01-Sep-23
I use a cover scent, coon on some cotton balls all around my stand about 15 yards.. calls work but most the time the deer will be on alert and edge. Coming in.. and can pin point you 100yds away. Go easy on it.
From: craigmcalvey
01-Sep-23
Evercalm scent is the only thing I use. I find using calls very sparingly works better for me due to the heavy hunting pressure here in Michigan.
From: Jack Harris
01-Sep-23
no to scents, yes to good grunt tube and rattling device (synthetic is fine usually). Don't over do it. I often only use when I see a buck I am interested in that is walking away. Doing it "blind" can often yield bad results as they will generally approach the buck they just heard grunt or bucks they just heard fighting - from downwind. In that case the only thing they will smell is "you"
From: Cheesehead Mike
01-Sep-23
I concur with no scents unless you want an immature buck. I used scents many years ago but I've been more successful on big bucks since I started hunting as scent free as possible. Grunt calls and rattling antlers are a must. I have several grunt calls including the True Talker but my favorite is the Primos buck roar. There are times when the extra volume of that call can help and the roar really works. I killed a lot of good bucks thanks to that call. The open country and cruising bucks in Kansas is very conducive to decoying too.
From: AaronShort
01-Sep-23
I wish they would ban scents along with the corn.
From: DanaC
01-Sep-23
Anytime you use scents or calls you are giving away information. "*Something* is over there" is enough to put any animal on alert. You may draw the curious ones in but you'll never see the spooky ones. How's the hunting pressure where you are?
From: t-roy
01-Sep-23
I haven’t used scents since the late 80s, and had minimal positive results when I did try them. Calls and rattling, on the other hand, have been very effective for me. I rarely blind rattle, but if I see a shooter buck in the distance, I’ll try to get his attention with some grunts or possibly a snort/wheeze, then I’ll rattle if he can’t hear the grunts. I try to never call or rattle to a buck if he’s looking in my direction. I’ll wait till he’s looking away or walking. I don’t want him to know exactly where I am, if possible. They’re incredibly good at pinpointing where you’re at, so by only calling when they’re looking away or walking, I feel that it’s a bit more difficult for them to zone in precisely where I’m at. Personally, I haven’t had much success with doe bleats, but some guys have.
From: Rut Nut
02-Sep-23
Grunt tube for sure! I use the hands free type as I can draw and still grunt. Over the years I have shot 3 bucks that I know would have been alive had I NOT had my grunt tube. It’s great for calling a buck into range that was too far to shoot. I actually had one do a complete 360 and come back around on the same trail that it took past my stand quickly and surprised me the first time before I was ready. It was like he was on a string!
From: Iowa booner hunter
02-Sep-23
If he did a complete 360 he would have never got close to your tree??
From: 2Wild Bill
02-Sep-23
Primos Lil' can goes with me on every deer hunt. I also use a True Talker during the rut. I've had mixed results with scents, however, I will continue to use estrus doe during the rut.
From: Woods Walker
02-Sep-23
I agree totally with no scent. Calling can work, but with bowhunting it can be tricky because if they come to a call, they are LOOKING for something and when I take a bowshot I want them preferably focused on nibbling on something and unalerted.
When we called, we'd set up so that there were two of us, one being the caller, and the other the shooter, who'd be set up so that the deer would go by them first. But even then it could be tough because the the deer is looking/alert.
Now if I'm gun hunting......BRING IT!!!
From: MDW
03-Sep-23
Back when I was doing bowhunter ed classes, I would always get asked what my best scent was and my answer was "they all did their main job when you bought them".
From: LBshooter
03-Sep-23
As far as scents go ,yes, they don't work all of the time and if you don't use them properly then yes, you'll have bad results. I believe most take scent and put it in when they first get into the woods and walk to their stands. That is the wrong way, you need to get to your stand then walk trials away from your stand. I use a trailing scent which shall remain nameless, and I have seen deer put their nose down and follow it like a beagle on a bunny trial. Certain days they work on certain deer, not 100% but they do work. Special golden estrus, conquest ever calm and vs1 , and tip K all season sticks have all worked for me, so see for yourself. If nothing else it will give you hope that something will come in and will keep you focused.
From: LBshooter
03-Sep-23
As far as scents go ,yes, they don't work all of the time and if you don't use them properly then yes, you'll have bad results. I believe most take scent and put it in when they first get into the woods and walk to their stands. That is the wrong way, you need to get to your stand then walk trials away from your stand. I use a trailing scent which shall remain nameless, and I have seen deer put their nose down and follow it like a beagle on a bunny trial. Certain days they work on certain deer, not 100% but they do work. Special golden estrus, conquest ever calm and vs1 , and tip K all season sticks have all worked for me, so see for yourself. If nothing else it will give you hope that something will come in and will keep you focused.
From: Cheesehead Mike
09-Sep-23
I'm curious to see pictures of mature bucks that were positively lured in with scents and killed.
My biggest gripe with scent use is the empty bottles of Tinks I find laying on the ground and scent wicks I find hanging in the trees on public land in the various states I hunt! I wish people would take their crap out with them.
From: LBshooter
09-Sep-23
I agree with you on the liter Mike, ashame these idiots don't pickup. I had a huge deer come in last season and I had two scents out. One was a tinks stick which I have total faith in, he distance that smoke covers just works. I also had some con guest VS 1 out,p so as to which brough him in can't say. I believe the two scents did the trick, the only problem was I missed lol. Scents don't always work but I have had success with them and for me, I'm meat Hunter so any dumb deer that comes in gets the wood.
From: TREESTANDWOLF
09-Sep-23
I’m from the “No Scent” crowd.
I sure know some guys that swear by it.
Awhile back I used “ Nose Jammer”. Some deer were curious, others freaked out.
I definitely use a snort wheeze at times and definitely rattle a little when I’m using a decoy.
Intend to think ( and I’m no expert) that some deer have different attitudes and responses at different times during the season.
Hunting is supposed to be fun, I say try a little and see if it works. It may or may not but at least you will Come to your own conclusion.
We all have our own theories and methods that we try and outwit our quarry.
Go get em!
