Do you use any oif the popular deer scents ?

[ironglow]

  If so, how do you use them ?  What is your brand ?  Give us a little info, please...

[Bigeasy]

If I am deer hunting during the rut, I like Tinks doe in heat urine, placed upwind and away from my stand.  From time to time I have tried cover scents (had a bad experience with skunk scent opening in my backpack once).  Even with cover scent, a buck will usually smell you if he is close, down wind from you, but they may help.

Larry

[ironglow]

Rifle season here in the southern tier of counties in NY, is Nov 20- Dec 12..does the rut usually extend well into that time period ?

[Bigeasy]

I hunt PA, NY, CT, and ME a lot.  Seems to me the rut really kicks in about Halloween.  Nov. 20 is getting late, but there is a second rut, usually about 30 days after the first for does that did not get bred one the first one.  Peak of rut or not, bucks are still active in this time period.  I used to hunt the southern tier area (Catskills) quite a lot.  Dr. Joyce Brothers used to own a home with quite a bit of land.  I was friends with the guy who was her places caretaker.  We got some nice bucks there.   This was back in the 1980's.  This year I am going to hunt the early muzzleloader season up in the Northern zone.  Sort of like Maine - not many deer, but not many hunters, and when you see a buck, usually its a nice one.  The Oct. 16 opening date is just a little early for the rut, but they are already starting to move some.  Great camping weather.  Good luck, lots of deer in the Southern zone - Catskills.

Larry

[ironglow]

 thanks Bigeasy. That Maine and Northern zone hunting sounds like fun. I hunt the southern tier, but it is the western end of the southern tier..the northern end of the Appalachain chain.. My county is fairly well set with deer and bear are coming on strong. The county bordering  just a few miles to the east of me (Steuben) is one of the national hotspots for whitetails.

[bubba]

Bigeasy, where abouts in the  northern zone are you hunting? I am from the north and just curious

[Bigeasy]

Its mid state, about 30 miles north of interstate 90, above Herkimer.

[bubba]

I know the area somewhat. I am in st law county way up in the border.  Good luck

[rebAL]

For my style of still hunting I want to sound and smell like a deer.  I use Pete Rickards Interdigital if I can get it or Indian Buck lure which is not a buck lure but a curiosity scent.  I apply it to my camo bandana . Be alert doing this because the deer will actually be hunting you; especially if you stop to call occasionally.  If I am on stand I use a $ex attractant during the rut or Rickards Indian buck lure placed on those scent bombs 25 yards or so from me.