Updated March 2023
Any hunter that has been hitting the woods long enough has used attractant scents at one time or another. Or maybe you’re just starting out and are wondering if deer scents are as effective as the manufacturers say they are. The concept of using deer scent is simple, to entice curiosity and draw in deer close enough to get a shot. This article will cover how deer communicate via scents, types of deer scents, some of the best scent products available and tips for using deer scents.
Deer Communication 101 – Smell
Smell is one of the most important senses for deer. This is because deer have noses that are so sensitive, that they can smell scents that the human nose cannot. This is why deer can smell a threat before they see it and reaffirms why scent control is essential in the pursuit of mature whitetails. Deer use different scents to communicate various messages to one another such as readiness to breed, territorial markings and asserting dominance. In most cases, scents are secreted from glands or urine of whitetail deer.
The market is saturated with many different types of deer attractants in the form of various scents. There are a variety of deer scents use by hunters at different times of the season and for different purposes. Understanding how deer communicate via scent is important in determining what scent product is best for you where you hunt. Does and bucks both use various bodily fluids and glands to communicate to other deer.
Types of Deer Scents and What They Mean
- Doe Urine – Doe urine is a common scent used in the early season, pre-rut and late season. The early season is when bucks start becoming more interested in does and will seek out areas where they can smell doe urine such as bedding areas. Bucks can tell doe urine from buck urine because of the pheromones.
- Doe Estrus – Doe estrus is urine from “hot” does or does that are ready to breed. Does that are in estrus are what all bucks are searching for during the rut. When a doe is in heat, this estrus scent is released through urine, telling bucks she is ready to breed. Doe estrus products are some of the most popular scents because of their effectiveness in attracting bucks during the rut.
- Buck Urine – Buck urine is used as a display of dominance and to mark territory. When a buck makes a scrape on the ground, they will often pee in it to tell other bucks that this is his area and to stay out. Making a mock scrape and filling it with buck urine tells bucks that there is a competitor that needs to be dealth with.
- Buck Tarsal Gland – Similar to buck urine, tarsal glands are another scent used by bucks to communicate dominance and territory. The tarsal gland is located on the inside of the tarsus joint, near the rear ankle/knee area. During the rut, bucks will pee on their tarsal glands to release a musky scent in the air. Tarsal glands can be seen as dark tufts of fur on a buck’s rear legs.
- Buck Forehead Glad – A whitetail’s forehead scent glands are located above its eyes to behind its ears. In the process of creating rubs and scrapes, bucks will also deposit their forehead gland scent on branches and trees in an attempt to mark their territory. As Dr. Leonard Rue III says in his book, Whitetail Savvy, he has observed “bucks rub their forehead scent on twigs, branches, and saplings at all times of the year – but gently, except during the rutting season, when they rub more vigorously.”
10 Best Deer Scents for Attracting Big Bucks
1. Code Blue Whitetail Doe Estrus – Code Blue’s whitetail doe estrus is a popular estrus scent that claims to be extracted from a single doe in heat for superior freshness and effectiveness. This is realized through markings on each bottle indicating each deer’s registration number. This one-ounce glass bottle is a solid choice for an effective estrus scent for all phases of the rut. A great alternative to the Code Blue estrus is the Code Red 3 Combo Scent Pack.
2. Tink’s #69 Doe-in-Rut – Tink’s #69 Doe-in-Rut estrus doe urine is the company’s best-selling natural doe estrus product. Tink’s states that this scent is collected directly from live whitetail does during their estrus cycle. The conveniently designed bottle has a secure closing cap to prevent spilling and to keep the scent fresh. When you take the cap off, there is an easy-to-use squirt top that makes application clean and simple. Tink’s #69 Doe-in-Rut is the perfect scent for drawing in mature bucks during peak phases of the rut. This product is also available in an aerosol spray bottle for quick and convenient application.
3. Outdoor Hunting Lab Doe Estrus – Outdoor Hunting Lab’s doe estrus scent is another great product for enticing bucks with the scent of a hot doe. Made with real doe urine, this scent contains all of the pheromones and compounds that bucks are actively searching for during the rut. Outdoor Hunting Lab extracts this product from a farm of 500 whitetails for guaranteed freshness and authenticity. The bottle comes with a spray applicator for quick and easy use. This product is also available in an aerosol spray bottle.
4. Wildlife Research Center Golden Scrape – Wildlife Research Center’s Golden Scrape scent is an ultra-premium scent that consists of a combination of estrus doe urine and premium buck urine and is enhanced with subtle tones of fresh scraped earth and buck musk. This is a great product for making mock scrapes, enticing big bucks to come to investigate who has been in their territory. This product is also available with Wildlife Research Center’s Magnum Scrape-Dripper for convenient application.
5. Nationwide Scents Scrape Lure – Nationwide Scent’s scrape lure is another highly regarded scrape scent used to attract aggressive bucks defending their territory. This product is perfect for all phases of deer season and comes with an easy-to-use spray applicator. This scrape scent offers more bang for your buck with a full 8 ounces of scent, meaning more hunts per bottle. Nationwide Scents gets their scents from a heard of 600 whitetails for ultimate freshness.
6. Tink’s Smokin’ Sticks – Tink’s Smokin’ Sticks are a unique doe estrus deer attractant that has gained popularity over the past few years. Similar to incense, simply light a stick and the scent-infused smoke adheres to everything it touches. Each stick is designed to last for up to two hours and comes in a pack of six. Smokin’ Sticks are also great to use as a cover scent and works great in all weather conditions. Designed with Tink’s #69 Doe-in-Rut scent, these sticks are a convenient, no mess option.
7. Nationwide Scents Peak Estrus Scent – Another effective attractant from Nationwide Scents is their peak estrus scent. This product is made to mimic the smell of a doe in heat and attract mature bucks right to the source. Like other Nationwide Scents products, this estrus scent comes with a convenient spray applicator. For a fresh and realistic estrus scent, look no further that this product from Nationwide Scents.
8. Tink’s Power Scrape – Tink’s Power Scrape attractant is perfect for creating mock scrapes, enticing curious bucks to investigate the new visitor. This product is appealing to a buck’s social ranking and dominance, leaving mature whitetails wanting to find out what other bucks have been in the area. Tink’s Power Scrape comes with a scrape bomb dripper container to hand on trees and branches in the woods for consistently fresh mock scrapes at all times.
9. Code Blue Tarsal Gland Scent – Code Blue makes a variety of reliable scent products and their tarsal gland attractant is no different. This tarsal gland scent is used to communicate buck dominance and trigger territorial curiosity in rutting bucks. Code Blue’s tarsal gland scent is made using a real tarsal gland submerged in pure buck urine. Tarsal gland scent is a great product to use in mock scrapes.
10. Wildlife Research Center Active Scrape (476) – Wildlife Research Center’s Active Scrape attractant is perfect for using in mock scrapes. This product is made with a blend of doe estrus urine and buck urine. This scent combination is used to make other bucks think that a dominant buck is in the area with a hot doe. For a great scent that attracts big bucks, this product is sure to delivery.
Tips for Using Deer Scents
- Use a Scent Wick – Scent wicks are designed to help disperse scent more effectively into the air such as Wildlife Research Center’s Key Wick or Nationwide Scents’ Deer Urine Wick. Wicks are best used by hanging them from branches near your treestand. Other great reusable and less messy scent wick products are Tink’s Scent Bombs and HME’s Seal-Tite Drop Wick.
- Place Scent Downwind – It is best to place scent on the downwind side of you while hunting, especially if you are hunting from the ground. Not only do attractants act as a cover scent, but you won’t be stuck smelling deer urine while hunting.
- Use the Correct Scent at the Correct Time – Being smart about what scents to use during the different times of the deer season is essential. Using an estrus scent in early October will most likely scare off bucks as this is an unusual smell during that time of the deer.
As you have learned, smell plays a large part in deer communication and behavior. Using a quality deer attractant can prove to be an effecting strategy for bringing in mature bucks. Experiment with a few different types of scents for yourself to see if you get results. For related articles, check out other posts from Bowhunting Depot!